Played
March 22, 2013 3:45 PM EDT
Estadio Municipal El Molinón — Gijón
Referee: O. Hațegan
Attendance: 28000
March 22, 2013 3:45 PM EDT
Estadio Municipal El Molinón — Gijón
Referee: O. Hațegan
Attendance: 28000
49′
Sergio Ramos
World Cup Qualifying Preview: Spain - Finland
The world and European champion will be aiming to maintain top spot in its qualifying group when it hosts Mixu Paatelainen's side in Gijon on Friday.
By Karthick Arvinth
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
|
SPAIN
 Valdes Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba Alonso, Busquets, Iniesta Silva, Fabregas, Pedro |
FINLAND  Hradecky Raitala, Toivio, Moisander, Arkivuo Ring, Sparv R Eremenko, Hetemaj, Hamalainen Pukki |
Midfielder Xavi is struggling with a hamstring problem and is unlikely to feature in Spain's Group I World Cup qualifier against Finland at El Molinon.
Carles Puyol (knee) and Iker Casillas (hand) are out injured. Fernando Torres and Javi Martinez have been omitted from the squad by coach Vicente del Bosque. Cesc Fabregas is expected to start in a "false nine" role alongside Pedro and David Silva in attack.
Finland boss Mixu Paatelainen is without Alexei Eremenko, who is suspended after getting sent off in the 1-1 draw against Georgia.
Chievo's Perparim Hetemaj is likely to replace the Rubin Kazan playmaker in the starting lineup.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
-
Spain is on an 18-match unbeaten run (W14, D4) stretching back to November 2011.
-
La Roja have won three of their last four encounters with Finland.
- If he plays, Sergio Ramos (pictured, right) will be the eighth player to reach 100 appearances for Spain.
- Finland has only won three of its last nine internationals (W3, D3, L3).
- Suomi is ranked 87th in the world, having never qualified for a major tournament.
-
Finland's last win over Spain was a 2-0 success in a World Cup qualifier in June 1969.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Spain 4-0 Finland
- 17.77 %
-
Spain 3-0 Finland
- 17.22 %
-
Spain 3-1 Finland
- 8.33 %
| WCQ 2014 (UEFA) (WCQE) | Mar 22, 2013 | Spain 1 - Finland 1 |
|
| International Friendlies (FR) | Oct 17, 2007 | Finland 0 - Spain 0 |
|
Spain
    |
||
| Mar 26, 2013 | France 0 - Spain 1 | WCQE |
| Mar 22, 2013 | Spain 1 - Finland 1 | WCQE |
| Feb 6, 2013 | Spain 3 - Uruguay 1 | FR |
| Nov 14, 2012 | Panama 1 - Spain 5 | FR |
| Oct 16, 2012 | Spain 1 - France 1 | WCQE |
Finland
  |
||
| Mar 26, 2013 | Luxembourg 0 - Finland 3 | FR |
| Mar 22, 2013 | Spain 1 - Finland 1 | WCQE |
| Feb 6, 2013 | Israel 2 - Finland 1 | FR |
| Jan 26, 2013 | Sweden 3 - Finland 0 | FR |
| Jan 23, 2013 | Thailand 1 - Finland 3 | FR |
| 12 | Víctor Valdés | Goalkeeper |
| 17 | Arbeloa | Defender |
| 18 | Jordi Alba | Defender |
| 3 | Piqué | Defender |
| 15 | Sergio Ramos | Defender |
| 16 | Busquets | Midfielder |
| 20 | Santi Cazorla | Midfielder |
| 21 | David Silva | Midfielder |
| 10 | Cesc Fàbregas | Midfielder |
| 6 | Andrés Iniesta Luján | Midfielder |
| 7 | David Villa | Striker |
| - | David de Gea | Goalkeeper |
| 23 | José Reina Paez | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Raúl Albiol Tortajada | Defender |
| 2 | César Azpilicueta | Defender |
| - | Monreal | Defender |
| 10 | Isco | Midfielder |
| - | Javi García | Midfielder |
| 22 | Jesús Navas González | Midfielder |
| 14 | Xabi Alonso | Midfielder |
| 13 | Juan Mata | Striker |
| 11 | Negredo | Striker |
| 7 | Pedro | Striker |
| - | Niki Maenpaa | Goalkeeper |
| - | Jukka Raitala | Defender |
| - | Joona Toivio | Defender |
| - | Kari Arkivou | Defender |
| 3 | Niklas Moisander | Defender |
| - | Alexander Ring | Midfielder |
| 21 | Kasper Hamalainen | Midfielder |
| - | Perparim Hetemaj | Midfielder |
| 7 | Roman Eremenko | Midfielder |
| - | Teemu Tainio | Midfielder |
| - | Teemu Pukki | Striker |
| - | Jesse Joronen | Goalkeeper |
| - | Lucas Hradecky | Goalkeeper |
| - | Jarko Hurme | Defender |
| - | Markus Halsti | Defender |
| - | Paulus Arajuuri | Defender |
| - | Petteri Forsell | Midfielder |
| - | Rasmus Schüller | Midfielder |
| - | Riku Riski | Midfielder |
| - | Toni Kohlemainen | Midfielder |
| 14 | Tim Sparv | Midfielder |
| 9 | Mikael Forssell | Striker |
| - | Njazi Kuqi | Striker |
Results
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Edin Dzeko Striker Man City |
7 | 0 |
|
Tomer Hemed Striker Mallorca |
6 | 0 |
|
Mesut Özil Midfielder Real Madrid |
5 | 2 |
|
Wayne Rooney Striker Man United |
5 | 1 |
|
Robin van Persie Striker Man United |
5 | 1 |
