DAVID VILLA DROPPED FROM SPAIN SQUAD
Spain has dropped MLS soccer star David Villa from its latest list for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Israel. Coach Julen Lopetugui called on the player in the last international window, with Villa featuring against Italy.
Villa played in the 3-0 win despite being out of the team for three years. He was injured when Spain played Lichtenstein in the next game though. Lopetugui opted to leave him out altogether this time.
“David has been left out because he is not at the same rhythm that he has when he joined us. The injury he picked up while with us has not allowed him to play regularly and at the same level,” the coach explained his decision.
Lopetugui called on former Real Madrid star but now with Napoli Jose Callejon and Valencia man Rodrigo Moreno. The coach explained that Callejon’s impressive form at the moment earned him the invitation. Callejon has scored four times in six Serie A games as Napoli plan to upset Juventus.
Moreno is making a return to the national team after a three year hiatus. He has been decent for his club in the games so far, hence the callup by Lopetugui.
The coach called on Alvaro Morata of Chelsea, adding that his adaptation to the physical Premier League made the invitation easy. The coach left out former Blues man Diego Costa who recently completed his return to the La Liga to feature for Atletico Madrid. The player is yet to feature this season so he is understandably ignored. Lopetugui asks that Costa compete at a top level to earn consideration for future team engagements.
Aside Costa, Gerard Deulofeu of Barcelona and Real Madrid winger Lucas Vasquez were not called. Real Sociedad man Asier Illaramendi made the cut though.