Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque downplayed chances of Barcelona captain Carles Puyol returning for next month's European Championship.

Del Bosque has said it would take a miracle for Puyol to make the squad after he just had surgery on an injured right knee. The defender is expected to be out for up to six weeks.

Del Bosque was more positive about Puyol's Barca teammate, David Villa, sidelined after breaking his left tibia in December.

"Villa doesn't have to play competitive soccer before being able to go to the Euro," Del Bosque stressed. "But what's good on the other hand is that he feels well... I've always said that if he feels right, he'll come."