Raul to equal Hierro's Spanish appearance record

Spain captain Raul will equal Fernando Hierro's appearance record for a Spanish outfield player when he leads the team against Belgium in their World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

The 28-year-old striker will win his 89th cap for Spain in the Group Seven match in Brussels to match the record set by his former Real Madrid team mate who retired from international football after the 2002 World Cup.

Goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta is the most capped Spanish player with 126 appearances between 1985 and 1998.
 
Raul, who recently set a new European Cup scoring record when he scored his 50th goal in a Champions League match against Olympiakos Piraeus, is also Spain's all-time leading scorer with 42 goals.

The Real Madrid player said that equalling Hierro's record would be the last thing on his mind when he takes to the pitch on Saturday.

"To be honest, all I'm thinking about now is helping the team earn six points from the two games against Belgium and San Marino," he told Spanish sports daily AS on Friday.

"I'm not worried about whether or not I eventually overtake Zubi (Zubizarreta), my only obsession is making sure we get to the World Cup in Germany."

"I've played in two World Cups and it is the ultimate for any player. That's why I want to be at a third, and what's more it may be my last as 2010 is a long way off."

Spain are in second place in Group Seven, two points behind Serbia & Montenegro, one ahead of Bosnia and three ahead of Belgium.