Friendly international

Spain 4 - Andorra 0

Spain: Casillas (Cañizares 31', Aranzubía 62'); Puyol (Gabri 46'), Marchena (Juanito 46'), Iván Helguera (César 46'), Raúl Bravo (Capdevila 46'); Albelda (Xabi Alonso 46'), Baraja (Xavi 46'); Etxeberría (Joaquín 46'), Raúl (Valerón 46'), Luque, Morientes (Fernando Torres 46'). 4-2-3-1.
Andorra: Koldo Alvarez (Alfonso 83'); Ramírez (Dani Ferrón 92'), Julio Fernández (David Ribolleda 92'), Ildefons Lima, Txema (Jordi Escura 52'); Toni Lima (Manel Jiménez 88'); Ayala, Toni Sivera (Genis García 86'), Justo Ruiz (Sergio Moreno 75'), Sonejee (Jonas 66'); Julio Sánchez (Gabi Riera 79'). 4-1-4-1.

Goals:
1-0. 25. Morientes. Controlled Baraja pass and poked shot past Koldo.
2-0. 45. Baraja. Following up after Koldo saved his penalty kick.
3-0. 65. César. Header down inside near post from Xavi's corner.
4-0. 90. Valerón. Picked up pass from Xavi and shot wide of Alfonso.

Spain recorded a comfortable victory in their only warm-up game prior to the Euro 2004 championships, running out 4-0 winners over tiny neighbours Andorra in the Alfonso Pérez stadium in Getafe. Iñaki Sáez used the occasion to try out all of his squad, putting out what will probably be his first choice line up at the start, with the exception of Vicente who was resting an injury (but who is expected to be fit for the opening game against Russia next Saturday). The manager confirmed though that with Salgado injured, Puyol will switch to his natural position of right back, and that Baraja and Morientes will probably get the nod over Xabi Alonso and Valerón.

Andorra were never expected to be much of a threat, most of their players part-timers who at best played in the Spanish regional divisions. However put up a good fight at first, and it was not until midway through the first half that Spain finally broke through, Baraja finding Morientes for him to poke a shot past Koldo. And the second goal didn't come until the stroke of half time when Raúl was tripped by Txema inside the area, Baraja scoring on the rebound after the keeper blocked his penalty kick. Before that Andorra had actually got the ball in the net only to see it ruled out for offside, and Spain's only other real effort was a long shot from Baraja which Koldo saved comfortably.

Sáez changed almost all of his line up after the break, giving a run out to Capdevila who had replaced Salgado in the squad and a first cap to third choice keeper Aranzubia. And the theoretical reserves put on a better performance than their peers, with Xavi commanding in midfield and Valerón making a strong case for a place in the starting line up. Fernando Torres was also a constant danger, and he went close two or three times before César headed a third goal from Xavi's corner, and it was Xavi who found Valerón in the last minute for him to make it four. Iñaki Sáez now has some hard decisions to make before Saturday's opening game, but it still looks as if the initial ten plus Vicente will line up on Saturday for the first match.