Cazorla Makes Spain Return to Continue Incredible Comeback

By Daily Sports on May 18, 2019

Santi Cazorla discovered his remarkable comeback had taken him into the Spain squad for the first time since 2015 when his teammates chanted his name on Friday.

"I found out from my teammates," the midfielder said. "After training I heard them chanting my name and I didn't know why. That was when they started congratulating me."

Spain's latest squad announcement also included confirmation that Luis Enrique will not take charge of their upcoming games against the Faroe Islands and Sweden for personal reasons, but he will continue as coach.

Cazorla required numerous operations on knee, foot and ankle injuries that began in 2013, while an aggressive infection in his heel needed a skin graft, extracted from his left forearm.

Told he was lucky to walk again and could have lost his leg, Cazorla chose not to retire, instead moving to Villarreal from Arsenal last year.

The 34-year-old's call-up comes after he was one of Villarreal's stand-out players this season, helping them avoid relegation with four goals and 10 assists in 34 appearances. He has only missed three La Liga matches.

"If someone had told me this would happen at the end of the season, I would never have imagined it," Cazorla said.

"It's almost like being called up for the first time because it's something so unexpected. I'm going to enjoy it a lot."

Spain play European Championship qualifiers against the Faroe Islands on June 7 and Sweden on June 10.

The midfielder's last international appearance came when he scored in a 2-0 friendly win over England in November 2015.

"I think I can contribute," added Cazorla. "During the years of injury I always wanted to play again and I wanted to play at the highest level."

Luis Enrique was unable to attend the squad announcement at Las Rozas and will miss the upcoming games due to the same personal problems that prevented him taking charge of Spain's last fixture against Malta.

Molina said there was no timetable for Luis Enrique's return but insisted speculation he might stand down was false.

"That has not been proposed," Molina said. "The commitment of the federation to Luis Enrique is total. That commitment is mutual and will continue. On our part there is no doubt about that." (SuperSport)

•Photo shows Santi Cazorla 

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 18, 2019


 

You may also like...
Eboue admits to contemplating suicide during FIFA ban...

I have many goals left, Emenike tells Olympiacos...

Ebuehi helps Den Haag to end winless run...

Tottenham To Go To Bulgaria In Europa League,...

CAF Confederation Cup Groupings: Enyimba, Be Wary of...

Chukwueze And Ejuke Arrive For Nigeria Game

 

Latest News Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE Traders Cup: Upholstery Soccer Team Secured 2nd Win To Advance To Round Two Lagos SWAN Celebrates Oba Akiolu, Iyaloja General, AIG Fayoade

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,142 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,269 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,350 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,992 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,932 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,879 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,718 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,289 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,333 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,036 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,489 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,916 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media