Spain confirm Euro 2000 squad

Spain coach Jose Camacho has confirmed his squad of 22 players to contest the Euro 2000 finals next month.

Camacho's side had an impressive qualifying record after the former Real Madrid star took over from Javier Clemente in October 1998 and beat Austria 9-0 on their way to Holland and Belgium.

There is no place in the 22 for Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes who was a regular durng the qualifying campaign but his club captain Fernando Hierro is named in the squad.

Hierro is still recovering from a recurrence of a hamstring injury that prevented him taking part in the Champions League final victory in Paris last week. The defender has seen most of his season with Real wrecked by hamstring problems but Camacho is willing to risk the fitness of this vital leader for the Spanish.

New Liga champions Deportivo La Coruna provide only one player - midfielder Fran Gonzalez - as Camacho emphasises youth. Eleven of the squad will be playing their first major championships next month.

Valencia provide two high class midfielders who have emerged into Camacho's squad over the past four months after the club's excellent season in the Champions League. Both Gerard Lopez and Gaizka Mendieta are contenders to start the group matches in Euro 2000.

The squad in full -

Goalkeepers - Santiago Canizares (Valencia), Jose Francisco Molina (Atletico Madrid) and Iker Casillas (Real Madrid).

Defenders - Agustin Aranzabal (Real Sociedad), Sergi(Barcelona), Paco Jemez (Real Zaragoza), Juan Velasco (Celta Vigo), Abelardo Fernandez (Barcelona), Michel Salgado (Real Madrid), Ivan Helguera (Real Madrid) and Fernando Hierro (Real Madrid).

Midfielders - Pep Guardiola (Barcelona), Vicente Engonga (Real Mallorca), Fran Gonzalez (Deportivo La Coruna), Gaizka Mendieta (Valencia), Juan Carlos Valeron (Atletico Madrid) and Gerard (Valencia).

Strikers - Joseba Etxeberria (Athletic Bilbao), Pedro Munitis (Racing Santander), Ismael Urzaiz (Athletic Bilbao), Alfonso (Real Betis) and Raul Gonzalez (Real Madrid)