World champions Spain are determined to make a strong start in the defence of the European title they won so impressively in Vienna in 2008.
Vicente del Bosque’s team have been drawn into Group I for the qualifiers for Euro 2012, and should really have few problems in dealing with the Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania and Liechtenstein.
However, the Spaniards are working hard to avoid over-confidence ahead of Friday’s group opener away to Liechtenstein.
Four days later they are away to Argentina in a high-profile friendly, but on Wednesday defensive midfielder Serio Busquets made it clear that the qualifying match in Vaduz was more important than the friendly in Buenos Aires.
“The game against Argentina is something to look forward to,” said the Barcelona youngster, “but the important game is against Liechtenstein, because we have to start the qualifying process well.”
Busquets — who was one of the revelations of the World Cup — added: “On Friday we have to find the motivation as if we were playing against one of the strongest national teams.
“The world title is now part of history and should be set aside.
We will have to work hard for this qualification...We do not believe ourselves to be unbeatable.” Spain have suffered a setback with an injury to Barca captain Carles Puyol, who tore the soleus muscle at the back of his left leg at Spain’s training camp in Madrid on Tuesday and will be out of action for around three weeks.
Puyol has been replaced in the squad by Osasuna left-back Nacho Monreal, but his place in the team alongside Gerard Pique will probably be taken by fellow veteran Carlos Marchena.
Fernando Torres, meanwhile, will be battling for the centre-forward spot with Fernando Llorente, who looked fitter and sharper than Torres in the few minutes that he played at the World Cup.
Athletic Bilbao striker Llorente took a similar line to Busquets, saying that “the important thing now is to forget about the World Cup and to start from zero.”
