Carvajal and Iturraspe, La Roja's fresh faces

Posted Wednesday, May 14, 2014 by Marca.com

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has announced the preliminary list of thirty players called up for the Brazil 2014 World Cup. New to 'La Roja' are Real Madrid's defender Dani Carvajal and Athletic Bilbao's midfielder Ander Iturraspe. A notable absence is that of Álvaro Arbeloa.

The Real Madrid defender, who was in the 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships and the 2010 World Cup, will not be travelling to Brazil after having been out injured for two months.

The complete list is the following:

Goalkeepers: Casillas (Real Madrid), Reina (Napoli) and De Gea (Man United).

Defenders: Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Piqué (Barcelona), Ramos (Real Madrid), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Alberto Moreno (Sevilla), Javi Martínez (Bayern), Albiol (Napoli), Juanfran (Atlético) and Carvajal (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: Busquets (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Koke (Atlético), Iturraspe (Athletic), Xavi Hernández (Barcelona), Thiago Alcántara (Bayern), Silva (Man City), Cesc Fábregas (Barcelona), Mata (Man United), Cazorla (Arsenal) and Iniesta (Barcelona).

Forwards: Diego Costa (Atlético), Pedro (Barcelona), Navas (Man City), Villa (Atlético), Torres (Chelsea), Negredo (Man City) and Llorente (Juventus).

The Spain manager will have to take seven players out and will announce the definitive list of 23 players on 25th May. Spain will then play a friendly in Seville against Bolivia before flying to the USA for a short World Cup 'pre-season'.

Carvajal, Iturraspe and Alberto Moreno will in all probability be the ones told to stay at home. The other four to be sacrificed will most likely come from La Roja's attack, where Torres, Mata, Villa, Llorente and Negredo are vying for a place to play alongside the untouchables, which are Pedro, Navas and Diego Costa.

Carvajal and Iturraspe, La Roja's fresh faces