IKER CASILLAS AND Fernando Torres have been recalled by Spain ahead of next month’s friendly against Ireland.
Coach Vicente del Bosque today included both players in his extended 26-man panel for the Confederations Cup and the warm-up matches against Haiti in Miami (8 June) and Ireland in Yankee Stadium, New York (11 June).
Casillas captained Spain to their second successive European Championship last summer, including a ruthless 4-0 win which ended Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
But the 32-year-old has not played competitively since breaking a bone in his hand in January and then falling out of favour with Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho.
Torres, who scored 23 goals for Chelsea this season, returns to the squad after he was dropped for the recent World Cup qualifiers against France and Finland.
Del Bosque must trim his squad to 23 ahead of the Confederations Cup, which begins with a game against Uruguay on 16 June.
Spain squad for Confederations Cup
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdés (Barcelona); Nacho Monreal (Arsenal), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Raul Albiol , Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa (all Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea); Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernández, Cesc Fabregas (all Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Javi Martínez (Bayern Munich), Javi García (Manchester City), Beñat (Betis); Juan Mata, Fernando Torres (both Chelsea), David Silva (Manchester City), Pedro, David Villa (Barcelona), Jesús Navas (Sevilla), Roberto Soldado (Valencia).
– Additional reporting by AFP
