Raúl dropped from Spain squad

Sweeping changes
Aragonés, whose offer to resign following the shock 3-2 defeat against Northern Ireland on 6 September was turned down by the Spanish Football Federation, has decided to make sweeping changes to his squad and dispensed with the talismanic Real Madrid CF forward.

Huge surprise
Vicente Rodríguez, Joaquín Sánchez and Mariano Pernía have also been excluded from the team along with Raúl, who has been in the international set-up since 1996, during which time he has played 102 matches, scored 42 goals and never been dropped. His absence for the Sweden match on 7 October has come as a huge surprise in Spain, especially after the 29-year-old scored twice in Madrid's UEFA Champions League match against FC Dynamo Kyiv in midweek.

'Best squad'
"The players I've chosen are the best for the match we have to play," said Aragonés. "I haven't spoken to Raúl about it because it's something I don't usually do but just because he hasn't been called up now doesn't mean he won't be back in the team. I don't believe in footballing revolutions but I thought this was the best squad to face Sweden. There are other players missing and that doesn't create as much as a surprise as Raúl's absence." The national side will also face Argentina in a friendly match on 11 October.

Spain squad
Goakeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF), Pepe Reina (Liverpool FC)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid CF), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona), Pablo Ibáñez (Club Atlético de Madrid), Juanito Gutiérrez (Real Betis Balompié), Antonio López (Club Atlético de Madrid), Joan Capdevila (RC Deportivo de la Coruña)

Midfielders: David Albelda (Valencia CF), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool FC), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal FC), Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona), Luis García (Liverpool FC), Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona), Miguel Ángel Angulo (Valencia CF)

Forwards: David Villa (Valencia CF), Fernando Torres (Club Atlético de Madrid), José Antonio Reyes (Real Madrid CF)