Leaders Spain looking to go on the attack against Greece
Spain have the opportunity to all but book their place in next year's European championships in Portugal when they host Greece in their Group Six qualifier at Zaragoza on Saturday.
Spain have the opportunity to all but book their place in next year's European championships in Portugal when they host Greece in their Group Six qualifier at Zaragoza on Saturday.
The unbeaten Spaniards lead the group with 10 points while Greece share second with Ukraine, four points back.
Coach Inaki Saez looks set to field an attacking line-up against the Greeks, whom they beat 2-0 in their opening group match in Athens last September.
Real Sociedad's midfielder Xabi Alonso should start following his eye-catching debut in the 4-0 victory over Ecuador in a recent friendly, while Deportivo Coruna's Sergio is likely to step in for the suspended Ruben Baraja.
With Alonso's club colleague Javi de Pedro and Athletic Bilbao's Joseba Etxeberria on the wings and Juan Carlos Valeron playing just in front of the midfield, lone striker Raul should receive a plentiful supply of ball up front.
Saez may also use Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes at some stage during the match.
Despite being sidelined for most of the season at Real, Morientes has retained his place in the national squad and repaid Saez's loyalty by scoring a hat-trick in the Ecuador match.
For Greece, who have bounced back from defeats in their opening two matches against Spain and Ukraine to beat Armenia and Northern Ireland, Saturday's match will be their last chance to mount a bid for a place at Euro 2004.
"In reality we are fighting for second place," midfielder Vassilis Tsartas told Spanish television on Thursday. "A win will be a major boost for us in the final stages of the campaign."
Defenders Michalis Kapsis and Yiannis Goumas of AEK Athens and Panathinaikos have been drafted into the squad, but are unlikely to make the starting line up.
Probable teams:
Spain: Iker Casillas, Michel Salgado, Carles Puyol, Ivan Helguera, Juanfran, Joseba Etxeberria, Xabi Alonso, Sergio, Javi de Pedro, Juan Carlos Valeron, Raul.
Greece: Antonis Nikopolidis, Yourkas Seitaridis, Nikos Dabizas, Sotiris Kyrgiakos, Stelios Venetidis, Vassilis Tsartas, Angelos Basinas, Thodoris Zagorakis, Giorgos Karagounis, Zisis Vryzas, Angelos Haristeas.
Referee: Stephane Bre (France).