Panama vs Spain International Friendly Preview

PREVIEW

La Roja have left some key players with their respective clubs, but this friendly is an excellent opportunity for the coach to get a view of players on the cusp of the first team

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

PANAMA 

Penedo 

Dasent, Boloy, Algandona, Rodriguez 

Gomez, Cedeno 

Quintero, Barahona, Godoy 

Perez 

SPAIN 

Casillas 

Montoya, Ramos, Albiol, Alba 

Fabregas, Busquets, Iniesta 

Mata, Villa, Pedro 

TEAM NEWS

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has allowed leave to players who have been playing a lot of football recently or who have just recovered from injury. Squad regulars Fernando Torres, David Silva, Xavi, Xabi Alonso and fit-again Gerard Pique have all not travelled to Panama.

Vice-captain Carles Puyol misses to trip to Central America as he is still recovering from the dislocated elbow he suffered against Benfica in the Champions League.

This will certainly be an opportunity for the world champions to experiment with their line-up and personnel. Del Bosque may start his tried and tested players but expect there to be a place in the starting XI for Martin Montoya and Juan Mata, who have both been called up.

Players on the brink of the starting line-up will certainly be itching to get on and impress in this international friendly. Squad members such as Roberto Soldado, Jesus Navas, Benat and Markel Susaeta, who will make his debut pending his introduction, will all likely get a run out by the veteran Spanish coach.

This is certainly a glamour friendly for Panama, who will certainly enjoy the gate-receipt tally that the European giants will bring. They will be looking to forward Blas Perez for inspiration in the clash. The FC Dallas striker has scored 26 goals in 64 games for his country and will be their main attacking threat in this match.

Panama's leading goalscorer of all-time, Luis Tejada, has not made the squad to face Spain.

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Source: Goal