Lopez gets nod for Spain World Cup qualifiers

March 20, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Spain coach Vicente del Bosque on Friday gave Villareal keeper Diego Lopez his first call-up for World Cup qualifiers against Turkey at home on March 28 and away four days later.

The 27-year-old was listed as the Spanish squad’s third keeper after Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas and usual substitute Jose Reina of Liverpool.

Lopez was Casillas’ understudy between 2005 and 2007 when he was at Real. He is the only new name in the squad unveiled by Del Bosque.

The European champions have not lost a game since going down 1-0 in a friendly to Romania in Cadiz in November 2006.

They top their Group Five 2010 World Cup qualifying group, with four wins from four games, and have only conceded one goal in their last 10 internationals.

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool/ENG), Diego Lopez (Villarreal)

Defenders: Raul Albiol (Valencia), Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool/ENG), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Juanito (Real Betis), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Liverpool/ENG), Sergi Busquets (Barcelona), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), Santiago Cazorla (Villarreal), Albert Riera (Liverpool/ENG), David Silva (Valencia)

Strikers: Fernando Torres (Liverpool/ENG), Daniel Guiza (Fenerbahce/TUR), David Villa (Valencia), Fernando Llorente (Athletic de Bilbao)

Written by: AFP

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