Madrid: Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas are recovering well from injury and have been included in Spain's preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup next month.
"In general terms the two players are recovering very positively from their injuries," the Spanish Federation said on its website on Monday.
Earlier in the day the pair underwent tests in Madrid.
Liverpool striker Torres had checks on the right knee that was operated on last month while a scan carried out on the cracked bone in Arsenal midfielder Fabregas's right leg showed the fracture had almost completely healed.
Call-ups
After much media speculation, Barcelona duo Victor Valdes and Pedro received their expected call-ups.
Goalkeeper Valdes has yet to win his first cap. Spain captain Iker Casillas and Liverpool's Pepe Reina are rated numbers one and two so the Barca player is likely to compete with Villarreal's Diego Lopez for the third slot.
Pedro, another product of Barca's impressive youth system, has burst on the scene this season by scoring in six separate competitions for the European champions.
Vicente del Bosque's two years as Spain coach have been marked by consistency and a settled squad but there was room for a few surprises on Monday.
David de Gea, 19, who will be Atletico Madrid's keeper in today's Europa League final against Fulham, earned his first call-up to the squad while Osasuna right back Cesar Azpilicueta and Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez were included.
Faith in regulars
Del Bosque also kept faith with regulars from the Euro 2008-winning squad who have had injury-ravaged seasons.
Marcos Senna and Santi Cazorla were named despite having had low-key campaigns for Villarreal.
Meanwhile, Spain's opponents in Group H, Switzerland, have been given a boost by news that forward Alexander Frei, who broke his arm during a league match in February, has made his comeback for FC Basel after a 10-week injury layoff.
Frei, who has scored a record 40 goals in 73 appearances for Switzerland and is expected to lead their attack at the finals, came on as a second-half substitute during the Swiss Cup final against Lausanne Sport, which Basel won 6-0.
Fighting form
Chile, meanwhile, are hoping their midfielder Gary "Pitbull" Medel, who has stood out, in a struggling Boca Juniors team with his fighting spirit and goals will be a top performer at the World Cup, said Mauricio Serna, who used to play in the same position for Boca and Colombia.
"Gary has done very well at Boca, scoring important goals. The team has not played well but has stood out for his great form," the retired Serna told Reuters.
"Undoubtedly, he will shine. He's a player [Chile coach] Marcelo Bielsa knows very well and make the most of his qualities," he said in a telephone interview. Medel can play at right back or in central midfield.
Squad
- Preliminary 30-man World Cup squad on Monday. The list will be reduced to 23 players by June 1.
- Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Diego Lopez (Villarreal), Victor Valdes (Barcelona), David de Gea (Atletico Madrid).
- Defenders: Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Osasuna), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
- Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), David Silva (Valencia), Xavi (Barcelona). Forwards: Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Mata (Valencia), Pedro (Barcelona), Daniel Guiza (Fenerbahce), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia).
