Alba, Mata and Martinez in Spain’s Olympic squad
July 4th, 2012 - 3:25 pm ICT by IANSMadrid, July 4 (IANS) Luis Milla, coach of the Spanish football team for the London Olympic Games, has included members of Euro 2012 Jordi Alba, Juan Mata and Javi Martinez in his 22-man preliminary squad for the quadrennial Games.
Alba played in all of Spain’s matches in the European Championship held in Poland and Ukraine and scored his country’s second goal in Sunday’s final against Italy.
Mata also scored in the 4-0 victory against Italy, which was his only appearance in the competition, while Martinez made one appearance.
Martinez will be joined by his Bilbao teammates Iker Muniain, Ander Herrera and Mikel San Jose.
Their absence will leave the club short-handed as Bilbao have to play Euro League qualifying matches when the Olympics are on.
Barcelona are also well represented with Thiago Alcantara, Cristian Tello and Martin Montoya joining Alba in the squad, while Joel Adrian, Koke and Adrian Lopezmake up a three-man Atletico Madrid contingent.
Rather surprisingly, Milla has not called up any Real Madrid players.
Milla will reduce the squad to 18 players ahead of the Games, starting July 27.
The Squad:
MartinMontoya (Barcelona), Thiago Alcantara (Barcelona), Jordi Alba(Barcelona),Cristian Tello (Barcelona), Jorge Koke(Atletico Madrid), Joel Adrian (Atletico Madrid), Adrian Lopez (Atletico Madrid), Mikel San Jose(Bilbao), Javi Martinez (Bilbao), Ander Herrera(Bilbao), Iker Muniain (Bilbao), Rodrigo (Benfica), Alvaro Dominguez(Mochengladbach), Oriol Romeu(Chelsea), Juan Mata (Chelsea), Alvaro Vazquez (Espanyol), Francisco Roman Isco (Malaga), David De Gea (Manchester United), Cesar Azpilicueta (Olympiquede Marsella), Inigo Martinez (Real Sociedad), Alberto Botia (Gijon), Diego Marino (Villarreal).
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- Chicken pox forces San Jose out of Spanish Olympic squad - Jul 09, 2012
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- Real Madrid defeat Barcelona in Camp Nou - Apr 22, 2012
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- Bilbao reach Copa del Rey semis - Jan 26, 2012
- Coach Del Bosque recalls Torres and Mata in Spanish squad - May 22, 2012
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Tags: adrian lopez, atletico madrid, botia, david de gea, euro 2012, euro league, francisco roman, isco, javi martinez, juan mata, koke, luis milla, madrid players, marsella, mikel san jose, mochengladbach, olympic games, olympic squad, real sociedad, spanish football