Chelsea’s Spanish midfielder Juan Mata admits being overlooked for his country’s recent matches has been “tough” to swallow.
The former Valencia man, who played a key role off the bench in the 2012 European Championships final, has been in fine form early this season with the Blues, but missed last month’s matches with Saudi Arabia and Georgia as he needed a break.
However, Mata has again been overlooked by Spain boss Vicente del Bosque for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against France and Belarus.
Spain take on Belarus in Minsk on Friday, before La Furia Roja entertain Les Bleus four days later.
“Not being called to join the national team was tough,” Mata wrote on his personal blog.
“[It is] bad news for me, I can’t deny it…even more since I feel in such a good moment. Obviously I was hoping to play with Spain, as I have done in the last four years.
“Every time I’ve played for my country, also in the previous categories, whatever my age, I’ve done so with great passion and I’ve tried to make the most of it.
Del Bosque said: “We have a problem with quantity, not quality. It pains me to leave out some of those who haven’t been called up, because there are others who could have been here.”