Spanish veteran forward Villa gets shock recall for World Cup qualifiers

Madrid Aug 25 (IANS) Spain s football team chief coach Julen Lopetegui produced several surprises when he named his squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying games against Italy and Liechtenstein.

Lopetegui has dropped Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto and Diego Costa who has not been training with Chelsea and handed a recall to Chelsea s former Barcelona forwards Pedro Rodriguez and veteran David Villa reports Xinhua news agency.

The call up for the 35-year-old Villa is a major shock given that he has spent the past three years playing in the American Major League Soccer (MLS) after leaving Barcelona and although he has remained a consistent goal scorer most thought his international days were behind him.

There is also a debut call-up for 23-year-old AC Milan winger Suso a player who has built a far higher reputation in Italy than in his native Spain.

Borussia Dortmund defender Marc Bartra is also in the squad along with the in-form Real Madrid forward Marcos Asensio as the Spanish look to seal their place in the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.

--IANS
pur/bg