Spain target win before France test

[Folami David]

World champions Spain will use Friday's home game against Finland in Gijon to warm up for the more important World Cup qualifier away to France four days later.
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Spain and France are joint top of group I, with seven points from three games. Georgia, who host France Friday, are third with four points, then come Belarus with three and Finland with just one.
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Spain will be missing two veterans who have been fundamental in their triumphs in the past five years: goalkeeper Iker Casillas and defender Carles Puyol.
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Casillas is out with a broken finger in his left hand, while Puyol underwent surgery on his battered right knee Friday.
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Coach Vicente del Bosque has brought in David de Gea of Manchester United to replace Casillas, and Cesar Azplicueta of Chelsea as cover for Puyol.
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"Casillas and Puyol are our two captains," said Del Bosque, "our two leaders. We will certainly miss them, without a doubt."
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"This is going to be a very tight group, and any slip- up can be fatal. We have to concentrate on Finland before we start thinking about France."
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The player who should pick up the captain's armband in the absence of Casillas and Puyol is playmaker Xavi.

[Shola Sholaz]

They are very capable of that if they field their best players. But France will be a very tough challenge for them.