Euro 2008 Who’s Who – SPAIN

Coach
Luis ARAGONÉS: Controversial, tempestuous veteran who likes the sound of his own voice. Has been accused of racism in the past by Thierry Henry and will be replaced by former Real Madrid boss Vicente del Bosque after the Championship.

Goalkeepers
Iker CASILLAS (Real Madrid): A one-club man who has been vital in Real Madrid’s two Primera División titles in the past two seasons. Superb speed of reaction and shot-stopping abilities.

Andrés PALOP (Sevilla): 34-year-old stalwart finally appearing in his first major tournament squad. Scored a last-minute equalizer for Sevilla in a UEFA Cup match in Donetsk in 2007.

Pepe REINA (Liverpool): May be brought on if Spain are involved in a penalty shoot-out, is strong in the air but does make the occasional error.

Defenders
Raúl ALBIOL (Valencia): A newcomer to the international footballer, much is expected of the youngster but he may have to wait until the World Cup to get a place in the First XI.

Álvaro ARBELOA (Liverpool): A controversial selection, the 25-year-old is versatile but will be used as cover for Ramos as right-back.

Joan CAPDEVILA (Villarreal): Has excelled in Villarreal’s march to second place in La Liga this season. The Catalan was the top-scoring defender in Spain’s top flight this season and has already two goals for Spain.

JUANITO Gutiérrez (Real Betis): Seems to be a permanent squad player but got his chance against Saudi Arabia in the World Cup and rewarded Aragonés with the winning goal.

Carlos MARCHENA (Valencia): Has been used in the holding midfield rôle by Valencia’s three different coaches this season but is set to partner Puyol at the back for Spain.

Fernando NAVARRO (Real Mallorca): Uncapped when called into the squad, the Mallorca left-back scored a crucial last-minute own goal against his former club Barcelona last season. Is little more than cover for Capdevila but has been chosen ahead of Antonio López.

Carles PUYOL (Barcelona): Captain at the Camp Nou, Puyol has played at right-back and left-back in past tournaments but is now embedded in the centre of the Spanish defence. Gives everything for the cause, his workrate makes up for his occasional errors.

Sergio RAMOS (Real Madrid): Often plays in the middle in La Liga but will be Aragonés’s first-choice right-back. Strong in the air, he poses an attacking threat at set pieces.

Midfielders
Xabi ALONSO (Liverpool): Superb passer who has scored from his own half twice for Liverpool but fails to perform away from home too regularly to convince Aragonés to put him in the starting line-up.

Santi CAZORLA (Villarreal): Another un-capped pick, the Villarreal winger has had a fine season but Aragonés shocked many with his selection ahead of Espanyol’s Albert Riera, who scored in last season’s UEFA Cup Final against Sevilla. Has youth on his side.

Rubén DE LA RED (Getafe): On loan from Real Madrid, has been invaluable for Getafe as a defensive midfielder, even covering in defence. Will push Senna all the way for a starting berth.

Cesc FÀBREGAS (Arsenal): Has ‘Fàbregas’ on his shirt for Arsenal but is known merely as ‘Cesc’ for Spain. Yet to score in international football, the pressure is on the attacking midfielder to reproduce his penetrative qualities at Euro 2008.

Andrés INIESTA (Barcelona): Re-invented as a right-winger in recent months, he has had his imperious passing abilities praised by Johan Cruijff but may benefit from a move back into the middle.

Marcos SENNA (Villarreal): Born and bred in Brazil but now a naturalized Spaniard, the rock of an ever-impressive Villarreal side. A dependable penalty-taker and threatening free-kick merchant, he is assured and powerful in the ‘Makélélé’ rôle but scores much more frequently than the Frenchman.

David SILVA (Valencia): Best known in England for his wonder goal at Stamford Bridge in the 2007 Champions League quarter final, the Canary Islander is an archetypal short Spanish playmaker.

XAVI Hernández (Barcelona): Vital to Spain’s ‘tiki taka’ pass-and-move style, the Barcelona local hero has an Olympic bronze medal from the 2000 games in Sydney.

Strikers
Sergio GARCÍA (Real Zaragoza): Your guess is as good as mine. Has scored just four goals all season for a team who have just been relegated to the Segunda and will be as surprised as anyone by his selection ahead of the likes of Raúl, Luis García, Raúl Tamudo and Bojan Krkic. Aragonés usually makes one mystifying selection decision and García is it.

Daniel GÜIZA (Real Mallorca): If you haven’t heard of him yet you soon will have; Güiza has just won the pichichi top goalscorer award in La Liga scoring 27 goals for a mid-table side.

Fernando TORRES (Liverpool): Lightning quick, strong in the air and has had a superb début season in England, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record for Premier League goals scored by an overseas player in his début season in the country. A cert to lead the line in Austria.

David VILLA (Valencia): His goals have prevented a mediocre season becoming a disastrous one at the Mestalla. Versatile and skilful, he is one of the most complete strikers in La Liga.

Wish You Were Here?
RAÚL González (Real Madrid): Has spearheaded Real’s title march during the absence through injury of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Is scoring frequently again and looking like his old self again but Aragonés would rather kebab his own eyeballs than take the man he sees as ‘disruptive’. Remains Spain’s all-time leading scorer with 44 goals from 102 appearances.

David ALBELDA, Miguel Ángel ANGULO (both Valencia): Frozen out at the Mestalla by Ronald Koeman, they have both only just returned to action under new coach Salvador ‘Voro’ González and their inactivity has cost them their place at Euro 2008.

Fernando MORIENTES (Valencia): Injury and illness have blighted his season but as Torres and Villa never look quite right together there are still some in Spain who believe the country’s best strike partnership remains Raúl and Morientes.

Luis GARCÍA, José Antonio REYES (both Atlético Madrid): Stars who have waned since leaving the Premier League.