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Link to original content: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18693622
Euro 2012 trio Mata, Alba & Martinez in Spain Olympic squad - BBC Sport

Euro 2012 trio Mata, Alba & Martinez in Spain Olympic squad

  • Published
Juan Mata (right) lifts the Henri Delaunay trophy

Spain have selected Euro 2012 winners Juan Mata, Jordi Alba and Javi Martinez in their 22-man squad for this summer's Olympic Games in London.

Chelsea midfielder Mata and Barcelona-bound full-back Alba, both scored in Sunday's 4-0 final win over Italy.

Mata's club-mate Oriol Romeu, Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea and Barcelona pair Martin Montoya and Cristian Tello are also selected.

Coach Luis Milla will reduce his squad to 18 players before the Games.

This process has already begun, with Barca midfielder Thiago Alcantara having to withdraw because of a leg injury he picked up in the Copa del Rey final victory over Athletic Bilbao in May.

In a statement, Barcelona said doctors have determined that Thiago needs several more weeks to fully recover,, external ruling him out of the Olympics that start 27 July.

Mata, 24, and Bilbao midfielder Martinez, 23, are both over-age picks in Milla's squad, along with Atletico Madrid's 24-year-old forward Adrian Lopez.

World champions Spain became the first side to retain the European title with victory in Kiev, and in the process made history by winning three successive major tournaments.

Milla named his squad the day after Mata, Alba and Martinez were involved in a huge homecoming celebration as the Spanish team paraded the Henri Delaunay trophy through the streets of Madrid.

"I believe it would be unfair to demand that this team be at the same level as the full national team," said Milla.

"This team has character and a similar playing philosophy but it is a different team under different pressures."

The Olympic squad will join up on Friday and will face Senegal (13 July) and Mexico (18 July) in friendlies before heading to London for the Games, where they have been drawn in Group D along with Japan, Honduras and Morocco.

Switzerland have also named a number of senior internationals for the Olympics.

Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, Fiorentina's former West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami and Nuremburg defender Timm Klose were all picked in the 18-man squad as over-aged players.

Fulham's Pajtim Kasami and Aston Villa goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist are also selected.

However, forward Xherdan Shaqiri was left out after Switzerland agreed with Bayern Munich, who the player joined this summer from Basel, not to select the 20-year-old.

Switzerland are in Group B and will face Mexico, South Korea and Gabon.

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