Ceballos and Alcacer back in Spain squad for Euro qualifiers
AP, , Friday 30 Aug 2019


Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos and Borussia Dortmund striker Paco Alcacer were called up Friday for Spain's European Championship qualifiers.

Neither player had been included in the previous list by then-coach Luis Enrique, who late Thursday announced his 9-year-old daughter Xana died after a five-month battle with bone cancer. The illness led Luis Enrique to resign in June and he was replaced by former assistant Robert Moreno.

Moreno's news conference to talk about the squad on Friday was canceled because of Xana's death.

Spain will visit Romania on Sept. 5 and host the Faeroe Islands on Sept. 8.

Ceballos is back after impressing early on in his stint with Arsenal in the Premier League, while Alcacer has continued to be consistent in the Bundesliga, having already scored five goals in four matches this season.

In his first list, Moreno also included Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Pablo Sarabia, Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara, Atletico Madrid attacking midfielder Saul Niguez, AC Milan forward Suso and Athletic Bilbao defender Unai Nunez.

Among the players left out of Moreno's squad were Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas and Villarreal midfielder Santi Cazorla, who had been called up for the qualifiers in June, when Spain defeated the Faeroe Islands 4-1 and Sweden 3-0 to take the Group F lead with 12 points from four matches.

Players absent because of injuries include Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata and Real Madrid midfielders Francisco "Isco'' Alarcon and Marco Asensio.

Spain:

Goalkeepers: David De Gea (Manchester United), Pau Lopez (Roma), Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)

Defenders: Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Jose Luis Gaya (Valencia), Diego Llorente (Real Sociedad), Mario Hermoso (Atletico Madrid), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Unai Nunez (Athletic Bilbao)

Midfielders: Dani Ceballos (Arsenal), Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodrigo Hernandez (Manchester City), Fabian Ruiz (Napoli), Dani Parejo (Valencia), Thiago (Bayern Munich), Pablo Sarabia (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Rodrigo (Valencia), Suso (AC Milan), Paco Alcacer (Borussia Dortmund), Mikel Oyazarbal (Real Sociedad)

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