Jordi Alba

Full name: Jordi Alba Ramos

Date of birth: 21 March 1989 (age 23)

Place of birth: L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

Playing position: Left back / Midfielder

Current club: Valencia (Spain)

The left-back position became a problem for Spain after their 2010 World Cup triumph, but Valencia's Jordi Alba has emerged as the leading candidate to start there for La Roja in Poland and Ukraine.

The problems began when veteran Joan Capdevila, now 34, chose to leave Villarreal for Benfica last summer -- despite his reputation, the former Deportivo stalwart was never in favour in the Portuguese capital, and lost his place in the national squad as a result.

Capdevila was one of La Roja's unsung heroes when they won Euro 2008 and was the only Spain player to start the World Cup final win over the Netherlands that did not play his club football for Real Madrid or Barcelona.

He was also the oldest member of that team, but he may have kept his place in Del Bosque's thoughts had he not lost his way at club level.

Forced to look elsewhere for a solution, Del Bosque overlooked Jose Enrique despite his promising performances for Liverpool, and appeared in no rush to give a new opportunity to Malaga's Nacho Monreal.

The reliable Alvaro Arbeloa filled in at first, but he is better-suited to playing at right-back and so instead the Spain coach turned to Alba.

He duly seized his chance with a superb display in the 3-1 win over Scotland in Alicante last October that allowed La Roja to end their qualifying campaign with a perfect eight wins from eight games.

He set up the opening goal that night for David Silva and was a constant source of danger down the flank.

Since then, Alba has started in friendlies against England and Venezuela, and in the latter match he set up one of three goals for his Valencia colleague Roberto Soldado.

Now aged 23, Alba is a native of Barcelona who began his career in Barca's youth system.

Deemed not good enough at the Camp Nou, he eventually joined Valencia before impressing on loan at second division side Gimnastic Tarragona in 2008/09.

After returning, he convinced Valencia coach Unai Emery to give him a chance in the first-team at the Mestalla, and was handed his debut in September 2009.

At the time Alba was a left-winger rather than a full-back, but injuries forced Emery to start him in defence and he has since developed into an outstanding modern full-back.

However, his versatility has allowed Emery to use him further forward when necessary.

"Emery has been a really important man in my development -- it is thanks to him that I was given my chance at left-back with Spain," he said after being called up last year. "He showed confidence in me."

Only French centre-back Adil Rami played more minutes than Alba for Valencia in La Liga during the season just finished.

At barely 1.72m (5ft 8in) he may be small, but lack of height has not held back established Spain stars such as Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Juan Mata and David Silva.

"Jordi Alba has been playing well for a top Spanish side. He is someone who links up well with his teammates, gets forward, has excellent technique and defends correctly. We have confidence in him," says Del Bosque.

Valencia's financial problems mean they are set to lose Alba this summer, especially with the player having just a year remaining on his contract, and Barcelona are known to have been working on a deal to buy him for some time.

Alba would be keen on the move too -- "Every young kid dreams of playing for Barca," he said in an interview with Spanish television earlier this year.

Regular observers of La Liga already know what he can do -- Euro 2012 is his chance to prove himself on the international stage.