Summary Manager has named captain Iker Casillas among a 26-man squad for Confederations Cup in Brazil.
MADRID (AFP) - Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has named captain Iker Casillas among a 26-man squad for the Confederations Cup in Brazil next month.
Casillas hasn t played a competitive match since January after breaking a bone in his hand and then being dropped in favour of Diego Lopez by Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho.
However, Del Bosque believes the 32-year-old is in good shape and has rewarded his loyalty and contribution throughout his record 143 caps.
"In the case of Iker, he had an injury in Valencia and then he had to have his recuperation time. He has told us that he is in a good moment," he told a press conference on Monday.
"We spoke with him in France (after the World Cup qualifier between the two in March) and I haven t spoken to him since, but he has told us he is fine. He is one of our players."
Fernando Torres and Javi Martinez also return to the squad after lifting European trophies with Chelsea and Bayern Munich over the past two weeks, whilst Xavi, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets have all been included despite carrying injuries in the last few weeks.
Del Bosque will need to trim his squad to 23 before the competition starts and he insists that he will not take anyone to Brazil who is not fit to compete.
"There are 26 players but there are some that have been on tour, some have been out and we don t know how everyone is. We have forseen taking three extra players and there will have to be cuts.
"We are at the end of the season and always when there is a championship of this nature, it is impossible that the players arrive fresh. I don t think that any of the Nigerian, Uruguayan, Brazilian or Spanish players will arrive in perfect conditions.
"I think they are players with extraordinary physical talent. If we had any doubts, none of them would have been called up. If the doctors of the clubs or the players think that they cannot come, we won t force anybody.
"We will give the definitive list on June 2nd."
The World champions will play two warm-up games in the USA against Haiti and the Republic of Ireland on June 8 and 11 before travelling to Brazil where they begin their Confederations Cup campaign against Uruguay on June 16.
