PARIS
After
their abject failure at the World Cup, Spain have a new look as they
begin preparations for the defence of the European Championship with a
friendly against France on Thursday.
Just over two
months on from their group-stage elimination as World Cup holders in
Brazil, coach Vicente del Bosque takes a squad that is a mixture of
familiar faces and potential stars of the future for the match at the
Stade de France, the venue for the Euro 2016 final.
Xavi
Hernandez and Xabi Alonso, veterans of the side that won Euro 2008, the
2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, have retired from international football,
following in the footsteps of David Villa.
Pepe Reina,
Fernando Torres and Juan Mata were all omitted, while fitness problems
of varying degrees have ruled out Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and Javi
Martinez.
Of the new faces, five are uncapped and four
are aged 23 or under, including Valencia striker Paco Alcacer. Others,
like 28-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder Raul Garcia, have had to
wait a little longer for their opportunity.
They all
join 22-year-old Atletico midfielder Koke, who went to the World Cup but
is now expected to take on extra responsibility.
"It's
a team for now with a view to two years down the line," explained del
Bosque after unveiling his squad, with the aim of Thursday's match being
to prepare for their opening Euro 2016 qualifying Group C fixture
against Macedonia in Valencia on Monday.
"We have come
up with a squad that is a consequence of our bad performance, (but) the
World Cup has not left any effects nor do I think we need to change our
way of acting in the future."
Defender Sergio Ramos, another survivor from Euro 2008, called for La Roja to get back to basics.
"We
are going to try to get back to what we were and forget about the
success we have had because we can't always live off that," said the
Real Madrid defender, a veteran of over 100 caps, as he arrived for the
squad get-together this week.
FRANCE REPUTATION ENHANCED
In
contrast to Spain, France came out of the World Cup with their
reputation greatly enhanced, a narrow quarter-final defeat to eventual
winners Germany coming after some impressive performances in the group
stage.
Coach Didier Deschamps is now embarking on a
two-year run of friendlies before France hosts Euro 2016, where they
will be expected to feature prominently with a squad that is a healthy
mix of youth and experience.
Indeed, Deschamps only
made three changes to his World Cup squad for the game and Sunday's
friendly against Serbia in Belgrade, with one the return of fit-again
Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in place of the retired Mickael
Landreau.
Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette and
Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu have also been recalled with Arsenal
duo Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny injured.
But
Deschamps has admitted that his starting line-up against the reigning
European champions may be the same as that which took to the field
against Germany at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on July 4.
"We
have two matches very close together but the team which starts on
Thursday will be close to that which started against Germany," said
Deschamps, who added that his priority is to make sure his team are "as
competitive as possible in two years."
There will of
course be no Franck Ribery, the Bayern Munich winger who missed the
World Cup with a back injury and has now retired from international
football to the surprise of many.
France
lost 2-0 to Spain at the Euro 2012 quarter-finals and finished second
behind La Roja in qualifying for the World Cup, drawing 1-1 in Madrid
and then losing 1-0 at home in Paris in March last year.
However, full-back Bacary Sagna insists France are a different proposition now.
"We
are more respected than a few years ago," he said. "We have shown that
we are ready to fight, to give everything for the shirt. We have more
confidence in ourselves. Other countries fear France more and more
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