SPANISH NATIONAL SIDE. THE RAUL DEBATE LINGERS ON

The amount of news on clubs has obviously diminished, while the
engines heat up towards the all important clash against DENMARK
next Saturday, where SPAIN must win to stay alive in its Group &
continue hoping to qualify for Euro 2008.

The news generator , or heating fuel, being used at this moment is
the ongoing ( & boring) debate on why coach Luis Aragones has not
recalled RAUL ( pictured) back to the national team. Many believed
that Aragones would have called back the Real Madrid Captain yesterday
to replace the injuryed David Villa, however the player called up was
another Raul, RAUL TAMUDO from Espanyol.

While many are outraged, local sports papers like "AS" & "Mundo
Deportivo" give space to the reasons behind the Aragones decision, &
it seems it all stems from the last World Cup played at Germany.

Aragones was a firm defender of Raul during the qualifying phase up to
Germany 2006, supporting & recalling the player after a serious knee
injury & in a year of terrible low form overall. He took Raul to Germany,
when curiously the media was then against that decision locally. Apparently,
the fall out commenced when Aragones & Raul had a heated arguement when
the coach asked for more commitment, dedication & leadership from Raul,
& the latter discriminated Aragones for his bench warming time.

Later, it is said, that Raul organized a "coup" with señior players Canizares
& Salgado ( neither back in the squad) to discredit & "overthrow" Aragones,
adding criticism to his line ups & leaking stories to media. It has been insinuated
that they were glad that Spain lost to France ( Raul started in the original line -up
& later was substituted) because it would be the end of Aragones.
History has proven they were wrong.

Obviously, if this is the true chain of events, Aragones would have felt
totally betrayed & thus made the decision to "never" recall Raul again,

as he "proved" & is seen as a negative influence, a difficult & "spoiled

pretty boy" player.

To end, SFS will no longer write on this debate, as a sign of respect for
Raul Tamudo who is in great form & deserves to be in the Spanish squad.
Tamudo has always shown that he is a true professional & will no doubt be

giving 110% to ensure a Spanish victory over Denmark.