Spain coach Vicente del Bosque admits he considered calling Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes for this week's squad.
Valdes has been frozen out at United this season.
Del Bosque said: "We were very close to calling Víctor Valdés, he has always done well for the national team.
"I know that the national team is not a charity but maybe he needed a lift and in the end we didn't give it to him, maybe we have even been cowards. I think we are all people and we have to have feelings."