Woe for Spain as Villa ruled out

The Republic of Ireland will have one less superstar to thwart at Euro 2012 next month after Spain striker David Villa was last night ruled out of the competition.

The Barcelona forward has failed to prove his fitness to coach Vicente del Bosque after fracturing his tibia while in action for the Catalan side at the World Club Challenge in Japan in December and will now miss the Euros where Spain face Italy, Ireland and Croatia in Group C.

Del Bosque had promised to give the 30-year-old until the last moment to get himself ready but, with his squad set to be named on Sunday, he has called time on Villa‘s race to be fit.