SWEDEN: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Press conferences by the Swedish and Spanish coaches as their teams train ahead of their forthcoming Group F Euro 2008 qualifying match

The Spanish national football team held a late night training on Friday (October 6) at Rasunda Stadium in Stockholm ahead of their Group F Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden. The build-up to the Sweden game on Saturday (October 7) has been overshadowed by a national debate over coach Luis Aragones's decision to drop captain Raul for the first time in 10 years for a reason other than injury. Without Raul, the country's leading all-time goalscorer, the focus up front falls on the joint top scorer in the Primera Liga David Villa of Valencia and Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres. In-form Real forward Jose Antonio Reyes was forced to pull out of the squad this week, and has been replaced by debutant Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta. Aragones's future as national coach has also been questioned following the team's shock 3-2 defeat to Northern Ireland in their last qualifier. The 68-year-old tendered his resignation shortly after last month's game in Belfast but reversed that decision almost immediately. Another controversy involves Valencia winger Joaquin, who was also dropped from the squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden. Joaquim, who has played 42 times for Spain, has been replaced by Valencia team-mate Miguel Angel Angulo. "In the clubs and the national team that I managed players, are not picked because of something they have said is a punishment to the national side or to the club. In a team, a punishment could be given or not. But if Joaquin has to come back, that would happen. What Joaquin has do is to show good form to be back (in Spain's squad), told reporters on Friday (October 6). Spain are in joint second place in Group F, three points behind leaders Sweden with three points from two games. Although Spain have the edge with only two defeats from 10 encounters between the countries, they have never won in Sweden. The last time they met, in a friendly in Gothenburg in June 2000, they drew 1-1. Sweden will be without their most feared striker and their first-choice goalkeeper when they take on Spain in Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier. The Swedes, who lead Group F after beating Latvia and Liechtenstein, will face their toughest qualifier so far without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has refused to play, and keeper Andreas Isaksson, who is injured. The Inter Milan forward, defender Olof Mellberg and midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson were sent home by Sweden coach Lars Lagerback before last month's qualifier against Liechtenstein for staying out too late ahead of the match. Ibrahimovic believes the sanction was too harsh. With Ibrahimovic absent on Saturday and also next Wednesday against Iceland, and Henrik Larsson retired from international football, the attack could be Sweden's weak spot. Marcus Allback might start up front, but the 33-year-old is doubtful as he struggles with an abdominal muscle injury. FC Copenhagen's Fredrik Berglund, Ajax Amsterdam's Markus Rosenberg and Toulouse's Johan Elmander are the other alternatives up front, with Rosenberg and Berglund yet to make a real impression in the national team. Isaksson has struggled with injuries since the World Cup and has yet to play for Premier League club Manchester City, whom he joined from Stade Rennes in August. Fredrikstad's Rami Shaaban is set to replace Isaksson as he did in Sweden's previous two matches. Probable teams: Sweden: Rami Shaaban; Erik Edman, Olof Mellberg, Petter Hansson, Mikael Nilsson; Tobias Linderoth, Fredrik Ljungberg, Christian Wilhelmsson, Kim Kallstrom; Marcus Allback, Markus Rosenberg Spain: Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Juanito, Joan Capdevila; Miguel Angel Angulo, David Albelda, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta; Fernando Torres, David Villa.

ITN Source | October 8, 2006

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