Spain coach Vicente del Bosque recalled Cesc Fabregas and left out Bojan Krkic when he named his squad on Friday for the European Champions' opening 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia and Armenia.

Arsenal midfielder Fabregas was injured for Del Bosque's first game at the helm since replacing Luis Aragones, when Spain beat Denmark 3-0 in a friendly in Copenhagen last week.

The return of Fabregas saw Real Madrid's Ruben de la Red drop out of the reckoning but perhaps the most significant absence from the list was that of Barcelona's Bojan Krkic.

The 18-year-old was in the squad but did not play in Denmark.

The teenage striker has yet to make his debut for the senior side and has been courted by Serbia coach Radomir Antic as he is also eligible to play for the Balkans team.

"Bojan has played around 30 internationals with us at junior level and we regard him as ours," Del Bosque told a news conference.

"The competition for places is great in the side, as it is for him at Barcelona, but we have great belief in him. That's said, it is his decision to make."

On hearing of his omission, Bojan was quick to make his loyalties clear at a news conference in Barcelona.

"I'm flattered by the interest shown by Antic but I am Spanish and want to play for Spain," he said.

"I want to continue learning and developing, and if one day I get the chance to debut for the senior team all the better."

The squad will gather in the Spanish capital next Monday for the matches against Bosnia in Murcia on Sept.6, and Armenia in Albacete four days later.

Spain have won two and drawn two in four matches against Bosnia, and won all four previous fixtures against Armenia.

The Euro 2008 champions also face Estonia, Belgium and Turkey in Group Five.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Raul Albiol (Valencia), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Fernando Navarro (Sevilla), Juanito (Real Betis), Andoni Iraola (Athletic Bilbao)

Midfielders: Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), Diego Capel (Sevilla), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)

Forwards: David Villa (Valencia), Daniel Guiza (Fenerbahce), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

October 2007 News