Joaquin back in Spain fold
It is the second occasion that Garcia has had to withdraw from the national squad through injury and means he is still waiting to gain his first cap for his country.
The Barca midfielder pulled an adductor muscle in his left leg during a training session last week and was forced to sit out his club's memorable 2-1 win over Real Madrid on Sunday.
His misfortune is good news for Betis star Joaquin who returns after missing out on the last two Spain squads.
The 22-year-old will be hoping it gives him the chance to cement his place in Saez's Euro 2004 squad after the Basque coach revealed he was already sure of '90 percent' of the players he would be taking to Portugal in the summer.
Luis Garcia's Barca team-mate Carles Puyol has also been forced to withdraw after sustaining an ankle ligament complaint in Sunday's win over Real Madrid.
The duo are joined on the sidelines by Valencia defender Carlos Marchena who limped out of his side's 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night.
Saez has decided to bring in Real Betis' Juanito and Deportivo La Coruna's Cesar as central defensive cover for the duo - with the Depor star getting the nod after Atletico Madrid's Jose Antonio Garcia Calvo was unable to prove his fitness.
The Spain squad will fly out to Genoa on Tuesday in preparation for Wednesday's game against Giovanni Trapattoni's side.
