Del Bosque will field strongest side against Scotland

SPAIN coach Vicente Del Bosque has promised Scotland he will play his strongest side against the Czechs on Friday. But the bad news for Craig Levein is that he will do the same against Scotland next week too.

The Scots need the world and European champions to win in Prague for Scotland to have any realistic hope of reaching the play-off place, with Levein’s men in Liectenstein on Saturday.

Del Bosque has said that he will play his best XI for both games, although he is without Barcelona’s injured midfield playmaker Andres Iniesta.

He explained: “We have qualified, but the Czechs and the Scots are still fighting it out for second place and we play both of them. They depend on us being fair and the only fair thing to do is to pick our best side.

“We try to win both games. I promise we will put on a show and give the fans a great game in Alicante.

“If we win in Prague, the game against Scotland will have an impact on the group standings, so we have to be fair. Scotland are a strong, tough team and this won’t be a friendly. It will be a difficult match for us.”

Del Bosque hinted that he could play misfiring £50 million Chelsea striker Fernando Torres against the Czechs and Scots. He said: “We have always had faith in him [Torres]. We trust him and I have confidence he will get back to his best.”

Spain squad. Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (R Madrid), Victor Valdes (Barcelona), Pepe Reina (Liverpool) Defenders: Alvaro Arbeloa (R Madrid), Sergio Ramos (R Madrid), Raul Albiol (R Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Jordi Alba (Valencia).

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (R Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Malaga), Thiago Alcantara (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Ath Bilbao). Forwards: David Silva (Man City), David Villa (Barcelona), Pedro (Barcelona), Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Fernando Llorente (Ath Bilbao), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla), Juan Mata (Chelsea).