Unselected Spain XI : Talent to the brim

RF – David Villa (Atletico Madrid)

Proof that nobody is safe from the cull in the Spain squad, it is Villa that has had to make way for club teammate Diego Costa to come into the squad, despite being the record goalscorer for his country.

Spurs fans are still kicking themselves that they spent £20million more on Roberto Soldado than Atletico paid to land David Villa, with the striker having proved he is nowhere near past it for Atleti.

Villa has netted on 11 occasions for Atleti this season, converting 28.2% of his shots, while he has claimed three assists on top of that.

LF – Juan Mata (Manchester United)

Yup, that’s correct, Juan Mata has still not made the Spain squad despite having left Chelsea in order to ensure he was playing enough to get back into the squad in time for the World Cup.

There’s now a real fear that one of the best players currently in the Premier League may not even go to Brazil this summer, unless he plans a holiday there.

Mata has already created 16 chances for United in his five games at Old Trafford – more than Robin Van Persie has – and claimed three assists, while he created a further 30 during his limited playing time at Chelsea.

CF – Fernando Llorente (Juventus)

Spain have even shored up their striking options now after playing the ‘false nine’ at the European Championships, with the likes of Costa and Alvaro Negredo lighting up their respective leagues enough to leave Llorente to rest back in Turin for a while.

The towering striker is enjoying his football once again after a difficult final season in Bilbao and has become a key element of the Juventus side that sits top of the pile once again in Italy.

Llorente has scored ten times of Juve in his 22 appearances, converting 25% of his shots and hitting the target with 63% of them.