Iniesta to return for Spain

24 June 2010 21:20

Spain will hope to include midfielder Andres Iniesta for the crunch Group H clash against Chile on Friday.

The midfielder has recovered from a leg injury that forced him out of the 2-0 win against Honduras, while David Villa has escaped retrospective action for slapping Honduran Emilio Izaguirre.

Meanwhile, Chile's influential midfielders Carlos Carmona and Matias Fernandez will both miss the game through suspension.

Winger Mark Gonzalez believes his side will be facing the most dangerous team in the World Cup at Pretoria even though it is the South American side who top the group with six points from two games.

However, nothing is yet decided in the pool with all four sides still having a chance of go through, depending on what happens in Friday's third and final round of group matches.

South Africa-born Gonzalez, who once played in Spain for Real Betis, warned: "Spain are the most dangerous team in the World Cup, the fact that everyone has been surprised by their results in these two games doesn't mean they are not the same Spain as before.

"They are the same players. We know very well the quality and the individual ability they have, and they are perfectly capable of making life difficult for you."

Fernando Torres is confident he can now fully contribute to Spain's World Cup cause and hopes his country can reap the benefits of his "perfect" understanding with David Villa.

The Liverpool forward played for 70 minutes against Honduras as he continues his recovery from knee surgery and he said: "I played 70 minutes and the good news is I feel ready to last for 90 minutes for the first time since my recovery.

"Villa and I have said we understand each other perfectly and hopefully we can play together again, although we've always said that if we don't then it doesn't matter as long as the team works well."

Source: PA