Madrid: The Spanish football federation says Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez will replace the injured Raul Albiol for Spain's two upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The federation's medical staff recommended against Albiol joining the national team for its games against Belarus next Friday and Georgia four days later after he hurt his leg while playing for his Italian club Napoli.
The federation announced later Saturday that Martinez has been called up to fill out the 23-man squad.
World champion Spain leads Group I in European qualifying, level with France on points but with a game in hand.
