Spain squad world cup 2006

The cliché
This time it's surely going to be different for this talented group of players.

The reality
Despite their eighth successive finals appearance, the perception remains that Spain are Europe's chronic under-achievers. Although unbeaten in qualification, they still drew half of their 10 group games to finish behind Serbia & Montenegro, as Luis Aragones strove to introduce younger players, but recovered to wallop Slovakia 6-2 in the play-offs. With a spine of Iker Casillas, Carlos Puyol, Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres, they are equipped to win. Then again, someone always says that.

Where they're staying
The Sport Academy Kaiserau, Kamen was West Germany's pre-tournament base before winning in 1974 and 1990. They won't be short of focus in the Ruhr soccer boot camp town, its most famous feature is the Kamener Kreuz, the intersection of the A1 and A2 autobahns.

Grudge match
Italy's 1994 quarter-final victory when Mauro Tassotti smashed Luis Enrique's nose and stole the game still has to be avenged.

The politics
La selección has often been riven by fierce antipathy between the Barcelona and Madrid factions b

Spain coach Luis Aragones has named a 27-man preliminary squad ahead of this summer's World Cup finals in Germany.

Aragones has named seven Premiership players, with Liverpool quartet Jose Reina, Fernando Morientes, Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso all included.

Arsenal pair Jose Antonio Reyes and Cesc Fabregas both get the nod along with Chelsea's Asier del Horno.

There was no room in the squad for Valencia winger Vicente Rodriguez or Espanyol playmaker Ivan De La Pena.

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Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool), Santiago Canizares (Valencia)

Defenders: Antonio Lopez (Atletico Madrid), Pablo Ibanez (Atletico Madrid), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Juanito (Real Betis), Asier del Horno (Chelsea), Joan Capdevila (Deportivo Coruna), Michel Salgado (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Javi Venta (Villarreal)

Midfielders: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Jose Antonio Reyes (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Joaquin (Real Betis), Luis Garcia (Liverpool), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), David Albelda (Valencia), Ruben Baraja (Valencia), Marcos Senna (Villarreal)

Forwards: Fernando Torres (Atletico Ma

World Cup Football 2006 Germany

Group:Group H
Coach:Luis Aragonés

Squad

No.	Player	Position	Club	Age	Caps
1	Iker Casillas	Keeper	Real Madrid	25	58
2	Míchel Salgado	Defender	Real Madrid	30	50
3	Mariano Pernía	Defender	Getafe	29	1
4	Carlos Marchena	Defender	Valencia	26	27
5	Carles Puyol	Defender	Barcelona	28	47
6	David Albelda	Midfielder	Valencia	28	33
7	Raúl (captain)	Forward	Real Madrid	28	95
8	Xavi	Midfielder	Barcelona	26	36
9	Fernando Torres	Forward	Atlético Madrid	22	30
10	José Antonio Reyes	Midfielder	Arsenal	22	19
11	Luis García	Midfielder	Liverpool	27	10
12	Antonio López	Defender	Atlético Madrid	24	8
13	Andrés Iniesta	Midfielder	Barcelona	22	3
14	Xabi Alonso	Midfielder	Liverpool	24	26
15	Sergio Ramos	Defender	Real Madrid	20	11
16	Marcos Senna	Midfielder	Villarreal	29	3
17	Joaquín	Midfielder	Real Betis	24	38
18	Cesc Fàbregas	Midfielder	Arsenal	19	4
19	Santiago Cañizares	Keeper	Valencia	36	45
20	Juanito	Defender	Real Betis	29	15
21	David Villa	Forward	Valencia	24	8
22	Pablo Ibáñez Skip to content Spain 0 ICasillas 0 XAlonso 0 LGarcia 0 FTorres 0 CPuyol 0 Xavi 0 DVilla 0 PIbanez 0 MPernia 0 0 SRamos 0 MSalgado 0 Raul 0 Juanito 0 Joaquín 0 PReina 0 SCanizares Ruiz 0 CMarchena 0 DAlbelda 0 AIniesta 0 JReyes 0 ALopez 0 CFàbregas Ukraine 0 AShevchenko 0 OShovkovskiy 0 ANesmachniy 0 VVaschuk 0 ATymoshchuk 0 ARusol 0 RRotan 0 OGusev 0 VYezerskyy 0 AGusin 0 AVoronin 0 SRebrov 0 AKravets 0 MKalynychenko 0 AVorobey 0 SNazarenko 0 OShelayev 0 ABielik 0 DChygrynskiy 0 VSvidersky 0 BShust 0 APyatov 0 OYatsenko Match Officials Referee: M Busacca Key Goal scored Own purpose Assist Penalty missed Yellow card Red card Subbed on Subbed off