Reigning European champions Spain have omitted Premier League stars Diego Costa, Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla from their squad for the upcoming European Championships as the holders go in search of a third consecutive crown.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque announced his 25-man provisional squad for the tournament on Tuesday, with Arsenal's Hector Bellerin another Premier League absentee.
Doubts over Costa's fitness
Chelsea striker Costa has struggled for form with just one goal in ten games for his country, but has enjoyed a relatively strong season for a club that has found life difficult in England's top flight this campaign.
Costa scored 16 goals in a Chelsea team that only finished in mid-table, but a continuing niggling hamstring injury forced Head Coach del Bosque's hand, with the manager claiming "we don't want to have too many players with doubts regarding their physical condition".
The rise of Aritz Aduriz ,who finished the top La Liga goalscorer outside of the top three clubs, also did not help Costa's cause.
Another surprise omission is Manchester United playmaker Mata, who has also been part of an underachieving team this season. United only managed to qualify for the Europa League though, like Costa, Mata still had an influence with nine goals and eight assists for the Premier League's most successful team.
Further household names are left out
With just 21 appearances and only 15 in the Premier League, the decision to leave out Cazorla of Arsenal comes as less of a surprise. The midfielder has failed to register a single goal and has struggled to be a first team regular under Arsene Wenger due to persistent injuries.
However, his teammate Bellerin has had a superb season by all accounts, and was named in the Premier League Team of the Year after helping his side to a second-placed finish.
The English-based players join other notable absentees in Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres and Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez as one of Europe's Premier nations is once again able to show their strength in depth.
The Premier League is, however, represented by the likes of David De Gea, Pedro, Cesar Azpilicueta, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva in a strong squad which will be expected to challenge for another European Championship crown.