Group F leaders Spain can count on Carles Puyol for the trip to Aarhus to take on Denmark on Saturday week as they look to maintain a three-point advantage over second-placed Northern Ireland and Sweden.

Key game
Luis Aragon�s's men have 19 points, five more than Denmark who, like third-placed Sweden, have two games in hand on the top two. Barcelona captain Puyol has recovered from a knee injury and was named in the selection along with potential debutants Ra�l Albiol and Albert Riera. Riera is arguably the biggest surprise but Aragon�s was clear about his quality. "Our qualification for EURO is at stake," he said. "I know Riera from my time at RCD Mallorca and he's technically a great player." As well as the trip to Denmark, Spain will take on Finland in a friendly contest four days later.

Spain squad
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF), Pepe Reina (Liverpool FC).

Defenders: Pablo Ib��ez (Club Atl�tico de Madrid), Mariano Pern�a (Club Atl�tico de Madrid), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid CF), Carlos Marchena (Valencia CF), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal CF), Ra�l Albiol (Valencia CF).

Midfielders: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal FC), Andr�s Iniesta (FC Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia CF), Xavi Hern�ndez (FC Barcelona), David Albelda (Valencia CF), Miguel �ngel Angulo (Valencia CF), Joaqu�n (Valencia CF), Albert Riera (RCD Espanyol).

Forwards: David Villa (Valencia CF), Fernando Torres (Liverpool FC), Luis Garc�a (RCD Espanyol).

Spain have been dealt a blow just six days before their crucial UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Denmark after forward David Villa suffered a sprained ankle on club duty for Valencia CF.

Ankle injury
The 25-year-old sustained the injury to his left ankle midway through the first half of Valencia's 2-1 defeat against RCD Espanyol on Saturday after a tackle by Milan Smiljanić. Tests by the club's medical staff have revealed the extent of the damage with Villa ruled out for up to three weeks. The news means the player, who has scored 13 times for his country in 26 appearances, will not feature against Denmark, nor the friendly against Finland four days later. Villa is also a serious doubt for Valencia's UEFA Champions League Matchday 3 visit to Rosenborg BK on 24 October.

Luis Aragones has seemingly ruled out calling up Bojan Krkic (pictured) for the impending Euro 2008 tournament next summer in Austria and Switzerland.

The veteran coach, speaking at a sponsorship meeting between the Spanish FA and Cruzcampo, remarked, "We're tracking him, and it's possible that he'll debut in a friendly, but he is too young for the European Championships."
Bojan, 17, has already played for all levels of the young Furia Roja, right up to the U-21s, but perhaps mindful of the fate of Theo Walcott at the World Cup last year with England, Aragones has deemed tournament play another ball game entirely.

One player who himself made waves as a youngster, Raul, could well make his return to the Spanish squad at next summer's tournament.
Aragones teased, "Who would you remove? One must always call up those who are at their best, as I have to be as fair as possible.

"If he continues, despite the long wait, he's likely to return."

Indeed, he extended that to certain other Furia Roja outcasts, too.
"Raul's the one in the media the most, but there are others who once were called up, but are no longer," he noted.

Aragones has previously stated that he will not renew his contract when the tournament ends, but recent comments have seen him leave the door open for a longer crack at international management.
"In both life and football things can be long term, although the Federation and I know the expiration date.

"We're going to try to win something for Spain this time."
One source of motivation is that Cruzcampo have promised each player and technical staff member their weight in beer should Spain reach the final.

Steve Michaels, Goal.com