2018 World Cup: Morata and Bellerin miss out on Spain squad

Spain have named their 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup and there’s no place for Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata or Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin.

Morata misses out as Spain boss Julen Lopetegui opts for three forwards with “different” qualities, the BBC reports. Morata’s Chelsea teammates Marcos Alonso and Cesc Fabregas have also failed to make the national side.

Manchester United keeper David de Gea, Manchester City playmaker David Silva, Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta and Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal are included. Atletico Madrid’s former Chelsea striker Diego Costa gets a call-up, as does Andres Iniesta - the midfielder who played his final match for Barcelona last night.

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Quoted by Marca, Lopetegui said: “This is the squad which we believe will help us the most in the World Cup. I want to make clear my appreciation for the players who’ve been important in qualification but haven’t been chosen today, it’s so bitter for them, they deserve to be here but aren’t.

“We couldn’t select everyone, there are those like Morata, Vitolo, [Marc] Bartra and [Asier] Illarramendi, but we had to submit a list of a certain size.”

On the strikers selected, Lopetegui added: “The three forwards all offer different things. [Iago] Aspas has the ability to play wide and cut inside, while Rodrigo [Moreno] can also adapt to that area. Diego [Costa] gives us a central point of reference and is both competitive and aggressive, he also creates space.”

Spain are in World Cup group B with Portugal, Morocco and Iran.

Spain’s 23-man World Cup squad

• Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Manchester United), Pepe Reina (Napoli), Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao)
• Defenders: Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Nacho Monreal (Arsenal), Alvaro Odriozola (Real Sociedad), Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
• Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Isco (Real Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich), David Silva (Manchester City), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid), Koke (Atletico Madrid)
• Forwards: Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia), Lucas Vazquez (Real Madrid)