Torres left out of Spain squad for friendlies

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MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Spain coach Vicente del Bosque left Liverpool striker Fernando Torres out of the squad for its upcoming friendlies against Argentina and Austria.

Del Bosque spared Torres from the 23-man list as the 25-year-old forward is currently playing with a hernia problem. Torres has been a regular since 2003, scoring 23 goals in 71 appearances.

"We spoke to him, we spoke to (Liverpool coach) Rafa Benitez and we came to the conclusion it's better not to force him," del Bosque said on Monday. "We don't want to push him, we want him to recover."

Jesus Navas earned his first call-up with the European champions, having been passed over before because of the Sevilla winger's anxiety worries over long journeys to away matches.

Del Bosque also recalled striker David Villa, who missed Spain's final two World Cup qualifiers with a leg injury. Valencia teammate Pablo Hernandez and Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa also return while Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna was left out as he recovers from injury.

Spain welcomes Diego Maradona's Argentina to the Vicente Calderon on Saturday to celebrate the Spanish federation's 100th anniversary. Del Bosque was looking forward to the match and didn't reproach Maradona for his foul-mouthed tirade against journalists immediately after the Albiceleste qualified for next year's finals in South Africa last month.

"I'm not in a position to criticize Maradona," the former Real Madrid coach said. "We are how we are. We all have our virtues and defects."

Spain will return to Vienna for the first time since its 2008 European Championship triumph to play Austria in another friendly on Nov. 18.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Diego Lopez (Villarreal).

Defenders: Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Andoni Iraola (Athletic Bilbao), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona).

Strikers: Pablo Hernandez (Valencia), Dani Guiza (Fenerbache), Juanma Mata (Valencia), David Silva (Valencia), David Villa (Valencia), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla), Jesus Navas (Sevilla).

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