Doing the unthinkable remains the priority for the Spanish national team in 2014. The leaders of the FIFA rankings will look to become the first national team to win four consecutive major trophies and the first to repeat as World Cup champions since Brazil (1958,1962). Manager Vicente del Bosque revealed 30 players that will be tasked to do so on Tuesday.
Only 23, however, will be given a ticket to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The roster was not devoid of the usual suspects. Mainstays the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Iker Casillas are all but guaranteed the opportunity to complete their four-peat. The omission of Alvaro Arbeloa has created an opportunity for young defenders Dani Carvajal and Cesar Azpilicueta to take the reins.
Spain's full roster is listed below:
GOALKEEPERS: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Napoli), David de Gea (Manchester United)
DEFENDERS: Juanfran Torres (Atletico Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Alberto Moreno (Sevilla), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
MIDFIELDERS: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich), Jesus Navas (Manchester City), David Silva (Manchester City), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Ander Iturraspe (Athletic Bilbao), Juan Mata (Manchester United)
FORWARDS: Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), David Villa (Atletico Madrid), Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Fernando Llorente (Juventus)
Unfortunately for Juanfran, Carvajal, Llorente, Torres, Mata, Iturraspe and Villa, a ticket to Brazil isn't written in the stars. Neither of the seven are projected to make del Bosque's final 23.
Despite being the defending champions, the Spanish aren't the favorites to win the 2014 World Cup. Host-nation Brazil remains the resounding pick. A projected starting XI like the one below, however, shouldn't be overlooked.
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