David Villa will not be playing for Spain at this summer's European championship.
The injured Barcelona striker has been ruled out of contention for the defending world and European champions, according to a statement released by the Spanish federation on Tuesday.
For Villa, who broke his left leg in the FIFA Club World Cup in December and has not played since, it was always an uncertainty that he would be fit in time for this summer's tournament. Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque left him out of his preliminary squad but left the door open for his return in case he was fit enough to play, but that will not be the case.
Without Villa, Spain's strikeforce still potentially boasts the likes of Roberto Soldado, Alvaro Negredo, Fernando Llorente and Fernando Torres, among others. Del Bosque is expected to announce his final 23-man roster on Sunday following a friendly against Serbia and prior to a friendly against South Korea. He has had to wait to include any players from Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao on his initial roster because the two clubs still have to play the Copa del Rey final on Friday.
What do you think of this development? Did you think Villa would play this summer all along? Do you think Spain can still repeat as European champion without Villa?
Share your thoughts below.
This is a huge dent in Spain’s potential to repeat. Their biggest offensive threat gone leaves a huge gap in terms of goal scoring. I hope Torres steps up and has a huge tournament.
Casillas..and this is coming from a Barca fan, hes been the best for years now and he hasnt done anything wrong to take that title of being the best away from him..Spain will reign again, their depth is beyond belief
It’s a very good question. Of course, we don’t know for sure. However, Villa scored almost all of Spain’s goals in the last WC, where Spain had to face sit back and defend tactics in virtually every game. I speculate that they probably would have won the Champions league, but came a bit shot in La Liga title chase.
Neuer is wondeful and I can’t think of any weaknesses he has but at the level where he and Casillas are, experience, coordinating the defense and what they call “mentality” count for a great deal.
Casillas is lucky in being at the right place and right time but it’s not just about that and luck that he has earned a ridiculous number of medals.
You can’t go wrong either way but if it’s one game for all the marbles I pick Casillas.
fair point.
Lol did you see me saying Tim Howard was better than Casillas? That would be homering.
I’m basing my opinion on seeing an extensive amount of games for both of them this year and I stand by my statement that Neuer is better. Am I right? Who knows, but if I could have either one of them on a team right now, it would be Neuer.
This past season Casillias was…
FIFA World XI
FIFA World Goalkeeper of the Year
UEFA Team of the Year
UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year
I think it would be you doing the homering 😀
I like the Netherlands a lot. I just have questions about their defense. I think they have one of the most impressive collections of offensive talent, but I don’t think the same can be said about their defense.
I think you have your Spanish blinders on. Puyol isn’t even playing and Casillas is very good, but I would take Neuer over him every day of the week.
That’s true, Carles has his knee injury. It’s rumored that Busquets might get the calls over Xabi next to Xavi.
that’s not their line-up…but ok
Xabi Alonso starts, Puyol is out injured. I would imagine Arbeloa will come into frame with Ramos moving to centreback.
Neuer is an amazing keeper, but Iker Casillas is currently the unquestioned best goalkeeper in the world.
Spain are still the defending champions with the best players and two of the hottest strikers in the world. They also have the hottest goalkeeper in the world.
Llorente
Iniesta + Fabregas+ Silva
Xavi + Busquets
Capdevilla+Puyol+Pique+Ramos
Casillas
That’s still the best national team in the world. In my opinion, by a lot.
i dont know about best goalkeeping. i think neuer is better than anyone that spain has personally.
yes but Robben in on the team and has once again proved he chokes at the costliest moments…
Netherlands?
Seemingly everyone is healthy and Van Persie has asserted himself in the elite of elites in the world when he’s been in form…and healthy.
Definitely? I’m not so sure about that. I see Germany as a better all-around team than Spain at this point. They are getting hit hard with injuries.
Spain still has the best midfield, goalkeeping and defense in the world. They are definitely the favorites to win it all.
In the order asked: too bad for him, nah, and porque no?
Hard to say, but I think he would have greatly increased their chances of advancing in the Champions League and they probably would have put up a better fight against Madrid in La Liga.
If he’d been healthy, would Barcelona have won the UEFA Champions Cup and La Liga?
the next 12 months will define fernando torres’ place in the football world. is he the guy who was 24 months ago the virtual consensus 3rd best player on the planet, or will he be the considerably less spectacular, swagger-devoid enigma we’ve seen the past 2 years? he has been given a golden opportunity to regain his talisman status both with country and club, now it’s his task to seize them and be the guy who dazzled so effortlessly in the past. seriously, he couldn’t have dreamed that his main competition for playing time for spain (villa) and chelsea (drogba) would both be out of the picture at this point… i’m excited for him, should be a treat to watch
“Without Villa, Spain’s strikeforce still potentially boasts the likes of Roberto Soldado, Alvaro Negredo, Fernando Llorente and Fernando Torres”
At this point, I’m not entirely sure I would even include Fernando Torres’ name in that list.