Spain name six Prem players

01 June 2009 14:09
Confederations Cup naming six Premier League based players among the 23-man party. Liverpool dominate with Pepe Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa, Xabi Alonso, Albert Riera and Fernando Torres receiving call-ups while Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas makes up the list. Spain go into the competition with virtually the same set of players who won the European Championship last summer with 17 of the 23 players selected present in Austria and Switzerland. Manager Vicente del Bosque has also named the injured quartet of Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and David Silva in the hope that at least one of them will recover in time for the start of the tournament in two weeks' time. One player to miss out through injury is influential Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna with the 32-year-old absent with a hamstring strain. Del Bosque has managed to maintain Spain's impressive form since the European Championships with La Furia Roja top of their World Cup qualifying group and unbeaten in 21 competitive games stretching back to October 2006 when they lost to Sweden. Spain kick-off their Confederations Cup campaign against New Zealand in a competition that also involves the likes of Brazil and Italy. Squad in full Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Diego Lopez (Villarreal). Defenders: Raul Albiol (Valencia), Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid). Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Xavi (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia), Juan Mata (Valencia), Albert Riera (Liverpool). Forwards: David Villa (Valencia), Daniel Guiza (Fenerbahce), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao).

Source: SKY_Sports