Spain kick off preparations:

Two-time defending champions Spain kicked off preparations for Euro 2016 on Monday with a first gathering which included just eight of the 25 players called up by coach Vicente del Bosque for next month’s tournament, with the others still tied by club commitments.

Among those attending the session at the Spanish federation’s Las Rozas sports complex near Madrid were Chelsea players Cesc Fabregas, Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta, Athletic Bilbao’s Aritz Aduriz and Mikel San Jose, Manchester City’s David Silva, Villarreal’s Bruno Soriano and Celta Vigo’s Nolito.

Ten other players involved in last weekend’s Cup finals, including Copa del Rey champions Barcelona, have been given several extra days before rejoining the group on May 28 directly in Austria where the team will train from May 26 to June 1, just before the announcement of the final 23-man squad for the tournament on May 31. (AFP)