<p>Spain'sattacking midfielder JuanMata knows he is unlikely tomake Vicente del Bosque'sstarting line-up despite beingone of Chelsea's best players.Mata, who would walk intomost teams at Euro 2012, is battling with talented and experienced players like Andres Iniesta, David Silva and CescFabregas for a place against Italy in Sunday's Group Copener in Gdansk, Poland.<br /><br />Amidsuchstiff competition,he is realistic about hischances. But the 24-year-oldsaid hewas focusedongettinghimself in peak form. "It's truethat I played a lot of minutesat Chelsea this season and felt like an important player,"Mata told a news conference on Thursday at Spain's training base in Gniewino.<br /><br />"I just need to keep working now to try and get into the starting 11 for the national<br />team,"headded."Butthereare a lot of players who have beenhere a long time who have also earned that right. "Whether I am playing or not playing I will always be supporting the team as we all have the same goal which is to win the competition."<br /><br />Even if Mata is not among DelBosque'sfirst choices,he is the kind of impact player any coach would be thrilled to have on the bench.<br /><br />AnotherisPedro,whoseseasonatBarcelonawas disrupted by injury but who began towards the end of the campaign to showtheform that won him a place in the 2010World Cup<br />final team. "Logically, at some moments I saw myself not making the team (for Euro<br />2012),"Pedro said. "<br /><br />But luckily I was able to end the season with confidence and in the King's Cup final I felt very good," added the 24-year-old.<br /><br />"The coach will decide if I can contribute to the team and I will be working 100 percent towards the moment he decides I am able to play."</p>
<p>Spain'sattacking midfielder JuanMata knows he is unlikely tomake Vicente del Bosque'sstarting line-up despite beingone of Chelsea's best players.Mata, who would walk intomost teams at Euro 2012, is battling with talented and experienced players like Andres Iniesta, David Silva and CescFabregas for a place against Italy in Sunday's Group Copener in Gdansk, Poland.<br /><br />Amidsuchstiff competition,he is realistic about hischances. But the 24-year-oldsaid hewas focusedongettinghimself in peak form. "It's truethat I played a lot of minutesat Chelsea this season and felt like an important player,"Mata told a news conference on Thursday at Spain's training base in Gniewino.<br /><br />"I just need to keep working now to try and get into the starting 11 for the national<br />team,"headded."Butthereare a lot of players who have beenhere a long time who have also earned that right. "Whether I am playing or not playing I will always be supporting the team as we all have the same goal which is to win the competition."<br /><br />Even if Mata is not among DelBosque'sfirst choices,he is the kind of impact player any coach would be thrilled to have on the bench.<br /><br />AnotherisPedro,whoseseasonatBarcelonawas disrupted by injury but who began towards the end of the campaign to showtheform that won him a place in the 2010World Cup<br />final team. "Logically, at some moments I saw myself not making the team (for Euro<br />2012),"Pedro said. "<br /><br />But luckily I was able to end the season with confidence and in the King's Cup final I felt very good," added the 24-year-old.<br /><br />"The coach will decide if I can contribute to the team and I will be working 100 percent towards the moment he decides I am able to play."</p>