COPENHAGEN /// European champions Spain get their first test under new coach Vicente del Bosque in a friendly away to Denmark tomorrow as the teams warm up for next month's opening World Cup qualifiers. Del Bosque, who succeeded Luis Aragones after Spain's Euro 2008 triumph in Vienna on June 29, has sought continuity in a squad which faces Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sep 6 and Armenia four days later in Group Five.
The former Real Madrid coach has selected four uncapped players for the friendly at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen including Athletic Bilbao duo Fernando Amorebieta, 23, and Andoni Iraola, 26. Injury to Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has opened the door for Sevilla's winger Diego Capel, 20, along with Barcelona's 17-year-old prodigy Bojan Krkic. Meanwhile, Marcello Lippi begins his second stint in charge of Italy with a friendly against Austria on Wednesday although much has changed since the coach walked away following their 2006 World Cup triumph.
A lacklustre showing at Euro 2008, where the Azzurri lost to eventual winners Spain on penalties in the quarter-final, led to Roberto Donadoni's departure and heralded Lippi's second coming. Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero, 33, has been called up for the game, which is being played in Nice, ending speculation he would announce his international retirement. He said "Lippi knows me well. But I want to be judged like all the others and deserve call-ups." Captain Michael Ballack has pulled out of Germany's squad to face against Belgium after picking up a foot injury playing for Chelsea at the weekend.
* Reuters
