Today Vicente del Bosque announced his Spain pre-squad of thirty for the World Cup in South Africa and it included a few little surprises. David de Gea and Victor Valdes were named among the five keepers, with Cesar Azpilicueta of Osasuna, Javi Martinez of Athletic Bilbao and Pedro of Barcelona named among the outfield players. Del Bosque has done well up to now, although the tough task will come on the 1st of June, when he will be required to chop seven names from the list. Two of those names will inevitably be goalkeepers, with Diego Lopez, Victor Valdes and David de Gea all battling it out for the third goalkeeping spot. Although Valdes would be equally worthy of a spot, my money is on De Gea to make it. The experience will be invaluable for a young man who many expect to take up Iker Casillas' mantel once the Real Madrid shotstopper calls it a day. Elsewhere, barring any injuries, the battle for positions are likely to be between:
Marchena v Azpilicueta (I'd take Azpilicueta, Spain are more than covered at centre-back and Marchena has never impressed me), Sergio Busquets v Javi Martinez (my vote goes to Martinez) and then a mammoth four-way battle between Alvaro Negredo, Santi Cazorla, Pedro and Dani Güiza for the final striking position. After a shocking debut season for Negredo at Sevilla, a year plagued with injury for Cazorla and with Güiza hardly setting the world alight over in Turkey, Pedro surely deserves his chance after another rampaging season for Barca. It all depends on whether Del Bosque goes for tried and trusted or up and coming talent waiting for their moment to break onto the world stage...a la Rooney-Euro 2004.
Spain pre-squad of 30 for South Africa World Cup:
GOALKEEPERS: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) David De Gea (Atletico Madrid) Diego López (Villareal CF) José Reina (Liverpool FC) Víctor Valdés (FC Barcelona)
DEFENDERS: Raúl Albiol (Real Madrid) Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid) César Azpilicueta ( Osasuna) Joan Capdevila (Villarreal CF) Carlos Marchena (Valencia CF) Gerard Pique (FC Barcelona) Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
MIDFIELDERS: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid) Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona) Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona) Javier Martínez (Athletic Bilbao) Marcos Senna (Villarreal CF) David Silva (Valencia CF) Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona)
FORWARDS: Santi Cazorla (Villarreal CF) Jesús Navas (Sevilla FC) Juan Mata (Valencia CF) Pedro Rodríguez (FC Barcelona) Dani Güiza (Fenerbache) Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao) Alvaro Negredo(Sevilla FC) Fernando Torres (Liverpool FC) David Villa (Valencia CF)