International Friendly Preview: Austria - Spain

Spain's game in Vienna on Wednesday evening will be as much about nostalgia as it will about testing some of the fringe players in the squad for the visitors.

Just over year ago, the majority of la Seleccion's current number won the European Championships in the same Ernst Happel venue. Going back will evoke powerful memories of such an incredible day.

By the time the Spaniards faced Germany in the final they were clear favourites to win their first trophy for 44 years, but still the feeling of jubilation was unprecedented.

For a nation that had so regularly underachieved with generation after generation of match winning players, it was a momentous time and one that will be relived by so many on Wednesday.

Coach Vicente del Bosque watched that tournament on television, but he was undaunted by the task of taking over from Luis Aragones. Indeed, he has gone about his job in some style.

Ten wins in their ten World Cup qualifiers mean that the Spain trainer will be firmly on the bench at the World Cup finals next summer and will use this encounter to further consolidate his ideas.

Many of the regulars should be rested, or at least only given a few minutes. Del Bosque will be keen to see the newcomers to the squad, or the familiar bench-warmers used.

Jesus Navas played a few minutes on Saturday against Argentina but could well be named in the starting line-up against Austria.

RECENT FORM

Austria

Oct 14 LOST (a) 3-1 France (WCQ)
Oct 10 WON (h) 2-1 Lithuania (WCQ)
Sep 9 DREW (a) 1-1 Romania (WCQ)
Sep 5 WON (h) 3-1 Faroe Islands (WCQ)
Aug 12 LOST (h) 2-0 Cameroon (Friendly)

Spain

Nov 14 WON 2-1 (h) Argentina (Friendly)
Oct 14 WON 5-2 (a) Bosnia-Herzegovina (WCQ)
Oct 10 WON 2-1 (a) Armenia (WCQ)
Sep 9 WON 3-0 (h) Estonia (WCQ)
Sep 5 WON 5-0 (h) Belgium (WCQ)

TEAM NEWS

Austria

The hosts will field the strongest side that they have available as they have no competitive games until next September. They will be hoping simply to cause a surprise to boost confidence.

Probable Starting XI: Payer; Fuchs, Scharner, Dragovic, Garics; Jantscher, Leitgeb, Pehlivan, Holzl; Janko, Wallner.

Spain

Del Bosque has to choose whether to go with his strongest starting line-up or whether to include such players as Diego Lopez, Andoni Iraola, Pablo, Alvaro Negredo or Navas to his team.

Probable Starting XI: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pique, Raul Albiol, Capdevila; Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Navas, Cesc, Silva; Villa.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marc Janko (Austria)

The 26-year-old may have only won a handful of international call-ups but his record in front of goal is impressive and he could cause the Spain defence a few problems.

Jesus Navas (Spain)

After a cameo role at the weekend, the Sevilla winger could be in line for a longer run in Vienna. He will be one to watch if he reproduces his club form for the visitors.

PREDICTION

Spain have not lost in Vienna for nearly 50 years and will want to keep that record going to maintain their confidence. The hosts will not make things easy - they secured 14 points from a tough qualifying group to finish third, showing they are no pushovers.

Austria 1 - 1 Spain