Madrid: Spain will play Colombia in a football friendly match on Wednesday in a game which could see some players make their international debut.
Thousands of Colombians, who live in Madrid, are expected to watch the match and could even come close to outnumbering the Spanish fans for what is effectively a warm-up for Spain’s World Cup qualifying tie away to Macedonia on Sunday.
The Colombia side will contain players well-known in Spain, such as Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez and former Atletico Madrid forward Radamel Falcao, while they can expect to have a famous fan in the stands, pop singer Shakira, who is the wife of Barcelona and Spanish defender Gerard Pique.
With no Real Madrid players included after Saturday’s Champions League final win, Pique will be at the heart of the defence of the Spain side, while coach Julen Lopetegui can be expected to hand out a couple of debuts.
Real Sociedad’s Asier Illaramendi, who had to drop out of the last Spain squad through illness, is set to start, while Athletic Club Bilbao’s young goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is close to signing a new contract with his club, can also expect to appear at some stage of the game.
Diego Costa will lead Spain’s attack on what is expected to be a hot evening in Murcia, as a heatwave grips Spain.
France, meanwhile, received a boost on Monday as star young striker Kylian Mbappe joined training following a slight thigh strain.
The Euro 2016 runners-up face a crucial trip to Sweden on Friday in their quest to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Monaco teenager Mbappe missed last Friday’s 5-0 friendly victory over Paraguay, but looks set to be fit to face the Swedes.
“If you ask him, he’s ready, that’s for sure,” said France coach Didier Deschamps with a smile at his team’s Clairefontaine training base.
“He’s ready to start a [France] match, he’s already done it against Spain.
“He’s a young player but that didn’t stop him from showing with his club, both in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, that he was performing well and making a difference.
“He can do that with us.”
France travel to Stockholm top of European qualifying Group A, with a three point gap to second-placed Sweden.
Only the group winners are guaranteed a place at Russia 2018.
