Spain desperate to score first win in Iceland

 "La Seleccion", as it is known, has not won in its three trips to Reykjavik before now.

 On Saturday, though, they really have no choice but to win there if they wish to reach the European Championship finals.

 Luis Aragones' young team are third in qualifying Group F with 15 points from seven games, three points behind leaders Sweden and one behind Northern Ireland.

 Iceland, in contrast, have no chance of qualifying, since they are second from bottom with just four points. In addition, they will be without star striker Eidur Gudjohnsen of Barcelona, out injured since June with various muscular problems.

 Spain are in good form, having won their last six matches including their last four qualifying games.

 They made a poor start to their qualifying campaign last autumn, losing in Belfast and Stockholm, but are now well positioned to reach their fourth successive Euro finals - providing they win in Reykjavik.

  "It will be a difficult game," said Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso at the Spanish training ground in Madrid on Wednesday evening.

 "We played a friendly there last August," he recalled, "and the state of the pitch hardly permitted us to play at all."

   That friendly was a tedious 0-0 draw, but Alonso is sure that "we can do much better on Saturday."

   Alonso is in good form - he scored twice against Derby County on Saturday - and will probably get the nod from Aragones, who seems to be opting for a technical rather than physical side.

 This means that Valencia hardman David Albelda will probably be on the bench.

 Aragones will have to choose between Barcelona playmakers Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta to accompany Alonso in midfield. He will probably opt for the former, despite Iniesta having scored that handsome goal away to England and the crucial late goal at home to Iceland.

 Aragones will opt for an ambitious 4-2-4 lineup, with Valencia men Joaquin Sanchez and David Silva on the wings, and with David Villa and Fernando Torres in attack.

 The same as Alonso, Torres scored twice in Liverpool's destruction of Derby. "The Kid" twisted his ankle in training on Wednesday but should be completely fit by Saturday.

 Aragones has raised eyebrows by again leaving out Real Madrid captain Raul Gonzalez, who has scored in both of Real's league matches so far.

 In goal for Spain, as usual, will be Iker Casillas, behind a defence of Sergio Ramos, Juanito Gutierrez, Carlos Marchena and Walter Pernia, who has been brought back thanks to his good form at Atletico Madrid.

DPA