Spain national football team, wey dem dey call La Roja, dey prepare well-well for di 2026 World Cup wey go hold for Canada, Mexico and USA. Dem get friendly match against Serbia dis Friday night for Villarreal Estadio de la Ceramica. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente wan use dis match test im players before di big tournament begin June 15.
Spain qualify for di World Cup as group winners with 16 points from six matches. Dem finish ahead of Turkey for di qualifiers. La Roja be one of di favourites to win di trophy dis year, join England, Argentina, France, Brazil and Portugal wey dem dey see as strong contenders. Spain win World Cup last time for 2010, but since dat time, dem no pass round of 16 for di last two tournaments.
For dis March international break, Spain go play two friendlies – against Serbia today and against Egypt next week. Dem go open dia World Cup campaign against Cape Verde for Atlanta on June 15. For Group H, Spain go still face Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. Experts say e go be big surprise if Spain no qualify for knockout stage from dat group.
Serbia no qualify for di 2026 World Cup. Dem finish third for dia qualifying group behind England and Albania with 13 points from eight matches. Serbia coach Veljko Paunovic say dem go use dis friendly match gain experience before dia UEFA Nations League campaign begin September. Serbia get three friendlies dis period – against Spain today, Saudi Arabia March 31, and Mexico June 4.
Spain and Serbia don play three times before. Last time dem meet for October 2024, Spain win 3-0. But for September 2024, di match end 0-0 draw. Spain dey come to dis match with good form – dem win dia last four matches and draw one. Serbia form dey mix – dem win two, lose two and draw one from dia last five games.
Coach De la Fuente say im go use all im players for dis friendlies, but im go start with strong team. Young star Lamine Yamal, wey be key player for Spain, go play. Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal fit join attack, while Rodri and Pedri go control midfield. Marcos Llorente fit play right-back, Dean Huijsen go start as defender, and Unai Simon go keep goal.
Spain miss some players like Fabian Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Pablo Barrios, Gavi, Alvaro Morata and Nico Williams from dis squad. For Serbia side, experienced striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, wey get 63 goals for im country, go lead attack. Luka Jovic wey get 11 Serbia goals go join am, while Nemanja Gudelj go play im 75th match for national team. Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic go start for Serbia defence.
Football pundits predict Spain go win 2-1. Dem say Serbia go give Spain strong test wey La Roja need for dia World Cup preparations. Di match go tight, but Spain get small advantage because dem dey play for home ground.
Spain preparation for World Cup dey go well. Under Coach De la Fuente, dem change from too much possession style to more direct and aggressive football. Dis new style help Spain win Euro 2024. De la Fuente don coach Spain youth teams before, so im sabi players like Yamal and Williams wey come from youth system.
For World Cup history, Spain performance since 2006 mix. After winning 2010, dem reach round of 16 for 2006, 2018 and 2022. For 2014, dem no pass group stage. Dis year, with players like Rodri and young talent Yamal, Spain get hope to go far for di tournament.
Di 2026 World Cup go different because knockout stage format change. If Spain win dia group, dem fit face Argentina early for round of 32 if Argentina come second for dia group. But if both teams win dia groups, Spain go face easier opponent like Algeria, Austria or Jordan.
Spain first match for World Cup go be against Cape Verde June 15 for Atlanta. Second match go be against Saudi Arabia June 21 for same stadium. Last group match go be against Uruguay June 27 for Zapopan, Mexico. All matches go hold evening time UK time.
For now, Spain focus on di Serbia friendly. Coach De la Fuente wan see how im team perform against physical European side before World Cup. After dis match, dem go analyse performance and make corrections before Egypt friendly.
Serbia coach Paunovic say im team go play with pride despite no qualifying for World Cup. Im say dis match go give im young players chance to gain experience against top team. Serbia get good players like Mitrovic and Milinkovic-Savic wey fit trouble Spain defence.
Football fans around di world dey watch Spain preparation because dem be tournament favourites. Di friendly against Serbia go show if La Roja ready for di big challenge ahead. Match go hold 8:45pm local time Friday night.
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