1:30 PM AST
  • Dermot Corrigan
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque says that Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin has a long future with the national side.
Bellerin, 21, was named in Spain's final 23 man squad for Euro 2016 on Tuesdayafter initially only being one of 11 promising youngsters invited to train with the squad during pre-tournament preparations.
Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal tore a thigh muscle in the Champions League final on Saturday, and that opened the door for ex-Barcelona youngster Bellerin to be elevated to the full squad for the finals.
He was handed his first senior cap for La Roja in Sunday's 3-1 friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, and did enough to force his way into the 23.
Speaking on the El Larguero radio show, Del Bosque explained why he had chosen Bellerin over Villarreal's Mario Gaspar, who had played for Spain during qualifying.
"We had taken the decision among the full-backs we've had recently, including Mario, [Cesar] Azpilicueta, Juanfran and Carvajal," Del Bosque said. "Once Carvajal was injured we had the kids with us, and [Bellerin] has been doing very well at Arsenal in recent years.
"We have full confidence in him. Bellerin will be an important player for sure, in the present, and in the future of the Spanish team."
Del Bosque's final call on his squad was to cut Madrid playmaker Isco and Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez, and he said the decision had not been easy to take.
"It is never nice," he said. "We left some people behind when we made the preliminary list of 25, and again today. But we just look at the good of the team. I did not talk with them [Isco and Saul], nor did I talk with anyone when I announced the first list."
Uncapped 21-year-old Saul was left out because Spain had more options in the position he plays, Del Bosque said.
"We do not decide as he is the youngest," he added. "The only thing we looked at were the players we have in midfield, the positions he can play. It is not easy to take someone out to put another in.
"We have chosen the players to cover any problems we might have during the games. We have two players for each position."
The veteran coach said he had made many hard calls during his time in charge of Spain.
"Over these eight years we have made tough, difficult decisions," Del Bosque said. "We might have got some wrong, others we got right. We have left behind some people who had great careers with Spain.
"From Marcos Senna [before World Cup 2010] to now people like Santi Cazorla, Juan Mata, Diego Costa, Fernando Torres, Paco Alcacer. A lot of people left who have performed really well for us, but we could not take."