Friendly international

Iceland 0 - Spain 0

Iceland: Arason; Steinsson, Hreidarsson, Ingmarsson, I. Sigurdsson; Hannes Sigurdsson (Johnsson 78'), Arnason (Björnsson 89'), Joey Gudjohnsson (Skulason 46'), Vidarsson (Olafsson 84'); Helguson (Gunnarsson 60'), Thorvaldsson (Gudmansson 86'). 4-4-2.
Spain: Reina; Michel Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Pablo, Pernía (Antonio López 68'); Cesc (Iniesta 68'), Albelda, Luis García (Joaquín 46'); Raúl, Fernando Torres (Reyes 46'), David Villa. 4-3-3.

Goals: None.

Spain could only draw 0-0 with Iceland in their friendly international tonight. Luis Aragonés put out an unambitious line up, preferring to rely on his tried and tested World Cup squad rather than bring in new blood, and Oubiña, the only uncapped player in the squad, spent the whole match on the substitutes' bench. Raúl captained the side once again on his one hundredth appearance for his country, only the second Spanish player to reach the "ton" after Zubizarreta did so a few seasons ago.

The early chances fell to Spain, Villa and Albelda firing long shots wide and Luis García latching on to a long ball from Ramos only to see his lob frustrated by the keeper. Reina had been given a run out in goal, and he was in action to keep out efforts from Joey Gudjohnsson and Helgursson before the break.

Aragonés brought on wide men Joaquín and Reyes at half time, and the Arsenal man tried his luck a couple of times, first with a shot just wide from outside of the area, and then with a free kick which Arason pushed clear as it was heading for the top corner of the net. Joaquín was brought down heavily as the Icelandic defenders went in hard, but both he and Villa could have won it for Spain in the dying minutes had they been able to find the target.

In the end though a disappointing result, and although the match did serve as a warm up for Spain's opening Euro 2008 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Northern Ireland at the beginning of next month, many people questioned whether it was worth the bother.