体坛英语新闻：Lopetegui: Villa and Morata can play alongside each other

MADRID, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Spain coach Julen Lopetegui was giving little away when he spoke on Spanish radio about his side's forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign against Italy in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Saturday night.

Spain need to win in order to assure finishing top of their group and avoiding a play-off and with Diego Costa unfit, Lopetegui has called 35-year-old veteran, David Villa into his squad, along with Chelsea forward Alvaro Morata.

"You pick your squad from those who are available," he said on Wednesday morning. "David (Villa) has always been in my thoughts and he and Morata can play together," explained the coach, who was taking a short-term view of matters.

"I am not looking past these two games (Italy and Liechtenstein) if Villa has come now, it could come more times, but it is not the moment to think of that. Now is the moment for us to think about beating Italy," he said.

Lopetegui was asked about in-form Real Madrid striker, Marco Asensio, but refused to say whether he would start on Saturday night.

"I am going to pick the squad on the basis of what I see during the week, but whoever plays, we are going to have a great side and we will not win just with the 11 who start the game," said the coach, highlighting the role any substitutes will play.

"It is going to be a huge game on Saturday, because of our rival, the venue and the importance. We are focused on what we have to do and we have to be at our best," said Lopetegui, who said he "knew the Italian side very well."