Goalkeeper question could be answered as Spain play last pre-Euro friendly

Who will get the nod in the goal from Spain football team chief coach Vicente del Bosque in the last preparation game for the defending champions ahead of the European Championship is the big question which should be answered when they take on Georgia in Getafe on Tuesday night.

Whether David de Gea or Iker Casillas will play in goal for Spain in the European Championship is the biggest doubt over Del Bosque's side, with the Manchester United keeper as most people's favourite after another magnificent season, ahead of the man who has represented his country a record breaking 167 times, reports Xinhua.

Casillas' last appearance was in Spain's easy 6-1 win against South Korea on Thursday, a result which has given the Spanish renewed confidence as they prepare for the Euro 2016.

Logic dictates that De Gea will therefore start on Tuesday, just as it also implies that the side which kicks off in Getafe will be virtually the same as that which starts against Croatia in Toulouse on June 13 and that De Gea will be Del Bosque's first choice for the tournament.

The Spain coach has always been exceptionally loyal to his key players, however, and there is still a chance that Casillas will continue being his goalkeeper and it is not beyond the coach to keep people guessing by giving the two keepers 45 minutes each against another rival the Spanish should beat with relative ease.

Tuesday is also the only opportunity for the four players (Sergio Ramos, Lucas Vazquez, Juanfran Torres and Koke) who joined the squad on Saturday to play in a practice game. Ramos and Juanfran are likely to start in defense alongside Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba, while Vazquez will probably make his debut from the bench.

Alvaro Morata will get the chance to confirm his role as Spain's first choice striker and del Bosque will have to decide whether to play a second holding midfielder alongside Sergio Busquets or to include Cesc Fabrigas, who will have more license to press forward into attack.

--IANS

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