Madrid, May 26 (IANS): Spain coach Vicente del Bosque kept his players guessing as he finalised a list of 19 players for his side's friendly game against Bolivia, May 30, as part of preparations for the FIFA World Cup.
The list that was finalised by the coach Sunday does not include any of the eight Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid players who took part in Saturday night's Champions League finals, nor does it include strikers Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente or winger Jesus Navas, reports Xinhua.
Surprisingly Del Bosque included young FC Barcelona forward, Gerard Deulofeu, who spent last season on loan with English Premier League side, Everton. Deulofeu had not been included in the preliminary squad of 30.
That list was reduced to 29 last week after Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara was forced to drop out of contention last week after a relapse of his knee ligament problems.
Del Bosque said he would prune down the list to 23, who will defend the world title Spain won in South Africa four years ago, June 2.
Del Bosque is worried about the fitness of Atletico Madrid striker, Diego Costa, who was forced to retire from the Champions League final after just nine minutes with a recurrence of his hamstring problem, and Atletico right back Juanfran, who was almost unable to move at the end of the game because of muscle problems.
The coach insisted he would take the players who were in condition to play and added that even though Llorente, Negredo and Navas were not in the squad to face Bolivia, this did not rule them out of the World Cup.
Spain kick-off the defence of their world title against 2010's beaten finalists, the Netherlands June 13 and have a difficult group which also includes a hard-working Chile and the underdogs, Australia.
Squad of 19:
Goalkeepers: Pepe Reina (Napoles, David de Gea (Manchester United)
Defenders: Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Raul Albiol (Napoles),Javier Martinez (Bayern de Munich), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea, Alberto Moreno (Sevilla)
Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona),Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Ander Iturraspe (Athletic), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Juan Mata (Manchester United), David Silva (Manchester City), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona)
Strikers: Gerard Deulofeu (Everton), Fernando Torres (Chelsea).