• Euro 2012

Villa ruled out for Spain

ESPN staff
May 22, 2012
David Villa will not appear at the European Championships © PA Photos
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Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has been dealt a blow with the news that David Villa has been ruled out of Euro 2012.

Villa, 30, underwent surgery last December after fracturing his left shinbone at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, and was expected to be sidelined for around five months.

Del Bosque was keen to give the country's all-time record scorer every chance to prove his fitness for the defence of their European crown at Poland and Ukraine this summer.

But it has been confirmed that the Barcelona forward will be absent for Spain's Euro 2012 campaign, where they face Italy, Ireland and Croatia in Group C.

A statement on the Spanish Football Federation`s official website read: "David Villa cannot definitely be on the list for Euro 2012. Villa spoke with the national team doctor this afternoon after the arrival of the team in the Austrian town of Schruns.

"After not getting in the final practice and development desired, David Villa spoke with Del Bosque, who relayed that although it was Villa`s wish to be with the team in Poland and Ukraine, that his physical state was 'not as good' as would be desirable."

Villa himself soon confirmed the news on his official Twitter account.

"I've tried, but I can't be 100% to play the European Championships. I called Vicente del Bosque to [tell] him. It's the honest thing I could do," Villa said.

"Thanks to all of you for your support. I will continue working to return to play as soon as possible with Barca and the Spanish national team."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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