Santi Cazorla: 'Impossible to replace Xavi'

Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has claimed that it will be "impossible" to replace Barcelona's Xavi in the Spain squad.

Xavi, who is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of all time, has triumphed in three of his six major tournaments for La Roja.

However, it is believed that the 33-year-old could announce his international retirement after next summer's World Cup in order to prolong his club career.

"Replacing Xavi is not difficult, it's impossible, because he is a one-off. Just to be compared with him is a compliment but Xavi is unique and there will be no substitute," he told El Pais.

"What I think is the future of Spain is assured because there are very young people, like [Juan] Mata, [Sergio] Busquets and others that are coming through like Alberto Moreno, [Marc] Bartra, Isco, at an extraordinary level.

"The important thing is knowing that he has taken up to three titles and knowing that it's not easy. We have gone from the stage of seeing elimination in the quarter-finals as normal, and now the problem is that it seems that it's a given that we will play in another World Cup final. What this ground has done is impressive."

Cazorla scored as Spain beat Equatorial Guinea at the weekend.