Chelsea
striker Diego Costa is among a string of high-profile names left out of
Spain's provisional squad for Euro 2016.
Costa, who scored 16 goals in 41 appearances for Chelsea this season, last
played for Spain in the 2-0 friendly win over England in November last year,
but has lost his place in Vicente del Bosque's initial 25-man squad for the
tournament in France with Athletic Bilbao's Aritz Aduriz instead earning a
call.
Costa missed Chelsea's final two Premier League games against Liverpool and
Leicester with a hamstring injury and could still earn a call if he proves
his fitness ahead of the May 31 deadline.
Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has also missed out despite playing
in Spain's last six internationals, but Costa's Chelsea team-mates Cesc
Fabregas, Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta are included in a squad which must be
trimmed to 23 players at the end of the month.
United keeper David de Gea and Manchester City's David Silva have been
named, but Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla, who made his first appearance
since the end of November in Sunday's 4-0 win over Aston Villa after a
long-term injury, has been omitted.
Former Chelsea and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has also been unable to
force his way into the squad, despite an impressive end to the season with
Atletico Madrid.
Torres has scored 10 goals in the last 19 games, helping Atletico to the
Champions League final and third place in La Liga, but that has not been
enough to earn a first call-up since the 2014 World Cup.
Del Bosque also named an 11-man reserve list including Arsenal defender
Hector Bellerin, who will join up with the squad to compensate for the
absence of 17 players still involved in domestic and European competitions
with their clubs.
Holders Spain are in Group D, along with Croatia, Czech Republic and Turkey.
Goalkeepers: Casillas, De Gea, Rico
Defenders: Alba, Pique, Bartra, Ramos, Carvajal,
Azpilicueta, Juanfran
Midfielders: Busquets, Iniesta, Silva, San Jose, Koke, Saul
Niguez, Fabregas, Alcantara, Isco, Soriano
Forwards: Pedro, Morata, Aduriz, Nolito, Vazquez
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