Madrid - Spain national manager Luis Aragones raised eyebrows on Saturday by calling up uncapped players Santi Cazorla and Sergio Garcia for the European Championship finals. The inclusion of striker Sergio Garcia was not a massive surprise - despite Zaragoza's precarious position - given the injuries suffered by Espanyol pair Raul Tamudo and Luis Garcia.
Another reason for the inclusion of Sergio Garcia is the decision of Barcelona teenage sensation Bojan Krkic not to go to the tournament, claiming to be "exhausted" after a hectic season.
The calling-up of Sergio Garcia is controversial since he has been preferred to Real Madrid captain Raul Gonzalez, despite his 18 league goals this season - and despite the Madrid press campaign in his favour.
Raul, who has played 102 times for Spain, has not been picked by Aragones since October 2006.
The inclusion of the left-sided Cazorla comes as something of a surprise, since he has been given the nod ahead of Espanyol's Albert Riera.
Cazorla has done well this season for second-placed Villarreal, but Riera will count himself unlucky to have been overlooked.
Spain have been drawn in Group D with Russia, Sweden and defending champions Greece. They will make their debut in Innsbruck on June 10 against Russia.
There is a limited optimism in Spain about the chances of "La Seleccion" - which has not suffered defeat since November 2006 - mostly because of the good form of strikers Torres and Guiza, top scorer in the Spanish Liga.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Real Madrid team-mate Sergio Ramos are also in fine form.
However, Aragones, 69, who will be replaced by Vicente del Bosque after Euro 2008, is infamous for his brittle, irritable temperament.
This temperament was in evidence in Madrid on Saturday when - after announcing his squad - he became visibly irritated when asked about the absence of Raul.
Spain, of course, have the reputation of going into tournaments as one of the favourites, only to punch below their weight on the big occasions.
GOALKEEPERS: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool), Andres Palop (Sevilla)
DEFENDERS: Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Raul Albiol (Valencia), Juanito Gutierrez (Betis), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Fernando Navarro (Mallorca)
MIDFIELDERS: Marcos Senna (Villarreal), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia), Ruben de la Red (Real Madrid - on loan to Getafe), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal)
FORWARDS: David Villa (Valencia), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Daniel Guiza (Mallorca), Sergio García (Zaragoza)
