La Liga

Fabregas Expected To Be Fit For Italy Opener

Barelona’s Cesc Fabregas appears to have shaken off his hamstring injury in time to feature in Spain’s Euro 2012 Group C opener against Italy on June 10, coach Vicente del Bosque said on Saturday.

“They did some tests yesterday and the doctors saw that he (Fabregas) is in reasonably good shape,” Del Bosque told a news conference in Seville previewing Spain’s final warm-up match against China on Sunday.

“He will rejoin the rest of his team mates in training at some point and, possibly, be ready for the 10th,” he added.

Fabregas, who will be rested against China as a precaution, sustained the injury during Barcelona’s 3-0 Copa del Rey win over Athletic Bilbao last month.

Fabregas was one of a number of Barca players who ended an intense season carrying injuries and central defender Carles Puyol has been ruled out of Euro 2012 after needing knee surgery.

Midfield orchestrator Xavi, a key player in Spain’s triumphs at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, has been suffering from a persistent calf problem but told a separate news conference in Seville on Saturday he was back to full fitness.

“I am in very good shape and very pleased, excited and physically fine,” the 32-year-old said.

“Yesterday I trained (with the national team) for the first time, I played the King’s Cup final, and I was already feeling good at Real Betis on the final day of the La Liga season (on May 12),” he added.

“I am ready to compete and to make history again with the national team.”