Aragones calls up De La Red for Spain's friendly against Italy; Raul still out

Spain coach Luis Aragones called up Getafe midfielder Ruben De La Red into a largely unchanged squad Saturday to face Italy in a friendly match.

FC Barcelona's Bojan Krkic was omitted against the World Cup champion after being selected by the under-21 team. Krkic had earned a first call-up for last month's 1-0 friendly win against France, though the 17-year-old striker didn't play.

The match takes place Wednesday at the Martinez Valero stadium in Elche, Spain.

Valencia and Liverpool contributed four players each with Liverpool defender Raul Arbeloa making the squad after missing the match against France due to injury.

De La Red replaces David Albelda, who was dropped by Aragones after playing against France. That was Albelda's only competitive game since Valencia coach Ronald Koeman told him in December that he no longer featured in the Spanish club's plans.

Barcelona defender Carles Puyol returns from injury, while Mallorca's Fernando Navarro was also called in to anchor the backline.

Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez _ Spain's all-time leading scorer with 44 goals in 102 games _ appeared no closer to returning in time for the 2008 European Championship after being left off the team again. Raul, who has scored 18 times this season, hasn't featured for Spain since September 2006.

Spain, which also has friendlies against Peru and the United States in the buildup to Euro 2008, has seven victories in 26 matches against the Italians, who have won nine. The last result was a 1-1 draw in a friendly played at Genova, Italy, in April 2004.

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Spain Squad:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool)

Defenders: Raul Albiol (Valencia), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Juanito Gutierrez (Real Betis), Raul Arbeloa (Liverpool), Fernando Navarro (Mallorca), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona)

Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez (FC Barcelona), Albert Riera (Espanyol), Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), David Silva (Valencia), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Ruben De La Red (Getafe), Marcos Senna (Villarreal)

Forwards: Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia), Daniel Guiza (Mallorca), Luis Garcia (Espanyol).