Thursday, July 5, 2012

trio Mata, Alba , Martinez in Spain Olympic squad

Juan Mata (right) lifts the Henri Delaunay trophy

Spain have selected Euro 2012 winners Juan Mata, Jordi Alba and Javi Martinez in their 22-man squad for this summer's Olympic Games in London.

Chelsea midfielder Mata and Barcelona-bound full-back Alba, both scored in Sunday's 4-0 final win over Italy.

Spain Olympics squad

David De Gea (Manchester United), Diego Marino (Villarreal), Joel Robles (Atletico Madrid); Jordi Alba (Valencia/Barcelona), Cesar Azpilicueta (Marseille), Alberto Botia (Sporting Gijon), Alvaro Dominguez (Borussia Monchengladbach), Inigo Martinez (Real Sociedad), Javi Martinez and Mikel San Jose (both Athletic Bilbao), Martin Montoya (Barcelona); Thiago Alcantara and Cristian Tello (both Barcelona), Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao), Isco (Malaga), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Juan Mata and Oriol Romeu (both Chelsea); Adrian Lopez (Atletico Madrid), Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao), Rodrigo (Benfica), Alvaro Vazquez (Espanyol).

Mata's club-mate Oriol Romeu and Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea are also selected in Luis Milla's squad, which will be reduced to 18.

Barcelona's Martin Montoya, Cristian Tello and Thiago Alcantara are also in.

Mata, 24, and Athletic Bilbao midfielder Martinez, 23, are both over-age picks, along with Atletico Madrid's 24-year-old forward Adrian Lopez.

World champions Spain became the first side to retain the European title with victory in Kiev, and in the process made history by winning three successive major tournaments.

Milla named his squad the day after Mata, Alba and Martinez were involved in a huge homecoming celebration as the Spanish team paraded the Henri Delaunay trophy through the streets of Madrid.

"I believe it would be unfair to demand that this team be at the same level as the full national team," said Milla.

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Jordi Alba scores against Italy

Jordi Alba doubles Spain's lead

"This team has character and a similar playing philosophy but it is a different team under different pressures."

The Olympic squad will join up on Friday and will face Senegal (13 July) and Mexico (18 July) in friendlies before heading to London for the Games, where they have been drawn in Group D along with Japan, Honduras and Morocco.

Switzerland have also named a number of senior internationals for the Olympics.

Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, Fiorentina's former West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami and Nuremburg defender Timm Klose were all picked in the 18-man squad as over-aged players.

Fulham's Pajtim Kasami and Aston Villa goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist are also selected.

Spain's Olympic schedule

  • 26 July v Japan
  • 29 July v Honduras
  • 1 August v Morocco

However, forward Xherdan Shaqiri was left out after Switzerland agreed with Bayern Munich, who the player joined this summer from Basel, not to select the 20-year-old.

Switzerland are in Group B and will face Mexico, South Korea and Gabon.

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