Chelsea’s duo of Alvaro Morata and Cesc Fabregas, will miss the 2018 World Cup, after they were left of Spain’s final squad. The 2010 winners, Spain, announced their final 23-man squad on Monday, with both players top of the list of absentee big names.
Morata has been replaced by ex-Blues, Diego Costa, who rejoined Atletic Madrid in January, after he left the London side in controversial circumstances.
Despite scoring five goals during the qualifiers for La Roja, the former Real Madrid man pays for his poor form at Chelsea, in what has been a difficult first season at the club.
Fabregas, who started in the FA Cup win at Wembley at the weekend, also misses out, having been in and out of Antonio Conte’s side.
These two are not only high profile omissions, Bayern Munich’s versatile midfielder, Javi Martinez, was also left out the team, as were Manchester United duo, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata.
Julen Lopetegui’s men kickoff their campaign with a difficult tie against European champions, Portugal, on June 15 in the Russian city of Sochi.
Spain’s Full List
Goalkeepers: David de Gea, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Pepe Reina
Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Jordi Alba, Caesar Azpilicueta, Nacho Monreal, Nacho Fernandez, Alvaro Odriozola, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos
Midfielders: Thiago Alcantara, Andres Iniesta, Isco, Sergio Busquets, Koke, Saul Niguez, David Silva, Marco Asencio
Forwards: Lucas Vazquez, Iago Aspas, Diego Costa, Rodrigo Moreno
