Left defender Joan Capdevila of Deportivo was called up by national coach Inaki Saez to join the Spanish squad in Portugal after Michel Salgado was ruled because of an injury. This call-up is seen by many as a big surprise, not least by the player himself. He had to change a trip to Egypt with one to Portugal, but the second one is with the Spanish national team. Still, his first words were for Manuel Pablo: "I wish he could also come". Q: How do you experience your pick? A: Nobody likes to be picked because of an injured colleague. But this is the way things are right now and it's necessary to take advantage of this opportunity. Manuel Pablo also had good chances of being summoned. I wish he could also come, but it's clear that we can't go all to Portugal. Q: How did all happen? A: I was resting in Barcelona and preparing to go on holiday this Monday with my fiancee. When I received the call on my mobile phone I was with my dad. It was Silvia from the Federacion and she said that the national coach wanted to speak to me. And he told me the news. Q: What were you thinking? A: I didn’t know really how to react. Of course I told my dad and he was very happy for me. Nobody had expected this, including me. I knew that someone would be picked, but I never considered it would be me. Q: What about a left back taking the place of a right back? A: This is a question for the coach as he decides who gets called. But it's true, I didn't expect the call. Nobody did. Q: Do you consider yourself a second option, a substitute? A: Well, you know the circumstances. But now I am a full member of the squad. I am there if I am needed and I will give everything when I enter the pitch. But I have to admit that I have a slight disadvantage with respect to my colleagues. I hope I will get to the same form until the tournament starts. Q: You finished the season very well from a physical point of view. Did you notice the lack of activity during the first training session? A: No, not at all. I am in good shape. What I have noticed is the psychological aspect: the change from being on holidays, with no worries, to being part of the preparations for the EURO. I am still a bit shaken by the change. Q: You had to give up the Pyramids, Isis, Osiris and also the sea. A: I also gave up a lot of heat….. When they called me, they said "Uf, thank heavens you haven't left already" and I said (jokingly) "I'll make a sacrifice, because it's worth it". Q: It seems that Saez trusts the Olympic players a lot. A: Yes, that’s true and that is good for those players because most of us have played in Sydney (2000) and we know each other well. The coach is very confident, he really sticks to his ideas. That's also important. Q: But he even trusts players who haven't played much, like Raul Bravo. Even you have rotated much with Romero. A: Well, I have played a lot this season. But he trusts his players independently of how much they have played. Raul Bravo didn't play much at Real Madrid and he made it to the squad. It also happened to Iker Casillas in the U-21 squad. But these are isolated cases because it's not easy to be summoned if you rarely play. Q: What did your fiancee say when you cancelled the trip to Egypt? A: She asked me why we could not go. And when I told her, she said "Ah, then it's ok". She was afraid something bad had happened. Q: And the colleagues from Depor? A: Uf! As soon as I arrived, Luque started with his jokes. Cesar and Valeron also... Q: But what did they do to you? A: Ah, nothing, usual things. Q: Something worth mentioning? A: Not really (laughing). Seriously, it was nothing unusual. The atmosphere in the squad is really fantastic. --

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