DEL BOSQUE ANNOUNCES SPANISH TEAM LIST FOR THE ITALY FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL

Spanish Football National Team Selector & Coach Vicente de Bosque handed in this midday his list of players for the upcoming Friendly International match against Italy on the 5th of March in Madrid. This list this basically the last before the definite list that will make up the Spanish Team for the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. On May the 13th Del Bosque will announce a pre-World Cup list of 30 players with the definite & final list of 23 players to be given on the 23rd of May. Thus, this list announced today has great significance as it leads one to believe that the Spanish Selector is profiling his World Cup squad around those players announced today.

The big novelty, but not surprise, is the inclusion of Atletico de Madrid Spanish-Brazilian player Diego Costa who is having a "blinder" of a season with more the 20 Liga goals so far. The inclusion has stirred controversy as some believe the player has chosen Spain over Brazil because the latter has not given Costa options of representing them. However, as Selector Del Bosque pointed out Costa has qualities that can better Spain, especially upfront in the goal area & can add "new options" to the team. Del Bosque has decided to be practical over allowing perhaps "nationalistic sentiments" enter in his calculation. 

Aother inclusions are Thiago from Bayern Munich & Azpilicueta of Chelsea FC. But this list resonates more due to the names not on the list. Regulars like David Villa, Fernando Torres, Juan Mata, Alvaro Arbeloa, Monreal, Fernando Llorente, Roberto Soldado & Alberto Moreno. A warning signal to some that they must lift their form if they wish to travel to Brazil.

Full list of players:
Goalkeepers: Victor Valdés (Barcelona), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) & Reina (Napoles).

Defenders: Juanfran (Atletico de Madrid), Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), & Albiol (Nápoles).

Midfielders: Busquets (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Bayern), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico de Madrid), Thiago (Bayern), Cazorla (Arsenal) ( Pedro (Barcelona), Jesus Navas (Manchester City), Cesc (Barcelona), Silva (Manchester City) & Iniesta (Barcelona).

Forwards: Negredo (Manchester City) & Diego Costa (Atletico de Madrid).