Young superstar set for international chance

A REJUVENATED Spain restart their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign at home to Ukraine in Seville today, while the prospect of seeing Harry Kane make his debut is the main attraction as England face Lithuania.

In their first outing since a 1-0 friendly loss to Germany in November, reigning European champions Spain put their record of never having lost at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium on the line as they face Ukraine in qualifying Group C.

Vicente del Bosque’s side are second in the group after four games, three points behind Slovakia.

Del Bosque is overseeing a period of transition following last year’s World Cup disaster and his latest squad features the likes of Athletic Bilbao defender Mikel San Jose, Sevilla winger Vitolo and Malaga forward Juanmi, who replaces the injured Diego Costa.

With the top two in each group qualifying automatically for next year’s finals in France, Spain and Ukraine are level on nine points in Group C, three behind leaders Slovakia, who host Luxembourg.

Meanwhile, England are chasing a fifth win from five matches in Group E when they entertain Lithuania at Wembley stadium.

It may not be the kind of fixture that would usually whip up great excitement among the masses, but a crowd of 90 000 is expected to see Tottenham Hotspur hotshot Harry Kane potentially make his England bow. “It’s fantastic, what he has done,” England manager Roy Hodgson said of 21-year-old Kane, who has scored 29 goals this season and could feature in the absence due to injury of Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge.

There is plenty at stake elsewhere, with the Netherlands taking on Turkey in Group A as both sides trail behind leaders the Czech Republic and Iceland.

The Dutch are chasing a 20th consecutive home win.

After an unbeaten start in Group B, Wales can go top with a win in Israel. Elsewhere in the group, Bosnia go to Andorra, who have lost their last 48 competitive games.

Serbia have a new coach too, with Dick Advocaat’s successor Radovan Curcic leading the team in a competitive game for the first time on their trip to Portugal in Group I.

Bulgaria welcome Italy in Sofia in Group H. The Azzurri are second behind Croatia, who are at home to Norway.

There is greater pressure on Russia as they lie in third place in Group G before a trip to Montenegro. – AFP