Swansea’s Michu replaces arthritis victim Villa
9 Oct 2013 3:34 AM IST
It is a first ever international call up for Michu, who has scored five times for the Welsh side this season following an incredible debut campaign in the Premier League with 22 goals last season.
Villa, who is Spain’s all-time leading international scorer, was forced off just before the hour mark of Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Sunday.
“The Asturian player is suffering from arthritis in his left ankle, the medical services of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have been informed, which will make his presence in the squad managed by Vicente del Bosque impossible,” the RFEF said in a statement.
Villa has featured in every one of Atletico’s 12 games in all competitions this season, scoring three goals as Diego Simeone’s men have made a flying start to the campaign.
And Simeone is hopeful Villa will be fit for Atletico’s next match against Espanyol in two weeks’ time. “He went off with some problems in his ankle. I imagine that in a short while it will respond and he will be fine,” he said. Del Bosque has already had to call up Real Sociedad’s Inigo Martinez to replace the injured Raul Albiol.
Spain need just four points from their remaining two qualifiers to guarantee their place at next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
MILAN: Giuseppe Rossi returned to the Italy squad on Sunday for the first time since the injury nightmare which cost him two years of his career while Mario Balotelli avoided being dropped despite a ban for bad behaviour.
US-born forward Rossi was included in the squad, published on the Italian Football Federation website for the World Cup qualifiers away to Denmark on Oct. 11 and at home to Armenia four days later.
He is set to make his first appearance since playing against Serbia two years ago.
This season, he has surpassed expectations by scoring five league goals for Fiorentina.
Balotelli’s place in the squad was in the balance after he was sent off at the end of a 2-1 home defeat by Napoli two weeks ago for arguing with the referee and given a three-match ban. AS Roma defender Federico Balzaretti was called up for the first time since last November.
Villa, who is Spain’s all-time leading international scorer, was forced off just before the hour mark of Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Sunday.
“The Asturian player is suffering from arthritis in his left ankle, the medical services of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have been informed, which will make his presence in the squad managed by Vicente del Bosque impossible,” the RFEF said in a statement.
Villa has featured in every one of Atletico’s 12 games in all competitions this season, scoring three goals as Diego Simeone’s men have made a flying start to the campaign.
And Simeone is hopeful Villa will be fit for Atletico’s next match against Espanyol in two weeks’ time. “He went off with some problems in his ankle. I imagine that in a short while it will respond and he will be fine,” he said. Del Bosque has already had to call up Real Sociedad’s Inigo Martinez to replace the injured Raul Albiol.
Spain need just four points from their remaining two qualifiers to guarantee their place at next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
MILAN: Giuseppe Rossi returned to the Italy squad on Sunday for the first time since the injury nightmare which cost him two years of his career while Mario Balotelli avoided being dropped despite a ban for bad behaviour.
US-born forward Rossi was included in the squad, published on the Italian Football Federation website for the World Cup qualifiers away to Denmark on Oct. 11 and at home to Armenia four days later.
He is set to make his first appearance since playing against Serbia two years ago.
This season, he has surpassed expectations by scoring five league goals for Fiorentina.
Balotelli’s place in the squad was in the balance after he was sent off at the end of a 2-1 home defeat by Napoli two weeks ago for arguing with the referee and given a three-match ban. AS Roma defender Federico Balzaretti was called up for the first time since last November.
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