Spain keen to win friendly against world champions

In February Luis Aragones' young team raised eyebrows across Europe by beating World Cup runners-up France.

 Now they aim to go one better by defeating the world's number one national team.

 "If we want to do well at the European Championship finals," said Aragones on the weekend after announcing his squad for the friendly, "then we have to learn how to be sharp and competitive against high- class teams like Italy."

   The only newcomer in Aragones' squad is 22 year-old midfielder Ruben de la Red, on loan at Getafe from Real Madrid.

 Once again, he has overlooked Real captain Raul Gonzalez, despite the veteran's good form - and despite the media campaign in his favour.

 "My squad for the finals," declared Aragones on Saturday, "will be based around the players who gave us qualification."

   David Albelda has again been left out, because Valencia coach Ronald Koeman has not picked him since December. Koeman is unlikely to bring Albelda back - particularly after the recent successes of his team - so the veteran midfielder will not be on the plane for Austria and Switzerland.

 Another veteran overlooked, for the time being, is little striker Raul Tamudo. Aragones is not satisfied that the Espanyol captain has completely recovered from the broken arm he suffered in January.

 Italy, for their part, will arrive in Elche without strikers Antonio Cassano and Alessandro del Piero, both overlooked recently by manager Roberto Donadoni but both keen to win a place in the finals squad.

 The veteran Juventus captain, like AC Milan's Alberto Gilardino, has lacked consistency during the season, while Cassano seems set on squandering his impressive talent through his lack of self control. He is currently sidelined for five games after insulting a referee.

 Upfront, Donadoni is expected to start against the Spanish with Luca Toni, who could be replaced for the second half by Serie A top scorer Marco Borriello.

 27-year-old Borriello of Genoa, who boasts 17 goals alongside Juve's David Trezeguet, played his first game for the Azzurri against Portugal in February.

 However, Toni remains coach Roberto Donadoni's first choice upfront. The towering striker is the German Bundesliga best scorer on 16 goals after notching a brace for Bayern Munich at the weekend.

 With Euro 2008 set to start on June 7, Donadoni seems to have settled for an attack package led by Toni with the support of Antonio Di Natale and Mauro Camoranesi.

 Borriello is to share the bench with Vincenzo Iaquinta, Camoranesi's team mate at Juventus, and Fabio Quagliarella, who mans Udinese's attack next to Di Natale.

By Duncan Shaw and Alberto Cagliano, dpa