REAL MADRID MIDFIELDER Isco and Atletico’s Saul Niguez have missed the cut for Vicente Del Bosque’s final 23-man Spain squad for Euro 2016 that does include Real’s Lucas.
“We tried to balance out the squad,” Del Bosque said in the Austrian city of Salzburg, where Spain faces South Korea tomorrow in a pre-tournament friendly.
“I believe that with the 23 chosen, we can cope with any emergency.”
Del Bosque added: “The players who’ve missed out have the standard to be there, but I can only take 23 of them.”
Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin, an absentee from the initial 25-strong list announced on 17 May, was also included in the final squad following Real defender Dani Carvajal’s injury in the Champions League final.
“We knew that we could go to the back-up squad at any time and that’s how it was with Bellerin,” Del Bosque said.
Having played in Real’s extra-time win on penalties over Atletico on Saturday, Real’s Sergio Ramos and Lucas Vazquez, and Atletico’s Juanfran and Koke will be the last to join up with the Spanish squad on 4 June.
They will be just in time for the final pre-tournament warm-up against Georgia on 7 June in Getafe, back in Spain.
The squad then begin their campaign against the Czech Republic on 13 June before also facing Turkey and Croatia in Group D.
Spain squad:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Porto/POR), David De Gea (Manchester United/ENG), Sergio Rico (Sevilla).
Defenders: Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Marc Bartra (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea/ENG), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Hector Bellerin (Arsenal/ENG).
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Bruno Soriano (Villarreal), David Silva (Manchester City/ENG), Mikel San Jose (Athletic Bilbao), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea/ENG), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich/GER).
Strikers: Pedro Rodriguez (Chelsea/ENG), Alvaro Morata (Juventus/ITA), Aritz Aduriz (Athletic Bilbao), Nolito (Celta Vigo), Lucas Vazquez (Real Madrid).
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