Bonucci says Spain are favourites against Italy

Pique, 29, is preparing for global duty with Spain as La Roja get set for a World Cup qualifying match against Italy on Thursday.

Shortly before the break, Diego Costa made room for himself on the edge of the Italy area and unleashed a low shot, but it lacked power and rolled towards Vitolo who failed to control the ball and lost possession.

The Spanish national team will play perhaps the most vital game of their World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday when they take on Italy in Turin.

Spain coach Julen Lopetegui lamented his side’s failure to put Italy away in their 1-1 draw in World Cup qualifying.

In the absence of veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini, Ventura is expected to hand a debut to AC Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli who will take a place alongside Juventus duo of Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci.

Spain also picked up a win in their opening game of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation, with the side smashing Liechtenstein 8-0.

“And we’ve started well, we beat Belgium away and got a good result against Liechtenstein”.

“I have already said there are 48 hours to the next match and it’ll be hard to recover completely, so it was about measuring out the playing time rather than leaving anyone out”.

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera could earn his first senior cap for Spain after being called up by Lopetegui. Even without Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric, the Croats were far too strong for their opponents in Shkodra, Albania.

La Roja continued to cause the Azzurri problems and won countless corners, but the two sides went in goalless at half-time.

Hallgrimsson partnered with Lars Lagerback to inspire his team’s improbable run to the quarter-finals of the Euro Championship in France this summer.

Hallgrimsson said: “Nobody is underestimating Iceland any more”.

“In the morning training session on Friday, the player did a test to determine his physical condition and, having still felt the same discomfort, he chose to return to Spain“, a statement from the team read.

Joe Allen gave Wales the lead midway through the first half at the Ernst Happel Stadium with a stunning left-foot volley.

Croatia had little sympathy for Kosovo, who held its first competitive “home” match, but at a neutral venue.

But he warned: “Spain will be in a new state of mind and will be looking to avenge their Euro 2016 defeat to us”.