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Casillas and Orbaiz return to Spain squad [Fri Aug 26th, 2005]
Madrid (Reuters) - Goalkeeper Iker Casillas and midfielder Pablo Orbaiz have been included in the Spain squad for next month's potentially decisive World Cup qualifier against Serbia & Montenegro after recovering from injury.
Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes has been dropped to make way for the return of first-choice keeper Casillas, while Orbaiz replaces Deportivo La Coruna midfielder Sergio and will provide cover for David Albelda, who is suspended for the Serbia match.
Apart from the two minor adjustments, coach Luis Aragones has kept faith with the same squad of players who beat Uruguay 2-0 in a friendly earlier this month.
With forward Albert Luque completing a 14-million euro (US$17.2 million) move from Deportivo La Coruna to Newcastle United on Friday, six of the 22-strong squad now hail from the English Premier League.
Luque joins Chelsea defender Asier del Horno and Liverpool quartet Fernando Morientes, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia in the party.
Spain will play a warm-up match against Canada on September 3 in Santander and then travel to Madrid to meet Serbia & Montenegro at the Vicente Calderon the following Wednesday.
They lead European zone Group Seven by a point from the Balkan side, but their opponents have played a game less and have yet to concede a goal in qualifying. The two sides drew 0-0 when they met in Belgrade in March.
Spain scrambled a last-gasp 1-1 draw against Bosnia and edged a 1-0 win over Lithuania in their last qualifiers in June.
Aragones did not give his usual news conference following the squad announcement, but the Spanish Federation said that he would speak to the media when the squad meets up.
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool)
Defenders: Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Sergio Ramos (Sevilla), Asier del Horno (Chelsea), Pablo Ibanez (Atletico Madrid), Juanito (Real Betis), Michel Salgado (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Ivan de la Pena (Espanyol), Joaquin (Real Betis), Xavi (Barcelona), Albert Luque (Newcastle United), Pablo Orbaiz (Athletic Bilbao), Antonio Lopez (Atletico Madrid), Luis Garcia (Liverpool), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Vicente (Valencia)
Forwards: Raul (Real Madrid), Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid), Raul Tamudo (Espanyol), Fernando Morientes (Liverpool).
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