Luis Aragones has left Real Madrid legend Raul out of his Spanish squad for Euro 2008.
Real skipper set to miss European Championship
Luis Aragones has left Real Madrid legend Raul out of his Spanish squad for Euro 2008.
The striker has not featured for his country for almost two years, despite being his nation's all-time top goal scorer.
Raul has been in impressive form during the 2007/08 campaign and had been widely tipped to make a return to the international fold in time for this summer's European Championship.
Aragones may have once again overlooked the Real talisman, but he has refused to rule out the possibility of the veteran forward forcing his way back into the squad in the future.
"I never count any player out of making the team selection," he said.
"Everyone talks and says things about this, but in the end I left him out and that's it."
Belief
The former Atletico Madrid boss has also excluded Barcelona's teenage sensation Bojan Krkic, Espanyol winger Albert Riera and Valencia midfielder David Albelda, while handing call-ups to uncapped duo Santi Cazorla of Villarreal and Sergio Garcia of Real Zaragoza.
Aragones remains confident that he has the players available to him to bring an end to Spain's 44-year wait for international glory.
"I have to believe we will win because to transmit belief to the players you have to believe it yourself. But if we win or not, that's another thing," he said.
"First, we have to defend well as a team, then attack well as a team. So, we hope we attack well and be competitive, so then, we could reach the final."
"It will be very close between the top teams, but the favourites are the teams that have won it before. Italy and France will be favourites, for example. I like Portugal and Romania, but it's all so equal that anyone could win."
Group
Spain have been placed in Group D alongside Russia, Sweden and reigning champions Greece.
Squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Andres Palop (Sevilla).
Defenders: Raul Albiol (Valencia), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Juanito Gutierrez (Real Betis), Fernando Navarro (Mallorca), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool).
Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), David Silva (Valencia), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Ruben De La Red (Getafe), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal).
Forwards: Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia), Daniel Guiza (Mallorca), Sergio Garcia (Zaragoza).
