Skip to main content

Del Bosque faces tough choices for France test

The world and European champions have such an embarrassment of riches available that it would be understandable if Del Bosque did not know his best starting eleven for their clash against the joint-Group I leaders.

The 61-year-old rang the changes for Friday's qualifier in Belarus, surprisingly playing midfielder Sergio Busquets at centre-back, and rewarding Santi Cazorla with a start after his impressive first two months at new club Arsenal.

The changed side swept to a 4-0 victory with the lively Pedro setting up the opener and going on to net a hat-trick, leaving Spain's all-time top scorer David Villa with a 15-minute cameo role off the substitutes' bench at the end. Fernando Torres was not used.

"We are lucky to have many players who can adapt," Barcelona forward Pedro told a news conference on Sunday.

"We are very clear about our philosophy and ideas, anyone can step in and do well, and it doesn't affect the national team's way of playing."

"It would be good to do [to Spain] what Japan did to us," said striker Olivier Giroud.

"We will have less chances against Spain but we will have to convert them," said winger Mathieu Valbuena.