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Spain national football team
World Cup | Qualifiers
Oct 11, 2013 at 9pm UK
 
Belarus national football team

2-1

Hernandez (61'), Negredo (78')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Spain vs. Belarus

Sports Mole previews Friday's Group I World Cup qualifier between Spain and Belarus.

Spain welcome Belarus in their 2014 World Cup qualifier on Friday knowing that three points would move them one step closer to securing their spot in Brazil next summer.

The European and world champions currently sit top of Group I having won four and drawn two of their six matches thus far, but they are level with France on 14 points.

France, however, have played one game more than La Roja and, therefore, three points against Belarus would leave Vicente del Bosque's side needing just one point from their final clash with Georgia to secure automatic qualification.

Belarus, meanwhile, currently sit bottom of the group having taken just four points from their seven matches, but they could move above Georgia with all three points in Spain. The corresponding match in Belarus took place in October 2012, when Spain picked up all three points with a 4-0 win.

Swansea City's Michu could be in line for his international debut with Spain after replacing the injured David Villa in the squad last week. His inclusion was a surprise, however, with the likes of Roberto Soldado and Fernando Llorente both left out of the party.

Iker Casillas will continue in goal despite his well-documented problems at Real Madrid, while Jordi Alba's absence could force Atletico Madrid defender Juanfran to switch to left-back.

Juanfran's club teammate Koke, who is primarily a central midfielder, has operated at right-back in recent matches and could also start, while Cesc Fabregas is expected to be deployed in the centre of the Spanish attack.

Meanwhile, Belarus have no fresh injury concerns from training this week and are expected to name their strongest available XI.

That means that Syarhey Vyeramko will continue in goal, while there will also be starts for the experienced Timofei Kalachev and Sergei Kornilenko, who has scored 13 goals in 58 games for his country.

Recent form

Spain: DLWWD

Belarus: WLDDL

Possible starting lineups

Spain: Casillas; Koke, Pique, Ramos, Juanfran; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Fabregas, Silva

Belarus: Vyeramko; Verkhovtsov, Martynovich, Filipenko, Bardachow; Kalachev, Kislyak, Tsiharow, Drahun; Kornilenko, Rodionov

Sports Mole says: 3-0


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Swansea's Michu celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Crystal Palace during their Premier League match on September 22, 2013
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

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Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

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Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

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Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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