International squad

Iñaki Sáez included five uncapped players in a 25 man squad called up for training next week in preparation for next month's Euro 2004 qualifiers. Spain were due to play Mexico in a friendly in the United States next Wednesday, but the game was eventually postponed to a later date as the journey was considered to be too long. Sáez therefore replaced the match with a training session in Madrid, taking the opportunity to include under 21 internationals Reyes and Fernando Torres in the squad as well as Aranzubia, Pavón and López Rekarte. The full call up was as follows:

Goalkeepers: Aranzubia (Athletic Bilbao), Casillas (Real Madrid), Cañizares (Valencia)
Defenders: García Calvo (Atlético Madrid), Puyol (Barcelona), Juanito (Betis), Romero (Deportivo), Helguera, Pavón and Salgado (Real Madrid), López Rekarte (Real Sociedad), Marchena (Valencia)
Midfielders: Etxeberría (Athletic Bilbao), Xavi (Barcelona), Joaquín (Betis), Valerón (Deportivo), Guti (Real Madrid), Xabi Alonso (Real Sociedad), Albelda, Baraja and Vicente (Valencia)
Forwards: Fernando Torres (Atlético Madrid), Diego Tristán (Deportivo), Raúl (Real Madrid) and Reyes (Sevilla).

Spain are due to play Ukraine in Elche on 10th September and then Armenia away on 14th September, games they need to win if they are to have a chance of reaching the finals next year in Portugal. (14.08.03)