La Roja have seven players over the age of 30 in their World Cup squad, with Del Bosque retaining a number of personnel that claimed honours in South Africa four years ago.
[Xavi Hernandez and Iker Casillas] are players that go down in the history of the national team,” Del Bosque is quoted as saying by AS.
“Them more than anyone. They were champions of the Under-20 World Cup in Nigeria [in 1999]. We qualify not as a veteran team, but mature.
“We have four or five players over 30. That’s not much. We’re not afraid of anything and we are in good shape. And [the older players] are extraordinary and have been extraordinary.
“We have a team that has been renewed, that was European Under-21 champion. We have 30% of new players.
“I think there has been a similarity between there and those who’ve come with us to ensure the renewal.”
