David Villa: “I try not to think about it a lot because it makes me sick, you know.” (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

BRONX — It’s not that he checks his cell phone every minute to see if there is a phone call or an email from the Spanish Football Federation, but David Villa hopes he will get some good news from across the Atlantic Ocean soon.

If he does, it probably will mean he has been called up to the Spanish national team for the World Cup in Russia.

The New York City FC striker admitted while getting the nod would be fabulous, he has tried not to lose sleep over it.

“I try not to think about it a lot because it makes me sick, you know,” he said after tallying twice in City’s 4-0 triumph over the Colorado Rapids at Yankee Stadium Saturday. “Obviously, I am waiting for the call. When the national team call is coming, whatever it is, World Cup, friendly game, I am waiting always because I dream to play with the national team.”

Villa has performed in two World Cups, helping Spain to capture its first world championship at South Africa in 2010 and in Brazil in 2014. While he still is filling the net for NYCFC, Villa is 36, which is considered ancient for an international striker. His last call-up came last September when he suffered an injury during training camp that kept him sidelined for a while from NYCFC action.

“It’s very difficult because Spain has amazing strikers, a lot of strikers in good position right now,” said Villa, who has scored 59 times in 98 international appearances. “But you now, I always wait. You never know. If not, I cannot change my mentality every day. I need to keep it strong, I need to train hard to think about being focused here. If [Spain] calls me, I will change my mind.”

Two of Villa’s teammates have been called up to the Costa Rican team — defender Ronald Matarrita and forward Rodney Wallace — who are expected to leave after next week’s game at the Houston Dynamo.

Not surprisingly, Villa has given his Tico teammates some sage advice about participating in the greatest show on earth.

“Obviously, it’s a different situation because it’s a different team, Costa Rica and Spain,” he said. “The most important is enjoy, enjoy because so many players can’t play these [games]) never in the life. Very good players never had the option to go to the World Cups. They are going to the World Cup. It is the best tournament in the world. Enjoy the moment, not only the game, enjoy the events before. It’s another soccer. The best advice I tell them is to be ready, of course, and give everything. Give 100 percent. Enjoy because its amazing to be there.”

Of course, Villa will root for Spain, but there certainly will be a place in his heart for the Central American side.

“I always think the same,” he said. “Every competition I support my team. Obviously now I support Spain. If they can win, my teammates in the Champions League or something like that, I support my friends. So, they are my teammates. I have many friends in the World Cup on other teams, but right Rodney and Mata are … playing with me. Of course, I [will] support Costa Rica unfortunately if Spain can’t win.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.