Spain put their credentials to the test against Italy

Thursday sees Italy and Spain go head-to-head in a EURO 2016 warm-up game in a repeat of the EURO 2012 Kiev showdown in which La Roja ran out 4-0 winners.

The four ensuing years have seen big changes for both sides. The Italians are now managed by Antonio Conte and just seven of the current 28-man squad were members of the squad defeated by Spain back in July 2012. Since then, the two nations have faced each other on two further occasions. The pair locked horns in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup in June 2013, with Spain emerging victorious in the penalty shootout after the game had ended goalless after normal time. In March 2014, Vincente Del Bosque's side once again got the better of their Italian counterparts in a friendly fixture played at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium.

As for Spain, there are several new faces in the squad which has travelled to Udine. FC Barcelona's Sergi Roberto has received his first call-up and could well make his international debut, the same goes for Sergio Rico, who, despite having been involved in previous squads, is yet to have tasted a minute of action. Another noteworthy inclusion is that of Aritz Aduriz, whose excellent form this term has earnt him a return from the international wilderness and a first call-up since 2010. One player who has not travelled to Italy is Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets after he was forced to pull out at the last minute after fracturing a bone in his hand.

OFFICIAL | Spain (@SeFutbol) 25-man squad call up for upcoming friendlies against @Vivo_Azzurro and @hai_romania pic.twitter.com/25PUUH4dp3

— Selección Española (@SeFutbol) March 18, 2016

 

Del Bosque's charges are well aware of just what a tough game they are in for against the Italians, in a fixture which represents a barometer ahead of this summer's big event. This is a fact which is not lost on midfielder Mikel San Jose, with the Athletic Club man recognising that, "it'll be a tough test for everyone, particularly with EURO 2016 in mind. Italy are a great side and we're going to have to perform very well to beat them."

This game marks the first of Spain's pre-EURO 2016 fixtures, as Del Bosque's men prepare to defend their 2012 title and aim to lift their third successive European Championship, a feat which no other nation has managed to date. Spain's pre-tournament preparations continue with Sunday's friendly clash against Romania, before games against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 29 April, South Korea on 1 June and Georgia on 7 June, all ahead of the tournament proper in France, where Spain face group games against the Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia.