Soccer

Michu fails to score in front of Spain coach

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Michu failed to add to his impressive English Premier League goal tally in his audition for the Spain squad as Swansea drew 0-0 at Everton in Goodison Park on Saturday.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque traveled to Liverpool to run his eye over the uncapped Michu, who has 13 league goals in a superb first season in English football, ahead of the world and European champions' friendly against Uruguay on Feb. 6.

Michu, a 2 million pound ($3.24 million) signing from Rayo Vallecano last summer, saw a deft chip tipped onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Tim Howard but was otherwise kept quiet in a game Everton dominated.

"Obviously this wasn't the best game to see Michu in because it was a very difficult game to show what he is capable of doing," Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said. "But I know Del Bosque has other people over here who can tell him how he has been playing.

"I hope he can get to play for Spain, who are the best team in the world right now." Everton lacked a cutting edge to match its build-up play as Victor Anichebe, Nikica Jelavic and Phil Neville were all denied by Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm.

Everton stayed in fifth place but dropped two points in the quest for a Champions League qualification spot.

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