Spain trio to miss qualifiers

Cesc Fabregas, Carles Puyol and Pedro Rodriguez have withdrawn from Spain’s Euro 2012 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Lithuania.

Spain host the Czech Republic in Grenada on Saturday before travelling to Kaunas four days later to face Lithuania, and will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten run in the qualifying rounds.But the reigning world and European champions will need to do so without the services of Arsenal talisman Fabregas and Barcelona duo Puyol and Pedro, all of whom are unavailable due to injury.Spain coach Vincente del Bosque has called up Valencia winger Juan Mata along with Athletic Bilbao team-mates Andoni Iraola and Javi Martinez as cover.World Cup winners Mata and Martinez return to the national side after missing Spain’s friendly against Colombia last month due to Under-21 duty, while Iraola has not appeared for his country since winning the last of his four caps against Austria in November 2009.Spain lead Group I with nine points from three games.