Iniesta absent for Spain games

08 June 2015 09:47

Andres Iniesta has been ruled out of Spain's games against Costa Rica and Belarus this week because of injury.

The Barcelona midfielder will miss Thursday's international friendly against Costa Rica in Leon and Sunday's Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus in Borisov due to a recurring muscular problem.

A statement from the RFEF read: "The medical staff of the national team have taken the decision not to include Andres Iniesta in the Spain roster after being informed of the player's muscular problems that he has had this week."

Iniesta picked up a knock in the Copa del Rey final on May 30 but recovered from a calf injury in time to start in Saturday's Champions League final against Juventus in Berlin.

The 31-year-old, who set up Ivan Rakitic for Barca's opener in their 3-1 triumph over Juve, was voted man-of-the-match in Saturday's final.

Spain are also without the services of Chelsea striker Diego Costa, who is recovering from a hamstring injury.

Barca quintet Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Marc Bartra, Sergio Busquets and Pedro Rodriguez, as well as Juventus striker Alvaro Morata, will join the national team in their headquarters in Las Rozas, Madrid on Monday afternoon.

Two-time defending European champions Spain are second in Euro 2016 qualifying Group C, three points adrift of leaders Slovakia.

Source: PA