- LONDON: World champion Spain could rest players for a European Championship qualifier against Lithuania on Tuesday, when the Netherlands also seeks to continue its perfect group record.
While Germany, England, France and Italy are among the teams in friendly action, the Euro 2012 qualifying picture could become a lot clearer with 10 games on Tuesday.
Spain and the Netherlands already have six-point leads at the top of their groups and will be all but assured of advancing if they win again. Runner-up to Spain at last year's World Cup, the Dutch host a Hungary side they beat 4-0 in Budapest on Friday.
Germany takes a break from qualifying to play Australia, while England coach Fabio Capello will rest several players for a game against Ghana.
Spain, which last year added the World Cup to the European Championship title it won in 2008, beat the Czech Republic 2-1 on Friday for a fourth win from four matches. It did so without Carles Puyol, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro Rodriguez, and will again be without the trio because of injury.
But Spanish newspapers have still predicted changes to the side as coach Vicente Del Bosque tries to rest some players.
“We are on a good run of results,” Del Bosque said. “We cannot play any better and we are going to Lithuania to win. If we win, we will have (qualification) very easily.” Having beaten the same opponent 3-1 already, Spain's biggest obstacle could be the state of the pitch in Kaunas, with assistant coach Paco Jimenez having reported to Del Bosque on “horrible” conditions.
“The Lithuanians are not at fault, but that's the situation,” Del Bosque said. “We will travel, speak to the UEFA delegate and do whatever they say.” The challenging conditions should at least ensure that Spain's players do not take anything for granted against lowly opponents.
“It will be a tough game, for sure,” midfielder Andres Iniesta said. “It is a team that pressures a lot, they don't let you breathe, and they close in defense, like a lot of teams.
“If we add that we are playing away and that the pitch won't be in the best condition, it makes it a difficult game.” The Czech Republic hosts Liechtenstein in the other Group I match.
The Netherlands is chasing a sixth straight Group E win and Hungary looks ill-equipped to prevent it after a demoralizing defeat just a few days ago.
Winger Balazs Dzsudzsak aggravated a rib muscle injury suffered last weekend and his status for Tuesday's rematch in Amsterdam is uncertain. Midfielder Tamas Hajnal and defender Roland Juhasz are also expected to miss the game.
“I'd like to refresh the team for Tuesday's match, so, beside the forced substitutions, I'm planning changes to the lineup,” coach Sandor Egervari said.
Hungary last took part in a major international tournament at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Despite some encouraging results in the first few qualifiers, Hungary must improve greatly if it is to close a six-point gap on the Dutch and reach the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
Sweden hosts Moldova in the other Group E match, while Belgium and Turkey are the home teams in action in Group A, against Azerbaijan and Austria respectively.
Northern Ireland meets Slovenia in Group C, where Serbia is away to Estonia. Romania hosts Luxembourg in the only Group D match, while Israel hosts Georgia in Group F.
Elsewhere in Europe, the action is confined to friendlies.
Germany is also on a 100 percent streak in qualifying after a routine 4-0 win over Kazakhstan on Saturday, so coach Joachim Loew has a good opportunity to rest some regulars against Australia.
Real Madrid midfielders Mesut Oezil, who set up two goals Saturday, and Sami Khedira, who had one assist, are expected to sit out the game.
Defender and captain Philipp Lahm of Bayern Munich also will be given a break, Loew said Sunday.
Loew is expected to bring in, among others, defender Mats Hummels of Bundesliga leader Borussia Dortmund and midfielder Andre Schuerrle of Mainz.
Likewise, England has allowed five key players to drop out of Tuesday's game at Wembley.
But that means Capello will have to find another captain since John Terry, back in the role for Saturday's 2-0 qualifying win over Wales after an 18-month absence, will be rested alongside Chelsea teammates Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and Tottenham defender Michael Dawson have also been released after playing in Cardiff. But Dawson's Tottenham teammates Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon did not play Saturday and will stay with the squad.
France coach Laurent Blanc also said he will make changes for Tuesday's friendly match against Croatia at the Stade de France. The French secured a scrappy 2-0 win against minnow Luxembourg on Friday in European Championship qualifying and Blanc said his attacking players should have performed better.
“Offensively, it was not a very good or very powerful performance. But we must make a comprehensive analysis,” Blanc said. “There was little space against Luxembourg.” Blanc didn't say which players will be replaced but Alou Diarra is expected to return in the midfield while Jeremy Menez and Loic Remy are bidding for a spot on the wing.
Winger Franck Ribery is back with the team after the World Cup fiasco and expects some jeers from the fans at Stade de France.
“I think there will be some whistles,” Ribery said. “It will very special, with 80,000 fans. Let's wait and see.
We'll need to overcome this and to keep moving forward.” Italy is in Ukraine and Portugal hosts Finland in other friendly matches.

