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Titilope Adeuja
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Chelsea's striker, Fernando Torres and Manchester United new signing, Juan Mata are among the players dropped from the Spain squad to face Italy in a friendly in March.
Others are Alvaro Arbeloa, Fernando Llorente, Carles Puyol and all-time leading scorer David Villa who won the World Cup.
Spain coach, Del Bosque will lead the team in the match billed as the last fixture before the final squad list for Brazil 2014 is announced, yet he says there room for other players to still make the team.
“There are more than two important players who are left out.
“But this list is just for Italy. There is time in front of us, three months of competition, and many things could happen that ratify this list or make us bring others.”
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara and in-form Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa are the two new additions to the squad.
The match will take place at Atletico’s Estadio Vicente Calderon in Madrid on Wednesday, March 5.
Speaking about the Brazilian-born forward, Diego Costa, ( who had played for Brazil twice before being granted Spanish citizenship in 2013), Del Bosque said, “I have not spoken to [Costa] but the federation have called him to make sure he was still thinking the same.
“This list is not final for Brazil. It is a unique case because he [Costa] had never come with us before, and for him being born in Brazil. But he is a player who comes because of what he has done for his club. We have decided he can help us.”
He said the Italy game will be the acid-test for his side, “They [Italy] are one of the world’s big national teams.
“They have Juventus as a base, and are playing very strong games, like the first game of Euro 2012, the two from the Confederations Cup, one of them agonizing with extra-time when they were just as strong as we were. And the final [of Euro 2012], which was for sure our best game of recent years.”
Full Spain side to face Italy:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas [Real Madrid], Pepe Reina [Napoli], Victor Valdes [Barcelona]
Defenders: Juanfran Torres [Atletico Madrid], Javi Martinez [Bayern Munich], Sergio Ramos [Real Madrid], Jordi Alba [Barcelona], Cesar Azpilicueta [Chelsea], Raul Albiol [Napoli].
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso [Real Madrid], Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta & Cesc Fabregas [Barcelona], Koke [Atletico Madrid], Thiago Alcantara [Barcelona], Jesus Navas & David Silva [Manchester City], Santi Cazorla [Arsenal].
Attackers: Diego Costa [Atletico], Alvaro Negredo [Man City], Pedro Rodriguez [Barcelona].
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