Skip to main content

Spanish maestros should be back to face France

Xavi and Alonso are coming back after niggling injuries and missed Friday's surprise 1-1 draw at home to Finland, while Busquets was deployed as a makeshift centre-back when Spain were held 1-1 by France in Madrid in October.

"Both [Xavi and Alonso] are fine but as I have said we are not going to risk anyone and it will be the players who take the final decision," Del Bosque told a news conference at Spain's team hotel in the French capital.

"Nobody will be forced to play if they are not at 100 percent," he added.

"Xavi is the best doctor and if he feels he can play he will do so."

"It's true that they [Busquets and Alonso] have given us a lot of success but less as a pair than as footballers," Del Bosque said.

"We shouldn't forget that Xabi Alonso is one of the top scorers of our era," he added in reference to the Real Madrid's player's 15 goals for the national team.

Spain's draw at home to Finland meant France leapfrogged them into first place in the group on 10 points.

Del Bosque said Spain's inability to break through Finland's massed defences more than once on Friday was a matter for concern but added that he expected a much more open game against the French at the Stade de France.

"Of course it worries us a bit when we have so much possession and are camped on their penalty area but cannot get through," he said.

"But at the same time there is no reason to get nervous or lose patience," he added.

"I don't expect tomorrow's game to be like that. It's going to be much more open than both the Finland game."

"I hope they play defensively and we can spend the whole match around their penalty area," he said. "Normally we would finish as the winners."

"We have always remained faithful to our philosophy and style and I don't think we should change that," he told an earlier news conference.

"We shouldn't change what has served us well in the past and has helped us win and be successful."