Vicente del Bosque has confessed that Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz is in contention for a Spain call-up thanks to his goalscoring exploits this season.
Aduriz’s only appearance for Spain remains a cameo in October 2010, despite reaching 30 goals for the campaign on Wednesday against Deportivo La Coruna, but Del Bosque revealed for the first time that the 35-year-old could be called up for Euro 2016.
“[Aduriz] is an exceptional, unique case,” he told Marca.
“He’s had a good track record and the prototype of what should be a centre forward.
“When everyone says he has to go [to France], we won’t ignore him up just to prove a point.
“We’ll think about him. If we call him up, it’s on the basis of what he’s done for his team.
“We don’t select the national team by popular vote, but when everyone says Aduriz, Aduriz, Aduriz, it’s something we have to think about.
“[On his goalkeeper for Euro 2016] we’ll make a decision because we have no ties with anyone.
“It’s sometimes misunderstood when I say respect Iker. At the same time, we have to be demanding.
“It’s not bad to have respect for a player with 165 caps for Spain. It’s good to have experienced figures like him around.
“Of course I don’t doubt [that Casillas would make a good No 2].
“If I thought someone was going to create problems out of not playing, they wouldn’t be called up.”
