since when was mata a striker....

Hope he plays over the other 2, for at least one of the games. Spain are usually pretty good with their youths.

the young goalkeeper has impressed at times this season, particularly against Real Madrid in the Champions League,
**

hes had much better games than that one this season.

Well deserved. He's probably been the best Spanish keeper this season.

That really is some squad though.

I saw Germany's as well and it's littered with talent.

Hey DTKF, don't discount the England squad just yet, I mean we have Gibbs, and umm...Walker! When you see the German and Spanish squads in comparison to our own, it just shows the gulf betwee us

Suso, this is Spain we're talking about, they don't play with actual strikers

Good point

De Gea is a much better goalkeeper than Valdes or Reina. Crazy that he's not being given the opportunity to push Casillas for his spot and learn from him as well as the other players in the national set up.

Reina just isn't a top goalkeeper anymore for me.

Of the 4 chosen strikers only 2 are

How do you understand the term striker nowadays? I ask because I left the UK as a kid, and when I was younger, striker to me meant the typical no.9, while forwards would include other attacking players. I've never really understood why wingers are classed as midfielders.

based on that, Mata could be considered a forward based on his time at Valencia, in a category similar to Navas or Pedro.

Yes i would say mata can count as a forward, but not a striker

I've never really understood why wingers are classed as midfielders.

....................

Because wingers are expected to support both the attack and defence.

Such a weak attack

Because wingers are expected to support both the attack and defence.
---

Probably, but I wouldn't say that makes them midfielders. By the same token, why not use midfielders also for wingbacks or fullbacks in sides where they're expected to get forward?

Since when did Mata become a striker

Nevermind

Everyone in Spain's a striker nowadays. Those of us who have a job at any rate.

By the same token, why not use midfielders also for wingbacks or fullbacks in sides where they're expected to get forward?

................

United have frequently done this.

How does Reina still get Spain call ups? Some decent keepers in Spain.

Could partly be because of the good atmosphere he brings to the squad, but that on its own can't be a reason. Tbh, I can't think of that many keepers who are lighting up La Liga atm considering Del Bosque's always gone for keepers from high profile clubs. Malaga's keeper's Argentinian, Atlético's Belgian, not that many more to choose from.
Guaita looks promising, but has been in and out of the Valencia team due to competition from Alves (Brazilian), Javi Varas I rate, but he's not a youngster any more and he moved to lowly Celta in the off-season after Lopez signed for Sevilla. Also, managers lean towards stability in the GK position, so it would be a shock if he chose Lopez on the back of 2 or 3 good performances (personally, I'd never have bounced him from the Spain team for the 2010 WC in favour of Valdés, even though I can see DelBoy's reasoning for it).

Has Muniain had a bad season?

He's been hampered by injuries so far, but seems to be getting back to form recently. Scored a lovely goal for Athletic's winner last weekend.