IRDNING, Austria (AP) -Raul Gonzalez is hoping Spain's coaching change will lead to his return to the national team, after being left out of the squad that triumphed at this summer's European Championship.
The Real Madrid captain, Spain's all-time leading scorer, fell out of favor with former Spain coach Luis Aragones but believes his recent club form can sway new coach Vicente del Bosque that he deserves another chance.
"My goal is to play well at my club and to keep working like I have been the last year and a half, so getting into the national team will depend on me," Raul told Spanish media on Tuesday from Madrid's preseason training camp. "If the opportunity arrives, I'd be delighted. If not, I'll just keep working."
Raul welcomed the appointment of Del Bosque, his former Madrid coach who replaced Aragones last week. Aragones, now at Turkish club Fenerbahce, was steadfast in his refusal to recall Spain's most iconic player after dropping him after a Euro 2008 qualifying loss to Northern Ireland in September 2006. Since then, Raul's goals have helped lead Madrid to consecutive league titles.
"Vicente's arrival appears phenomenal to me. He's getting a deserved chance that he won after his years at Real Madrid," said the 31-year-old striker, who helped Del Bosque secure two league titles, a Champions League trophy and a European Supercup in 3 1/2 seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu. "He's a person who can bring forward the work of the past years."
Raul watched Spain's championship-winning run from his sofa and, like most Spanish fans, were delighted the team won its first major international trophy in 44-years.
"Whoever thinks I wasn't happy, doesn't know me," said Raul, who has scored 44 goals in 102 appearances for Spain. "It was a Euro which we could all enjoy, in which Luis Aragones and all of the players brought out Spanish football of the highest level. Spain was the best team, they deserved to win because they played the best."
