Bravo for Spain

New Spanish national team coach Iñaki Sáez today called up five uncapped players for next week's friendly against Hungary.

Trio of defenders
With central defenders Fernando Hierro and Miguel Nadal now retired from international football, Sáez has named a trio of untried centre-backs in his squad - Valencia CF's Carlos Marchena, Club Atlético de Madrid's José Antonio García Calvo and Juanito of Real Betis Balompié. "My job is to rebuild where the squad has lost players," Sáez said. "I've brought in players that I know will all work hard."

Surprise inclusion
Real Madrid CF's left-sided full-back Raúl Bravo and Athletic Club Bilbao midfield player Pablo Orbaiz are two other surprise inclusions. Bravo is second-choice in the Madrid defence at the Bernabéu stadium behind Roberto Carlos and has made just six first-team appearances. A little over a year ago he was playing in the Spanish third division with Madrid's junior team, although he has won three caps at Under-21 level.

Tristán missing
With forward Diego Tristán missing, Sáez has taken the chance to have a look at Raúl Tamudo of RCD Espanyol in attack. "Most players who were at the [FIFA] World Cup started training later than everyone else and I don't want to force them back," Sáez added. "There will be other players in better shape in September, but we want to have a look at these players first."

Known quantities
The new coach also pointed out that most of the newcomers were well known to him in his former capacity as Spain's youth football supremo. "Almost all of them have been with me in the U21 team," he said. "These are players I have worked with since they were 16 or 17 years old, they've all been in the U20s, the U21s or played in the Olympic Games."

Camacho resignation
Sáez was apppointed as senior coach after the resignation of José Antonio Camacho, who led the country to the quarter-finals of the World Cup before they were beaten by the Korean Republic.

Spain squad
Casillas, Ricardo, García Calvo, Puyol, Juanito, Raúl Bravo, Aranzabal, Marchena, Orbaiz, Mendieta, Xavi, Joaquín, Valerón, Helguera, Vicente, Tamudo, Raúl, Morientes.