Spain squad
Goalkeepers
Iker Casillas
20.05.81
Real Madrid
75 caps (0 goals)
“Saint Iker” continues to defy logic, conceding fewest goals by late April in La Liga despite facing most shots. Has incredible reflexes and is almost certainly the fastest keeper in world football.
Andres Palop
22.10.73
Sevilla
0 caps
After last season’s heroics, this has been a rather more mundane year and Palop has also shown signs of fallibility. Will be
third-choice keeper.
Pepe Reina
31.08.82
Liverpool (Eng)
9 caps (0 goals)
Criticised in the UK press but Liverpool fans defend him despite occasional errors. More dominant in the air than Casillas, offers great distribution and has an impressive penalty-saving record.
Defenders
Raul Albiol
04.09.85
Valencia
4 caps (0 goals)
Strong, tall, clever centre-back and one of the few Valencia players to perform well this season. Had his spleen removed following a car crash on the way to sign a loan deal with Getafe in 2004.
Alvaro Arbeloa
17.01.83
Liverpool (Eng)
1 cap (0 goals)
Competitive and versatile. Aragones called him up in February even though he was injured, prompting suggestions that the coach was not keeping track of overseas-based players.
Joan Capdevila
03.02.78
Villarreal
16 caps (2 goals)
The Catalan left-back is La Liga’s top-scoring defender in his debut season for Villarreal. Gets forward, is strong in the air and strikes the ball well but not as athletic as right-back Sergio Ramos.
Juanito
23.07.76
Real Betis
22 caps (2 goals)
No-thrills centre-back who went to the last World Cup.
Carlos Marchena
31.07.79
Valencia
40 caps (2 goals)
Has played much of the season as a defensive midfielder at Valencia but Aragones prefers to use the tough player as a centre-back.
Not greatly talented but uncompromising and clever.
Sebastian PRODL
25.06.82
Real Mallorca
0 caps (0 goals)
Navarro left Barcelona for Mallorca in 2005, first on loan and then on a permanent move. A regular first-choice for the islanders in the last two seasons.
Carles Puyol
13.04.78
Barcelona
59 caps (1 goal)
The Barca captain plays with his heart on his sleeve and his hair in his eyes. Often right-back at club level but will be in central defence for Spain. Has positional lapses but is athletic enough to recover.
Sergio Ramos
30.03.86
Real Madrid
32 caps (4 goals)
“The Tarzan of Camas” is vital for Spain. He is a powerful defender and his great athleticism allows him to make the 4-3-3 work by bombing up and down the right. Superb in the air at set-plays.
Midfielders
Santi Cazorla
13.12.84
Villarreal
0 caps (0 goals)
Highly talented attacking midfielder who has the ability to unlock opposition defences with a neat through pass or a jinking run.
Ruben de la Red
05.06.85
Getafe
0 caps
The season’s revelation as a central midfielder and emergency centre-back for Getafe, on loan from Real Madrid. Will rejoin Madrid in the summer. Neat, strong and dependable.
Cesc FABREGAS
04.05.87
Arsenal (Eng)
24 caps (0 goals)For Spain his shirt reads “Cesc”, for Arsenal it says “Fabregas”, and Fabregas is better than Cesc. His phenomenal early-season performances for Arsenal were central to Spain adopting 4-3-3.
Andres Iniesta
11.05.84
Barcelona
22 caps (5 goals)
One of the few decent performers for Barca this season, despite being constantly shifted around midfield. Has great technique, quick feet and vision.
Marcos Senna
17.07.76
Villarreal
9 caps (0 goals)
The “Hispano-Brazilian” has been superb for Villarreal, and although he is a defensive midfielder his game is more about positioning than toughness. Set-piece specialist and reads the game well.
Xabi Alonso
25.11.81
Liverpool (Eng)
41 caps (1 goal)
Has not refound his best form since returning from injury but still important for Spain with his elegant passing, intelligence and competitive edge. Challenging Senna for the “pivot” role.
Xavi
25.01.80
Barcelona
55 caps (5 goals)
Once nicknamed Humphrey Bogart because, like Sam, he plays it again (and again), his statistics for pass completion are superb. Has not had his best season but vital to Spain’s possession game.
Forwards
Fernando Torres
20.03.84
Liverpool (Eng)
46 caps (15 goals)
Spain can’t quite believe what has happened to El Nino (the kid) at Liverpool. They knew he had talent, pace and power but his blistering success has come as a surprise – and a source of huge pride.
Sergio Garcia
09.06.83
Real Zaragoza
0 caps (0 goals)
Striker who broke into the first team in the 2003-04 season. Reliable finisher.
Daniel Guiza
17.08.80
Mallorca
2 caps (0 goals)
La Liga’s top-scoring Spaniard this term but is as famous for his off-pitch antics. Has settled down with ex-gossip mag mainstay Nuria Bermudez (also his agent). Salutes his goals with an “archer” pose.
David Silva
08.01.86
Valencia
12 caps (2 goals)
The tiny playmaker has quick feet, great vision and a talent for clever assists, making him one of the most admired players in Spain.
A tough little so-and-so, too.
David Villa
03.12.81
Valencia
30 caps (13 goals)
The quick, skilful and deadly finisher has suffered along with the rest of the Valencia side this season but is important to Spain, even though he may start on the left (or even on the bench).
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