Spain preparing for Faroe Islands clash

MADRID, June 6  — Assistant coach Roberto Moreno is continuing with the preparations for Spain’s European Championship qualifying game away to the Faroe Islands on Friday.

Moreno has been taking the training sessions for Spain due to the continued absence of coach Luis Enrique with a “severe family problem,” which caused the former Barca boss to abandon the squad on the eve of an earlier qualifying tie away to Malta in March.

The main task for Moreno has been to ensure that the players don’t lose their match fitness given that the Spanish Liga Santander season ended almost three weeks ago and preparing for a rival who are likely to surrender possession to the Spanish and sit deep in defense.

Spain’s 2-0 win away to Malta is likely to serve as good practice in that sense given that Spain had 84 percent of the ball and completed over 940 passes to their rival’s 16 percent and 191 passes.

Alvaro Morata scored both of Spain’s goals in March and is likely to retain his place after a good second half to the season with Atletico Madrid.
The main debate is whether David de Gea continues in goal after his disappointing end to the season with Manchester United, or whether Europa League winner Kepa Arrizabalaga gets his chance.

Elsewhere Dani Carvajal will return at right back with Inigo Martinez and Sergio Ramos in central defense and Jordi Alba on the left.

Dani Parejo and Sergio Busquets will probably start in midfield, although Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo also has options, while Real Madrid duo Isco and Marco Asensio will support Morata and Iago Aspas (the top scoring Spaniard this season) in attack.

The Spanish players will have one training session on Thursday evening to get used to the artificial surface in the Trosvollur stadium ahead of the game on Friday night. – XINHUA