Spain will be looking to put their World Cup nightmare behind them on Monday when they start their 2016 European Championship qualifying campaign against Macedonia in Madrid.

Two defeats from three matches in Brazil saw the defending champions suffer a surprise exit at the group stage.

Despite seeing their recent dip in form continue on Thursday night with a 1-0 friendly loss to France in Paris, Vicente del Bosque's side will be expected to earn a comfortable victory over Macedonia at the Santiago Bernabeu.

European minnows Macedonia, who come into the match on the back of three defeats in their last five games, have never qualified for a major tournament since becoming an independent nation at the start of the 1990s.

Spain will have to do without the attacking prowess of Chelsea striker Diego Costa, who has been ruled out of the match with a thigh injury. Barcelona youngster Munir El Haddadi has been called up as a replacement.

Recent form

Spain: WWLLWL

Macedonia: LWLDLD

Possible starting lineups

Spain: Casillas; Carvajal, Ramos, San Jose, Azpilicueta; Busquets, Fabregas, Cazorla, Koke, Silva; Pedro

Macedonia: Efremov; Cuculi, Siljanovski, Damcevski, Lena; Todorovski, Najdenov, Avramovski, Velkoski, Markoski; Simonovski

Sports Mole says: 4-0

Written by
Jack Prescott

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