NEW Spain coach Vicente del Bosque believes Real Madrid star Raul has as good a chance as any of returning to the national team, but insists the 23 Euro 2008 winners are "front of the queue".
The exclusion of Spain's record goalscorer from the Luis Aragones' squad for the European Championships was one of the biggest talking points in the Spanish media prior to this summer's tournament.
Aragones dropped Raul for the first time in his 10-year Spain career following the shock 3-2 defeat to Northern Ireland at the start of their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign and never recalled him.
With the appointment of Del Bosque, under whom Raul won two Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles at Real Madrid, many expected the Real captain to return.
The new boss claimed every player would start with a clean slate, but admitted the 23 players from the Euro 2008 squad were ahead of the rest.
"Everyone starts from zero," he told Spanish newspaper AS.
"Raul and (Barcelona youngster) Bojan (Krkic) have the same chance of playing in the national team, the same as any player, although every player has their own history or career path.
"The fact that (David) Villa is today Spain's number seven is not up for debate. The champions have their rank and it will be respected.
"I'm sure that there'll be debate (over Raul's future inclusion) because this is inevitable in football.
"But what is also for sure is that those who won Euro 2008 are front of the queue because they have a certain grade. Then we'll see in the future if there are more debates or not.
"The matches, the style of play and the competition will decide because they will determine the level of each player."
The 57-year-old did admit there may be changes to the squad further down the line, but added these would be discussed with the players already in the squad.
Raul was reportedly removed by Aragones to minimise disruption and break down the factions within the Spain side, and Del Bosque seemed to think the side was better as a result of some new-found togetherness.
"There's unity and it's noticeable," he continued. "I'll speak with them (the squad) and take note of their worries.
"But I repeat that after having listened to them it will be me who makes the final decision.
"I've already said that my plan is continuity. I'll give this Spain side my own personal touch, but it'll be done gradually, after having thought it through and talked about it calmly."
Spain'sEuro 2008 victory means expectations are sky high ahead of qualification for the 2010 World Cup.
And the Salamanca-born coach believes the fans have every right to expect.
"I think Spain has a team capable of beating anyone, including Brazil and Argentina.
"At the moment our team is the number one in the FIFA rankings and so therefore we're the team to beat."
Aragones dropped Raul for the first time in his 10-year Spain career following the shock 3-2 defeat to Northern Ireland at the start of their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign and never recalled him.
With the appointment of Del Bosque, under whom Raul won two Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles at Real Madrid, many expected the Real captain to return.
The new boss claimed every player would start with a clean slate, but admitted the 23 players from the Euro 2008 squad were ahead of the rest.
"Everyone starts from zero," he told Spanish newspaper AS.
"Raul and (Barcelona youngster) Bojan (Krkic) have the same chance of playing in the national team, the same as any player, although every player has their own history or career path.
"The fact that (David) Villa is today Spain's number seven is not up for debate. The champions have their rank and it will be respected.
"I'm sure that there'll be debate (over Raul's future inclusion) because this is inevitable in football.
"But what is also for sure is that those who won Euro 2008 are front of the queue because they have a certain grade. Then we'll see in the future if there are more debates or not.
"The matches, the style of play and the competition will decide because they will determine the level of each player."
The 57-year-old did admit there may be changes to the squad further down the line, but added these would be discussed with the players already in the squad.
Raul was reportedly removed by Aragones to minimise disruption and break down the factions within the Spain side, and Del Bosque seemed to think the side was better as a result of some new-found togetherness.
"There's unity and it's noticeable," he continued. "I'll speak with them (the squad) and take note of their worries.
"But I repeat that after having listened to them it will be me who makes the final decision.
"I've already said that my plan is continuity. I'll give this Spain side my own personal touch, but it'll be done gradually, after having thought it through and talked about it calmly."
Spain'sEuro 2008 victory means expectations are sky high ahead of qualification for the 2010 World Cup.
And the Salamanca-born coach believes the fans have every right to expect.
"I think Spain has a team capable of beating anyone, including Brazil and Argentina.
"At the moment our team is the number one in the FIFA rankings and so therefore we're the team to beat."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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