International squads

Iñaki Sáez named his 18 man squad today for Spain's friendly match against Peru in Barcelona next week. Youngsters Fernando Torres and José Antonio Reyes have been left out, although Sáez has said that he will be counting on both for the Euro 2004 championship next summer. However with Torres nursing an injury and Reyes still settling in at Arsenal, the manager has decided to have another look at Espanyol's Tamudo and Deportivo's Luque instead. The full squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Casillas (Real Madrid), Cañizares (Valencia);
Defenders: Puyol (Barcelona), Iván Helguera, Michel Salgado and Raúl Bravo (Real Madrid), Marchena (Valencia);
Midfielders: Etxeberría (Athletic Bilbao), Xavi (Barcelona), Joaquín (Betis), Valerón (Deportivo), Xabi Alonso (Real Sociedad), Albelda, Baraja and Vicente (Valencia);
Forwards: Luque (Deportivo), Tamudo (Espanyol), Raúl (Real Madrid).

The under 21 side will also be playing a friendly against Norway in Sabadell on Tuesday, and with the old generation moving on, the joint managers have picked a squad based largely on Spain's under 20 side which reached the final of the youth World Cup a few months ago:

Goalkeepers: Riesgo (Eibar), Moyà (Mallorca);
Defenders: Peña (Barcelona), Melli (Betis), Iago Bouzón (Celta), Carlos García, Jarque (Espanyol), Fernando Vega (Sevilla);
Midfielders: Gabi (Atlético Madrid), Iniesta (Barcelona), Carmelo (Las Palmas), Juanfran and Tello (Real Madrid), Vitolo (Tenerife), Gabilán (Valencia);
Forwards: Arizmendi (Atlético Madrid), Sergio García (Barcelona), Jonathan (Racing).

Spain will be playing three more friendly games before the Euro 2004 championship, starting with Denmark in Gijon on 31st March and then Italy away in April and Andorra at home in early June. (12.02.04)