Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque will give Valencia striker Paco Alcacer a full debut as his team kicks off their European Championship qualifying campaign against Macedonia tonight.
The centre forward position has been Del Bosque’s biggest problem ever since Fernando Torres dipped below his peak a few years ago, with a succession of strikers being tried out but failing to make the grade. Roberto Soldado, Alvaro Negredo, Fernando Llorente, David Villa and Torres have all been given opportunities without impressing, and the most recent, Diego Costa, endured similar struggles before being forced to pull out of tonight’s game with a hamstring injury.
Although fielding Cesc Fabregas as a false nine is another possibility, Del Bosque is likely to turn to Alcacer for a game which will be played at Levante’s stadium in his home city of Valencia.
The 21-year-old made his debut as a substitute in Spain’s 1-0 defeat against France last week, as La Roja failed to register a shot on target. And even though he only became a regular starter for Valencia midway through last season and has scored just 19 goals in his entire senior career, Alcacer will now step up to the starting line-up.
“We have a lot of confidence in Alcacer and he will play,” said Del Bosque, whose only other centre forward in the squad is Barcelona youngster Munir El Haddadi. “He was the logical choice to join us because he was already with at the training centre with the under-21s.”
Del Bosque’s other big selection decision has already been taken at the opposite end of the field, where Iker Casillas retains his long-held starting spot.
Macedonia should present little problem for Del Bosque’s men, having finished bottom of their World Cup qualifying group and have lost star striker Goran Pandev through international retirement. But following their poor World Cup and a limp showing in Paris, nothing less than a goal glut will be enough to ease Spain’s growing concerns in front of goal.
