Fernando Morientes has been left out of Spain’s squad for the World Cup by Spanish boss Luis Aragones.
Moro’s snub comes as a slight surprise as although he has only scored nine times for Liverpool this season, he has an impressive scoring record for Spain, with 26 goals in 43 games.
The former Real Madrid striker went to both Euro 2004 and the last World Cup, but missed out on Euro 2000, an omission that then-coach Jose Antonio Camacho later admitted was a mistake.
Valencia striker David Villa, who has scored 24 Primera Liga goal this season, is now the favourite to lead the line with support from either Raul or Atletico Madrid’s Fernando Torres.
‘I’ve given priority to the players who suit the way we play. We can’t put the interests of individual players before those of the team and its stability,’ Aragones told a news conference.
It seem’s a strange decision by the Spanish manager especially considering he has included Nando’s former team mate Raul in his squad, who has had an even poorer season. The Real Madrid striker has not scored since returning to action in the middle of February.
When questioned about this Aragones said, ‘I believe in Raul completely and I think he will have a good World Cup,’
Another Liverpool player that will miss the World Cup is keeper Jerzy Dudek.
Poland coach Pawel Janas has left The Dude out of his 23-man World Cup squad.
The former Feyenoord custodian has paid the price for a lack of first-team action with The Reds this past season.
‘Dudek is a very good keeper, but he has played very few games and that has acted in favour of those who have been playing at club level,’ Janas told Polstar TV.
Legia Warsaw stopper Lukasz Fabianski claimed one of three goalkeeping places in Janas’s squad, with Celtic’s Artur Boruc and West Bromwich Albion’s Tomasz Kuszczak also booking their places for the Bialo-czerwoni.
Share this article
