Spain v Russia: Will the Spanish finally stand and deliver? Will the Russians stop moaning and get on with playing football?

Perhaps mindful of the dreadful refereeing which put them out of the World Cup two years ago, the Spanish squad paid a visit to the famous shrine of Santiago de Compostela prior to travelling to Portugal.

Perhaps mindful of recent disappointments in finals tournaments, the Russians have arrived here this week with their excuses ready, complaining about the heat and a likely refereeing bias in favour of both Spain and Portugal.

In truth, it should require neither divine intervention nor dodgy refereeing for Spain to see off Russia. With Monaco hero Fernando Morientes leading the attack in front of Real superstar Raul, Valencia's Vicente Rodriguez and Athletic Bilbao's Joseba Etxeberria, Spain have as strong a front line as any at Euro 2004.

Behind these four are the two midfield dynamos, David Albelda and Ruben Baraja, both from newly crowned Spanish and UEFA Cup champions Valencia.

If the Spanish have problems they could come in defence, with Real right back Michel Salgado ruled out by a hamstring injury and club team-mate Ivan Helguera struggling to shake off a muscle problem.

The Russians, too, have their defensive problems, with intended captain Victor Onopko and Sergei Ignashevitch ruled out by injury. Russia can partly compensate through the experience of midfielders Dmitri Alenichev of European Champions Porto, Lokomotiv Moscow playmaker Dmitri Loskov and Portsmouth's Alexei Smerkin.

Dinamo Moscow striker Dmitri Bulykin, who hit a hat-trick against Switzerland in a 4-1 qualifier drubbing, seems sure to lead the attack, perhaps partnered by Alexander Kerzhakov.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

SPAIN: Casillas; Puyol, Helguera, Marchena, Raul Bravo; Albelda, Baraja; Exteberria, Raul, Vicente; Morientes.

RUSSIA: Ovchinnikov; Evseev, Sharonov, Bugayev, Sennikov; Gusev, Smertin, Loskov, Alenichev; Bulykin, Kerzhakov.