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Played
September 3, 2010 7:45 PM BST
Rheinpark, Vaduz
Referee: Bülent Yildirim (TUR)
September 3, 2010 7:45 PM BST
Rheinpark, Vaduz
Referee: Bülent Yildirim (TUR)
Euro 2012 Qualifying Preview: Liechtenstein - Spain
The world champions should collect maximum points from their opening game in Group I...
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By Subhankar Mondal
Daunting Prospect In Hand
Liechtenstein have never qualified for either the World Cup finals or the European Championships and for a small nation as theirs, it is indeed a gargantuan task for them.
Qualifying for the Euro 2012 finals is a distant dream for coach Hans-Peter Zaugg and his players but starting the qualifying campaign against Spain even at home is not going to make that dream come any closer. The European minnows have lost all four matches they have played against the reigning European and world champions and have yet to score against the Iberians.
However, Liechtenstein are looking forward to this match with some optimism as Zaugg told Uefa.com, "It is good that we have hungry players.”
As Easy As It Comes
Having won the World Cup with Spain in the summer, coach Vicente del Bosque must surely now be regarded as one of the best coaches on the planet as in four years with Real Madrid between 2000 and 2004, the Salamanca-born won two La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies.
However, the 59-year-old is not ready to allow all that success get into his players’ heads and although he admits that this game as well as the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign is important for him and Spain to look towards the future, he is not taking Liechtenstein lightly.
"We have to pick the best players, but we must look to the future as well as Euro 2012. We must be optimistic and think that most of the players in this squad will be in this championship.
“I don't want to shut the door on anyone, and every player who hasn't been picked must maintain hope of being selected. Success in the World Cup won't be harmful for the future; on the contrary, as world champions we must do our best in every game. Liechtenstein are not going to make things easy."
TEAM NEWS
Liechtenstein
Thomas Beck, Christoph Biedermann, Benjamin Fischer and Wolfgang Kieber have not been included while Stefan Buchel is out through illness. Peter Jehle, Franz Burgmeier and Ronny Buchel are in the squad and so are David Hasler and Benjamin Buchel.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Jehle, Ritzberger, D'Elia, Oehri, Eberle; Burgmeier, Polverino, R. Buchel, Rechsteiner; Frick, D. Hasler
Spain
Midfielders Javi Martinez and Juan Mata have been released to play for the Under-21 team while centre-back Raul Albiol is out through an ankle injury. Carles Puyol withdrew with a thigh problem and Nacho Monreal has replaced him. Fernando Torres, Andres Iniesta and Pepe Reina all are back after sitting out the August friendly against Mexico.
Probable Lineup (4-1-3-2): Casillas, Ramos, Pique, Marchena, Capdevilla; Busquets; Xavi, Alonso, Iniesta; Villa, Torres
Liechtenstein have never qualified for either the World Cup finals or the European Championships and for a small nation as theirs, it is indeed a gargantuan task for them.
Qualifying for the Euro 2012 finals is a distant dream for coach Hans-Peter Zaugg and his players but starting the qualifying campaign against Spain even at home is not going to make that dream come any closer. The European minnows have lost all four matches they have played against the reigning European and world champions and have yet to score against the Iberians.
However, Liechtenstein are looking forward to this match with some optimism as Zaugg told Uefa.com, "It is good that we have hungry players.”
As Easy As It Comes
Having won the World Cup with Spain in the summer, coach Vicente del Bosque must surely now be regarded as one of the best coaches on the planet as in four years with Real Madrid between 2000 and 2004, the Salamanca-born won two La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies.
However, the 59-year-old is not ready to allow all that success get into his players’ heads and although he admits that this game as well as the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign is important for him and Spain to look towards the future, he is not taking Liechtenstein lightly.
"We have to pick the best players, but we must look to the future as well as Euro 2012. We must be optimistic and think that most of the players in this squad will be in this championship.
“I don't want to shut the door on anyone, and every player who hasn't been picked must maintain hope of being selected. Success in the World Cup won't be harmful for the future; on the contrary, as world champions we must do our best in every game. Liechtenstein are not going to make things easy."
TEAM NEWS
Liechtenstein
Thomas Beck, Christoph Biedermann, Benjamin Fischer and Wolfgang Kieber have not been included while Stefan Buchel is out through illness. Peter Jehle, Franz Burgmeier and Ronny Buchel are in the squad and so are David Hasler and Benjamin Buchel.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Jehle, Ritzberger, D'Elia, Oehri, Eberle; Burgmeier, Polverino, R. Buchel, Rechsteiner; Frick, D. Hasler
Spain
Midfielders Javi Martinez and Juan Mata have been released to play for the Under-21 team while centre-back Raul Albiol is out through an ankle injury. Carles Puyol withdrew with a thigh problem and Nacho Monreal has replaced him. Fernando Torres, Andres Iniesta and Pepe Reina all are back after sitting out the August friendly against Mexico.
Probable Lineup (4-1-3-2): Casillas, Ramos, Pique, Marchena, Capdevilla; Busquets; Xavi, Alonso, Iniesta; Villa, Torres
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Liechtenstein 0-3 Spain
- 22.29 %
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Liechtenstein 0-4 Spain
- 20.86 %
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Liechtenstein 0-5 Spain
- 9.2 %
| Euro 2012 (EC) | Sep 6, 2011 | Spain 6 - Liechtenstein 0 |
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| Euro 2012 (EC) | Sep 3, 2010 | Liechtenstein 0 - Spain 4 |
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| Euro 2012 (EC) | Jun 6, 2007 | Liechtenstein 0 - Spain 2 |
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| Euro 2012 (EC) | Sep 2, 2006 | Spain 4 - Liechtenstein 0 |
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Liechtenstein
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| Nov 11, 2011 | Hungary 5 - Liechtenstein 0 | FR |
| Oct 8, 2011 | Liechtenstein 0 - Scotland 1 | EC |
| Sep 6, 2011 | Spain 6 - Liechtenstein 0 | EC |
| Sep 2, 2011 | Lithuania 0 - Liechtenstein 0 | EC |
| Aug 10, 2011 | Liechtenstein 1 - Switzerland 2 | FR |
Spain
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||
| Nov 15, 2011 | Costa Rica 2 - Spain 2 | FR |
| Nov 12, 2011 | England 1 - Spain 0 | FR |
| Oct 11, 2011 | Spain 3 - Scotland 1 | EC |
| Oct 7, 2011 | Czech Rep. 0 - Spain 2 | EC |
| Sep 6, 2011 | Spain 6 - Liechtenstein 0 | EC |
|
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| 1 | Peter Jehle | Goalkeeper |
| 5 | Yves Oehri | Defender |
| 6 | Martin Stocklasa | Defender |
| 3 | Michael Stocklasa | Defender |
| 15 | Lucas Eberle | Defender |
| 11 | Franz Burgmeier | Midfielder |
| 20 | Sandro Wieser | Midfielder |
| 8 | Michele Polverino | Midfielder |
| 7 | David Hasler | Striker |
| 9 | Philippe Erne | Midfielder |
| 10 | Mario Frick | Striker |
| 19 | Cengiz Bicer | Goalkeeper |
| 13 | Martin Büchel | Midfielder |
| - | Stefan Büchel | |
| - | Fabio D'Elia | |
| 4 | Martin Rechsteiner | Defender |
| 15 | Franz-Josef Vogt | Defender |
| - | Ronny Büchel |
| 1 | Iker Casillas | Goalkeeper |
| 15 | Sergio Ramos | Defender |
| 3 | Gerard Piqué | Defender |
| - | Carlos Marchena | |
| - | Capdevila | |
| 8 | Xavi | Midfielder |
| 16 | Sergio Busquets Burgos | Midfielder |
| 14 | Xabi Alonso | Midfielder |
| 6 | Andrés Iniesta Luján | Midfielder |
| 7 | David Villa | Striker |
| 9 | Fernando Torres | Striker |
| 23 | José Reina Paez | Goalkeeper |
| 17 | Arbeloa | Defender |
| 22 | Jesús Navas González | Midfielder |
| 20 | S. Iraheta | Midfielder |
| 10 | Cesc Fàbregas | Midfielder |
| 19 | Fernando Llorente | Striker |
| 18 | Pedro | Striker |
| 21 | David Silva | Midfielder |
| Mario Frick | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 10 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Frick will turn 36 next week and is going to be the key player for his team. Spain's defence is very strong but Frick is the one who will have to find a way to get through them.
| David Villa | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 7 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
David Villa has scored 43 goals for Spain and is just one behind Raul’s all-time record of 44. The Barcelona striker might not start against Liechtenstein but if he does, then he will surely be looking to find the target twice and etch himself into Spain’s history books.
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