Barcelona UCL exit helps Spain, believes Del Bosque

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque believes Barcelona's elimination from the Champions League could help his team's preparation for Euro 2016.

The holders' elimination at the hands of Atletico Madrid on Wednesday means Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto will be able to link up with the Spain team earlier than if they had reached the Champions League final on May 28.

Spain should also benefit from the fact that Barca, the team with the most players in the Spain squad, will play three fewer games during the intense finale of the season.

"These players are used to exerting themselves in the top competitions so it wouldn't necessarily have been a setback but now they will arrive earlier and will have more time off and that's a bit better for us," Del Bosque said.

Atletico's Spain internationals Juanfran and Koke are set to feature in the semi-finals alongside Sergio Ramos, Isco and Nacho Fernandez of Real Madrid, Manchester City's David Silva, and Jesus Navas and Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez, Juan Bernat and Thiago Alcantara.

Spain could also have two teams in the semi-finals of the Europa League, with Villarreal 2-1 up against Sparta Prague from their quarter-final first leg, and Sevilla hosting Athletic Bilbao in the second leg of an all-Spanish tie.

Del Bosque celebrated Spain's dominance of European competition, adding: "The fact that two Spanish teams are in the semi-finals is a big deal for us. We have the sensation of hegemony of Spanish football in Europe, not just this year but in the last few years.

"Madrid showed their authority and barely conceded any chances," he said of Real's 3-0 win over Vfl Wolfsburg that put them through 3-2 on aggregate.

"Barcelona were a notch below what we've seen but more than their defects we should focus on Atletico's virtues; they were able to utilize Barca's play and attacked them intelligently in the first half."