Emblematic skipper Raul and his Real Madrid team-mate Guti will be missing for Spain as they go in search of the points that could revive their sagging Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Spain have won three times in five qualifiers so far, a tally they will hope improves starting with their away match against Latvia on Saturday.
In other group F matches Sweden and Denmark face off while current group leaders Northern Ireland have a week off. Spain, currently third in group F, are four points behind Northern Ireland, who have 13 points from six matches, and three points behind Sweden. It means Spain can aim for second spot in the group and thus boost a campaign which has left many in the country wondering whether Luis Aragones and his men really deserve to go to the championships.
Spain follow Saturday's match with a trip to Liechtenstein, and should they not pick up at least four points against the two weakest sides in the group there will be serious calls for concern.
Joaquin Rodriguez, who was called back into the team after an impressive end of season at Valencia, admits Spain can not afford to under-estimate any of their opponents. "We must keep telling ourselves that these matches are very important to get us into the Euro finals. We have to forget we are playing Latvia and Liechtenstein and that it's the end of the season," he told Marca newspaper.
Liverpool's Xabi Alonso echoed those thoughts. "I hope we will win these two matches because we're not in a situation where we can sit back and think it's going to be easy. "But today, it's hard to play anyone from this kind of position."
Spain, who only just managed to hold off Iceland after a goal from Andres Iniesta in the 79th minute, will also be lacking two key forwards. Fernando Morientes, who played a key role in the game against Denmark, is out along with Fernando Torres, who picked up an ankle knock in training. Raul, the Real Madrid captain who has also finished the season on a high, has however been overlooked by Aragones. His vice-captain at Madrid, Jose Maria Guti, also not selected, has strongly criticised the decision.
"The absence of Raul from the squad is a disgrace," Guti told Antena 3 television. Valencia striker David Villa, who has had on-off form for his club of late, is likely to be partnered by the young Roberto Soldado, who will be making his senior debut. "It was a big surprise to be selected," said the Real Madrid player. "But in life you have to know how to get the best out of opportunities, and that's exactly what I plan to do."
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