International squads

There were no less than seven Real Madrid players in Iñaki Sáez's latest squad for the Euro 2004 double header against Greece and Northern Ireland next week. Sáez played it safe picking players he has used before, with Xabi Alonso keeping his place as Albelda and Xavi are both out and Baraja is suspended for the first of the two matches. Juanfran also returns at left back in place of the injured Aranzábal. The full squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Casillas (Real Madrid), Cañizares (Valencia)
Defenders: Puyol (Barcelona), Juanffran (Celta), Raúl Bravo, Iván Helguera and Michel Salgado (Real Madrid), Marchena (Valencia)
Midfielders: Etxeberría (Athletic Bilbao), Joaquín (Betis), Sergio and Valerón (Deportivo), Xabi Alonso and De Pedro (Real Sociedad), Baraja and Vicente (Valencia)
Forwards: Guti, Morientes and Raúl (Real Madrid).

There is only one new face in the under 21 side who play the same teams the night before in their European qualifying competition, Osasuna's young winger Valdo, who is on loan to them from Real Madrid. Jarque comes in for the injured Mario, and Fernando Torres returns in place of Portillo. Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Víctor Valdés (Barcelona), Reina (Villarreal)
Defenders: Pablo (Albacete), Asier Del Horno (Athletic Bilbao), Antonio López (Osasuna), Dani Tortolero (Barcelona), Angel (Celta), Jarque (Espanyol), Miñambres (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Arriaga (Athletic Bilbao), Jorge (Atlético), Arzu (Betis), Arteta (Glasgow Rangers), Riera (Mallorca), Valdo (Osasuna), Corona (Zaragoza)
Forwards: Fernando Torres (Atlético Madrid), Rubén Castro (Las Palmas), Reyes (Sevilla).

The venues and times are as follows:
Fri 6th June: Spain U21 vs Greece U21, Huesca, Spain
Sat 7th June: Spain vs Greece, Zaragoza, Spain
Tue 10th June: N. Ireland U21 vs Spain U21, Lergan, N. Ireland
Wed 11th June: N. Ireland vs Spain, Belfast, N. Ireland. (29.05.03)