Spain aims to rediscover verve

Vicente del Bosque, recently bestowed with the title first Marquis of Del Bosque by King Juan Carlos, was already Spanish soccer royalty after the national team's World Cup win. But since that balmy Johannesburg night last July, when Iker Casillas held aloft the World Cup trophy, things have not gone terribly well on the field for La Roja, at least in friendly matches.

Tonight, in the Santiago Bernabéu, Spain plays Colombia (TVE1, 9.30pm), a team that on paper should not present the one ranked 50 places above it with any significant problems.

In the first qualifying matches for Euro 2012 Spain has played three and won three, but has yet to face Group I's danger side, the Czech Republic. In friendlies, however, Del Bosque's Spain has had its nose bloodied by Argentina (4-1), Portugal (4-0) and Mexico (1-1). Although far from a crisis for the world champion, it has lost a little of the aura of invincibility that had previously surrounded it. Neither are losses to South American teams of immediate concern in a European campaign, although Del Bosque would benefit from a greater involvement in the selection of friendly opponents with the next World Cup still three and a half years hence. With the Czechs looming, a tie against a European team of similar standing and style would have made more sense. At least on this occasion, the encounter is not purely one of pecuniary interest for the Spanish Football Federation; the proceeds from the game will go toward providing defibrillators for Spain's lower-division clubs.

Casillas: "We don't know much about Colombia; they change their team"

At the marquis' disposal for the tie is his first-choice starting 11, minus injured Barcelona captain Carles Puyol. Carlos Marchena, the uncompromising Villarreal defender, is expected to start in Puyol's place.

The team's opponent, according to Casillas, is an unknown element: "We don't know much about Colombia, but we do know they have changed their team around a lot in recent games. They've used a lot of players and in Madrid we will face a different team than has been used on recent occasions. Today [Tuesday] and tomorrow we will study the game and the opponent." Nevertheless, there will be familiar faces among the opposition - Luis Perea of Atlético and Abel Aguilar of Hércules - and most of Colombia's squad plays in Europe.

Del Bosque believes his side has not had its confidence knocked by recent defeats. Spain went unbeaten between a friendly loss to Romania in November 2006 and a Confederations Cup defeat to the USA in June 2009. It has lost three and tied one in the past seven months. "In the three competitive matches we have shown some good signs, and except against Portugal, in the friendlies as well. The defeats are not the start of a trend, but we must be vigilant to make sure it doesn't happen again," the coach warned.

While Spain will seek goals, David Villa in particular will relish being the focal point of the attack, a task at club level that Leo Messi has subjugated. If he finds the net against Colombia, Villa will become the highest scorer in Spanish history, overtaking the legendary Raúl.

Of equal concern to giving a good account of itself on the pitch to Spain's soccer authorities will be the conduct of the Bernabéu crown against a team comprising many black players. Barcelona defender Dani Alves said on Tuesday that he had "learned to live" with racism in Spanish stadiums, and the Bernabéu has previously borne witness to cases of abuse that lamentably still occur on a weekly basis in La Liga.

"Fans insult me and call me 'monkey'," Alves said in an interview with Folha de São Paulo. I attempt to distance myself because I feel those fans are uneducated. The situation is uncontrollable in Spanish stadiums."

Spain's players are largely an example of good behavior on and off the field, adorning the back pages of newspapers and rarely the front. It is to be hoped they are the same at tonight's match.