Denmark v Spain: Match preview
Updated: August 19, 2008, 8:15 PM UK
European champions Spain begin a new era on Wednesday night when coach Vicente del Bosque assumes control for the first time in the friendly against Denmark.
The former Real Madrid boss takes up the baton passed on by Luis Aragones, who has set a formidable benchmark having this summer led Spain to their first major title since 1964.
Aragones also guided Spain to victories in each of his final 12 matches and was unbeaten in 22 games overall before leaving his post after Euro 2008 to take over as coach of Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Wednesday's match in Copenhagen will be Spain's first since beating Germany in the final of the Euros, but Del Bosque believes the time has come to move on from this summer's success and look to the future.
"With the utmost respect for everything that has been achieved, it is no longer the time for tributes, but to start a new era," said Del Bosque on Tuesday.
"We have to re-enforce what has been achieved if we can, and improve on it if possible."
Del Bosque is set to select the majority of the side that won the Euro 2008 final against Germany in June as he looks to begin his reign with a winning start.
Of the XI that faced the Germans, it looks likely that the only two changes will be injury-enforced ones, with David Villa - who finished as the tournament's top scorer but missed the final due to a thigh strain - and Raul Albiol replacing the absent Cesc Fabregas and Carlos Marchena.
That means that the four uncapped players that Del Bosque called up last week - Bojan Krkic, Diego Capel, Fernando Amorebieta and Andoni Iraola - must wait for their chance to represent Spain for the first time.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who captained Spain to Euro glory this summer, has already experienced life under Del Bosque having played for him at Real Madrid.
Del Bosque led Madrid to seven trophies in four years at the Bernabeu, and Casillas hopes he is similarly successful as Spain coach.
"We experienced a very good spell with Luis Aragones, with him we felt very united," said Casillas.
"Everyone saw the connection that existed between the coach and players and we are going to try and do the same with the new coach.
"There are differences between the two. Every coach has their own style, Vicente has one way and Luis another.
"They are two coaches who have achieved great success and we hope that Vicente emulates what he achieved at Real Madrid with the Spanish national team."
Del Bosque will use the game as a chance to plan for next month's World Cup qualifying home double-header against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Armenia.
Denmark coach Morten Olsen will also have an eye on his side's opening World Cup qualifiers, which will see them open up with a trip to Hungary on September 6 before travelling to Portugal four days later.
Denmark will be hoping for a better qualifying campaign than for Euro 2008, when they failed to get out of a group was won by Spain.
Wednesday's friendly is set to see veteran striker Jon Dahl Tomasson make his 100th appearance for his country, becoming only the fifth Dane to achieve the feat.
Christopher Poulsen and Jonas Borring could make their senior debuts on Wednesday but Kasper Bogelund has pulled out of the Denmark squad in order to rest an Achilles injury.
Denmark 0 - 3 Spain
