Spain's Preliminary 30-Man World Cup Roster Announced

Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres, Xavi Hernandez, and Andres Iniesta were all included in Vicente del Bosque's preliminary 30-man World Cup roster that was released Monday.

Talent will again be oozing out of the Spaniards' locker room with the players selected. Health, however, will be a major factor when Del Bosque is required to cut to the 23-man limit by June 1st, 15 days prior to its opening match against Switzerland.

All four stars were key contributors in its perfect run at the European Championship in 2008 and its 10-0 record in World Cup qualifying matches. All four stars find themselves dinged up just 36 days away from its opening match, however, bringing much concern to a nation waiting to rebound from a horrible showing in Germany just four years back. 

Fabregas is recovering from a cracked fibula suffered in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal on March 31st in a challenge with fellow teammate Carles Puyol, who is also on the 30-man roster for Del Bosque and will most likely wear the captain’s badge in South Africa.

Fabregas has started jogging and is expected to join the team for a friendly against Saudi Arabia on May 29th, when the team will get a better feel of where he stands physically.

Expect Fabregas to be close to 100 percent when the ball is kicked off June 16th for Spain.

Torres has missed the last part of the English season after having knee surgery, and is in a race against time to prove his fitness for the 23-man roster. Doctors have said that Torres is on pace to a full recovery by June 11th, so expect him head to South Africa.

Xavi Hernandez has a three-centimeter tear in his right thigh muscle that could limit his game play come June, but has said he will continue to play the final three games with Barcelona despite the injury.

Xavi, who was the best player at Euro 2008, is the key distributor for Spain and should be at the top of the list for team doctors to heal. Spain plays similar to the style of Barcelona's play, where Xavi practically makes the goals that Messi, Bojan, Ibrahimovic, and Pedro account for. Spain will desperately need his authority in the midfield.

If he is playing on a tear now, expect him to do the same in South Africa come June and July.

Andres Iniesta's hamstring tear has kept him out for a month, but he should return to action this Sunday when Barcelona takes on Valladolid. Great news for Del Bosque as his play-making midfielder will get a few games to test the hamstring before joining the national team. This makes Iniesta a lock to make the 23-man roster headed to South Africa. 

Regardless of where they stand physically, expect all four players to head to South Africa and contribute, even at 70 percent.

Whether they are limited to 60 minutes or come off the bench for the final 20, these players have the skill and experience to execute the one play that can determine the outcome of a match. Del Bosque will need to show loyalty to the players who helped him get here—so leaving any of these four out is not an option. 

Aside from these injured stars, familiar faces will be joining the national team.

The back line will be led by Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, and captain Carles Puyol, who will most likely be accompanied with either Joan Capdevila or Carlos Marchena. Odd man out will be Cesar Azpilicueta of Spain’s Osasuna. 

Midfield is the key to Spain's success.

Joining Xavi, Fabregas, and Iniesta in the attack will be Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Marcos Senna, and David Silva. A crowded midfield should see Javier Martinez (of Athletic Bilbao, and only 21) on the brink of making the 23-man roster come June 1st.

Torres will align himself up front with Golden-Boot candidate David Villa to form one of the top striker combinations in the tournament.

If Torres is unable to go a full 90, look for Pedro and Mata to fill the void. With injuries up and down the lineup, the bench will be a key contributor to Spain’s results. Spain will feature a great supporting cast, so look for Del Bosque to turn to it early and often without missing a step. 

At keeper, look for Del Bosque to only invite three to South Africa. Iker Casillas will be the No. 1, with Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina backing him up. Victor Valdez of Barcelona and 19-year-old David De Gea of Atletico de Madrid will fight Villareal's Deigo Lopez for the third plane seat to South Africa.

However, expect Lopez to be Del Bosque's final man on board. Valdez has yet to earn a cap with the national team, and the 19-year-old De Gea will have plenty of time to get his in the near future.  

The 30-man roster includes:

Goalkeepers

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), David De Gea (Atletico de Madrid), Diego Lopez (Villareal), Pepe Reina (Liverpool, England), Victor Valdes (Barcelona)

Defenders

Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Osasuna), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

Midfielders

Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal, England), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javier Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), David Silva (Valencia), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona)

Forwards

Santiago Cazorla (Villarreal), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Daniel Guiza (Fenerbache, Turkey), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla), Fernando Torres (Liverpool, England), David Villa (Valencia)

Seven of the listed 30 players will not be included on the World Cup team come June 1st when Del Bosque's final decision is due. Some of the players who will be fighting for the final roster spots, and are huge reach to make the squad include:

Victor Valdes (Barcelona)

David De Gea (Atletico de Madrid)

Daniel Guiza (Fenerbache, Turkey)

Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla)

Cesar Azpilicueta (Osasuna)

Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao)

Santiago Cazorla (Villarreal)

On paper, Spain will bring to the most talent to South Africa.

The four-year wait will come down to the last 30 days for the nation considered a favorite to raise the cup in July. Thirty days to determine which collection of talent will be fit enough to send out to the pitch.

Whether at 70 percent or 100 percent, Spain's talent should carry it past the group stage regardless and into the elimination rounds, where its talent will be tested against Portugal, Ivory Coast, or Brazil.

It is here that Del Bosque will be faced with many questions regarding the depth of his squad, its health, and its ability to contend with world powers.

Not to worry.

Thirty days after June 11th, all questions should be answered.