Less than two months after Spain were crowned as the best team in Europe, the continent’s big guns take to the stage anew today for friendly tests as they finalize preparations for their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Spaniards, under new coach Vicente del Bosque, who has succeeded Luis Aragones, head for Copenhagen to face Denmark after ending a trophy drought stretching back to 1964.
In due course, La Furia Roja will take on Armenia, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Estonia and Turkey for the right to contest the World Cup in South Africa, but first they and their neighbors have the chance to try out some new formations.
Del Bosque has thus included Barcelona’s 17-year-old playmaker Bojan Krkic in his first squad and new faces in the shape of Atletico Bilbao defenders Andoni Iraola and Fernando Amorebieta and Sevilla winger Diego Capel.
But Spain also have injuries to take into account, including Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and defender Carlos Marchena of Valencia.
France coach Raymond Domenech is busy introducing young faces into his squad for the friendly against Sweden at Gothenburg.
Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram’s retirement from the international scene has made space for the next generation, led by Philippe Mexes and newcomers Rod Fanni of Rennes and Yoann Gourcuff of Bordeaux.
Samir Nasri, 21, will feature in the French attack, fresh from his debut at Arsenal where he scored the winner in last weekend’s match against West Brom.
Nasri replaces Marseille midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, who has pulled out of the fixture because of an adductor problem.
“Physically I’m tired, three matches in a week, it’s not easy with a return like that. As well, I hurt my adductors,” Ben Arfa told reporters.
England, having missed out on Euro 2008, are scheduled to host the Czech Republic at Wembley today, with coach Fabio Capello unable to field Michael Carrick, injured last weekend on duty for Manchester United.
Capello has named Tottenham’s Jermaine Jenas as a midfield replacement.
The Italian left Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch off his list with 30-year-old Emile Heskey of Wigan included instead.
In Germany, the innovation will be in goal where Robert Enke of Hanover takes over after Jens Lehmann’s retirement.
Skipper Michael Ballack of Chelsea will miss the friendly at Nuremburg against Belgium because of injury.
The Stuttgart trio of Mario Gomez, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Serdar Tasci are on coach Joachim Low’s list along with the Borussia Moenchengladbach player Marko Marin. Heiko Westermann (Schalke 04) has also been called up in defense.
Memories of Basel could come back to haunt the Dutch, who have a reprise of their Euro quarter-final clash against Guus Hiddink’s Russia.
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