Xavi omitted from Spain’s double header against Scotland and Lithuania
Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque has left out key playmaker Xavi from the squad that will face Scotland and Lithuania in the Euro 2012 qualifiers next week. The reports state that the Barcelona midfielder has been suffering from tendonitis prompting the
coach to rest the player.
Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso will now start in the middle of the park for La Furia Roja. Xavi’s importance to the team cannot be overemphasized as the forward has been the orchestrator of the Spanish team for the past five years. With his sublime playmaking
skills, the midfielder has won La Furia Roja the World Cup 2010 and the Euro 2008.
Xavi has been playing football of the highest quality in recent years without any rest. The midfielder won a historic treble with the Catalonian outfit and followed that with a historic Euro trophy in the same summer. Last year Xavi was again the best midfielder
in the world as Barcelona was able to retain their League title. The midfielder was instrumental in Spain’s maiden World Cup triumph. Xavi is set to miss Barcelona’s next two matches and the club will be hoping the midfielder makes his return in time for the
club’s fixture against Valencia.
Francesc Fabregas would have been given a chance to perform under normal circumstances but the Gunner’s talisman is also out injured and thus sits out the two fixtures.
Both the fixtures for La Furia Roja are away ties. Spain will play Lithuania in Salamanca on 8th October before travelling to Glasgow to face a potentially dangerous Scotland side on 12th October.
Del Bosque’s called up players are
Goalkeepers: Víctor Valdes (Barcelona), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), José Manuel Reina (Liverpool),
Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Nacho Monreal (Osasuna), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carlos Marchena (Villarreal), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal),
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), David Silva (Manchester City), Jesus Navas (Sevilla),
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santiago Cazorla (Villarreal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona),
Forwards: Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), David Villa (Barcelona), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona)
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