La Furia Happenings this Week!
Tuesday, 07 October 08, 07:39 PM · Comments(4)
The European Champions play Estonia away on Oct 11th and Belgium away on Oct 15th. For those of you live in the States, it looks like FSC will be airing these fixtures. These away games will be very tough, but I have faith that our boys will grab another 6 points.
So who has Teddy Bear aka Vicente Del Bosque called up? The usual suspects. In defense, Andoni Iraola and Arbeloa are back as well as a healthy Marchena. Raúl Albiol is hurt, but VDB has decided that 21 players are enough. So defensively all good in the hood. In the midfield, David Silva is still out injured. Ruben De La Red has NOT been called up as we have too many damn midfielders. Shame. Upfront, El Niño Torres has returned to the senior squad at full fitness and with his shooting boots on.
Full Squad - Goalkeepers: Reina (Liverpool), Casillas (Real Madrid);
Defenders: Iraola (Athletic Bilbao), Puyol (Barcelona), Juanito (Betis), Arbeloa (Liverpool), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Fernando Navarro (Sevilla), Marchena (Valencia), Capdevila (Villarreal);
Midfielders: Cesc Fábregas (Arsenal), Iniesta and Xavi (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Diego Capel (Sevilla), Cazorla and Marcos Senna (Villarreal);
Forwards: Güiza (Fenerbahçe), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia).
U-21 News
Bojan Krkic has been recalled to the under 21 squad for Spain's extremely critical double header playoff against Switzerland on Oct 11th and 14th. Check rojadirecta.org for listings. The winner will qualify for the U-21 European Championships. Other notables called up to the U-21s Mata, el Crack, from Valencia, and debutantes Sergio Busquets from Barça and Chico from Almería. Markel Susaeta from Athletic Bilbao has been dropped by Lopez Caro because we have too many damn midfielders. Shame.
Full Squad- Goalkeepers: Roberto (Recreativo), Sergio Asenjo (Valladolid);
Defenders: Chico (Almería), Piqué (Barcelona), Azpilicueta (Osasuna), Javi García and Miguel Torres (Real Madrid), Crespo (Sevilla);
Midfielders: Javi Martínez (Athletic Bilbao), Raúl García (Atlético Madrid), Pedro and Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Granero (Getafe), Jurado (Mallorca), Dani Parejo (Queens Park Rangers), Sisi (Recreativo);
Forwards: Bojan (Barcelona), Xisco (Newcastle), Jonathan Pereira (Racing Santander), Mata (Valencia).
Does España have the best up and coming squad? I sure think so. Vamanos La Roja!
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Speaking of U21s, is Barragan of La Coruña on the outs or is it simply lack of playing time that is keeping him out of the squad?
Well Antonio Barragan hasn't gotten much play with Depor of late. Manuel Pablo is the no 1 right back of choice. Since he is not getting a lot of game time, I would assume that Lopez Caro is not calling him up to the U-21s. Also he is now 21 years old.
On a separate note the U-21s lost their first leg 2-1 in Switzerland. They have got to step it up this week in the 2nd leg or no championships.
4 Comments · Add yours
Will Arteta ever be given a chance or will he have to transfer to somewhere in Spain or either Chelsea/Manu/Man City/Arsenal or Liverpool to be noticed? Or does he not even belong on the squad in your opinion?
Silva will be out for at least another two months. All that hacking last season caught up to him, rendering an ankle surgery bound. If only Valencia had someone with grit to keep other teams honest, someone like the reincarnation or Mattias Sammer for example, then I think he wouldn't have taken so much abuse last season.
One final Valencia digression, I think it will only be a matter of time before Alexis gets called up to the senior squad. Some see him as Ayala-like, but he still has a way to go to before he can favourably usurp the nasty Argentine. Still, an excellent defender in the works, time, health, and desire permitting
Forget about Arteta - too many damn midfields. A great problem to have.
Hopefully Silva will not be rushed back and recuperate in time to push on Los Che in the 2nd half of the season. He is such a classy player. Phenomenal during the Euros.
Alexis has potential, but he's a little overrated IMO. But Spain's back line is getting a little long in the tooth. He has a great chance to be next in line along with Albiol, Amorebieta and even Garrido from Man City. Perhaps even Jarque and Sergio Sanchez from Espanyol. In the under 21's Lopez Caro is playing Javi Garcia, Pique, Miguel Torres and Canella. I'm not convinced.