It was the worst possible news for Spain. Just a month ahead of Euro 2012 and already sweating on the fitness of striker David Villa, La Roja were hit hard on Tuesday by the news that Carles Puyol will be sidelined for six weeks, meaning the Barcelona captain will almost certainly miss the continental competition in Poland and Ukraine.

Puyol underwent tests after Saturday's 4-0 win at home to Espanyol and the 34-year-old now needs arthroscopic surgery on his knee, which is set to keep him out for a period of around six weeks. A quicker comeback seems unlikely, especially with the defender now in his twilight years. For Spain at least, there is a real possibility that this is the end for one of the game's finest servants.

Puyol is a proud Catalan, but has graced the game for Spain since making his debut in 2000, putting his body on the line despite illness and injury to turn out for La Roja through thick and thin. In the good times and the bad, Spain has always been able to rely on Puyol, a veteran of three World Cups, two European Championships, one Olympic Games (in 2000) and a Confederations Cup (in 2009).

Always committed and fiercely competitive, the Barca defender has seen rivals come and go throughout the years, making one of the center back roles his own and acting as a captain of his country all but in name (that honor is held by Real Madrid's Iker Casillas).