Spanish bench hopes to impress

Spain's second string players will aim to press their case for a place in the team for the knockout stages when they play Saudi Arabia today.

With a place in the last 16 assured and top spot in Group H effectively in their pocket after a 3-1 win over Tunisia, coach Luis Aragones will rest several first-choice players.

It was the substitutes who came to Spain's rescue against Tunisia on Monday, Raul scoring the equaliser and Cesc Fabregas and Joaquin helping tease open the defence.

Their performances showed how little there is to choose between the players and a strong performance could be rewarded with a place in the starting lineup.

"Everyone wants to play," Joaquin said on Wednesday. "Even though we have already qualified it is still a World Cup match and I'm determined to make the most of the opportunity."

Leading striker Fernando Torres will be rested, while Raul and David Villa are likely to play 45 minutes each up front. Santiago Canizares will stand in for Iker Casillas in goal.

Saudi Arabia coach Marcos Paqueta knows that anything other than an unlikely victory over Spain could spell the end of his short stint in charge of the national team.

The Brazilian was only recruited in December to replace Argentine Gabriel Calderon, who had guided the team through the qualifying campaign in style.

Saudi Arabia suffered an 8-0 defeat by Germany in their first match of the tournament four years ago.

Probable teams:

Saudi Arabia (4-5-1):

1-Mohamed Al Deayea (181-0); 2-Ahmed Dokhi (70-4), 13-Hussein Sulaimani (99-3), 4-Hamad Al Montashari (34-6), 3-Redha Tuker (39-6); 14-Saud Al Khariri (36-12), 6-Omar Al Ghamdi (40-5), 8-Mohamed Noor (65-22), 9-Sami Al Jaber (162-44), 16-Khaled Al Thaker (16-2); 20-Yassir Al Qahtani (45-33)

Coach: Marcos Paqueta

Spain (4-3-3):

19-Santiago Canizares (45-0); 2-Michel Salgado (50-0), 20-Juanito (15-1), 4-Carlos Marchena (27-1), 12-Antonio Lopez (10-1); 6-David Albelda (34-0), 13-Andres Iniesta (3-0), 18-Cesc Fabregas (6-0); 17-Joaquin (39-4), 10-Jose Antonio Reyes (19-4), 7-Raul (97-44)

Coach: Luis Aragones

Source: China Daily