Del Bosque Announces Round-Up for Spain's Upcoming Friendlies

La Roja coach Vicente del Bosque announced the players he's tabbed for international duty in friendlies against Serbia and South Korea.  The list is a preliminary list – a first draft if you will – for the Eurocopa as players from FC Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, and Chelsea are not yet available.

Below is the list of 21 players called up for the friendlies on May 26 (Serbia) and May 30 (South Korea):

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas, Pepe Reina, David De Gea

Defenders: Álvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Raúl Albiol, Jordi Alba, Nacho Monreal, Juanfran Torres, Álvaro Domínguez

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso, Santi Cazorla, Beñat Etxebarria, Isco, Javi García, Bruno Soriano, David Silva, Jesús Navas

Forwards: Álvaro Negredo, Roberto Soldado, Adrián López

This is the first ever call-up for De Gea, Etxebarria, Isco, Javi García, Adrián, and Juanfran.  Del Bosque seemed to use these friendlies as unique opportunities to tab players that he has had his eye on but was not able to call upon due to fierce competition.  Nevertheless, congratulations are in order for these men.

There is a possibility Chelsea's Juan Mata and Fernando will join the team in time for the friendly against Serbia on the 26^th, as some of those called up will leave after the first friendly to play for the U21 team, which also has a Euro qualifier against Estonia on May 31.

All 21 men are due at the Ciudad de Fútbol – headquarters of the RFEF – by noon, May 21^st.  From there, they will travel to Zürich by plane, then by bus to Schruns, where they will stay at Hotel Löwen Schruns.  The team will travel to St. Gallen on the 25^th, staying at the Radisson Blue Hotel, and play Serbia the next day.  Afterwards, la Roja will return to Schruns and stay there until the 29^th.  The men will then travel to Bern to play South Korea the following day, returning to Madrid via Basel right after the match.

written by Gail Hidalgo