With just six days until the World Cup, Spain is trying to fine tune their roster before heading down to Brazil as one of the favorites to win it all. After beating Bolivia 2-0, the team is now concerned with not letting injuries creep up before the tournament begins.
The defending champs are dealing with one big issue. Coach Vicente del Bosque is concerned about growing injuries on the roster leading up to the tournament. Bosque insists that Diego Costa will be included on the roster for this year's World Cup and will play in the friendly against El Salvador. Del Bosque is trying to get as many players time on the field as he can in order for everyone to be fully warmed up heading down to Brazil. His goal is for his squad to hold onto the ball for at least 70 percent of the friendly against El Salvador.
"We don't want them to risk injury but we want to see them in a game and I hope the outcome is good. If we can see them in the match against El Salvador, then even better," Del Bosque said, via ABC News.
Spain's run in Brazil will begin with the Netherlands before the team then faces Chile and Australia. El Salvador will not be the biggest challenge for Spain. Right now they rank 69 in the world and have just one win over the last eight matches. They were recently beaten by the Ivory Coast which was the first under new head coach Albert Roca. Spain's big tests will come when it is time to keep their World Cup crown. Midfielder Xavi notes that he is entering the tournament looking for revenge after Brazil beat them in the 2013 Confederations Cup.
"Anything could happen, but football always gives you the opportunity to get revenge," Xavi said. "Hopefully it's at the World Cup and at as late of a stage as possible. It was a game in which everything went against us and they got all the breaks. "But the whole experience will stand us in good stead for the World Cup."
