Aragones likely to rejig defence for U.S. friendly

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain coach Luis Aragones is likely to rejig his defence for their final Euro 2008 warm-up against the United States after expressing his displeasure at a soft goal conceded against Peru on Saturday.

Leading 1-0 after a classy finish from striker David Villa late in the first half of the friendly in Huelva, Spain looked to be comfortably in control against the South Americans.

But a poor clearance from Carlos Marchena gifted Peru an equaliser 16 minutes from time and although Spain ran out 2-1 winners after a last-gasp strike from left back Joan Capdevila, Aragones was clearly unhappy about the defensive gaffe.

"Giving a goal away like that could cost us very dearly in Euro 2008," Aragones said after the match.

"I didn't like the way we conceded that goal. Sometimes you just have to boot the ball away and not try and play it out of defence. In the big tournaments it's vital to keep a clean sheet."

ALBIOL'S CHANCE

Aragones is likely to give Raul Albiol a chance to prove himself in the centre of defence in Wednesday's game in Santander, although the 22-year-old was quick to jump to the defence of his Valencia club colleague Marchena.

"You can't blame Marchena," Albiol told reporters at the team's training base in Las Rozas. "These things happen in football. It's better for something like this to happen rather than a failure in positioning which is much harder to correct.

"It's clear we have to improve in attack and defence but the most important thing is we keep working to prepare for Wednesday. Another win would set us up nicely for the opening (Group D) game against Russia."

In midfield Marcos Senna is set to step in for Xabi Alonso with David Silva, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Ruben de la Red and Santi Cazorla battling it out for the other places.

Villa's impressive scoring performance against Peru looks to have convinced Aragones to choose a two-man front line, with the Valencia striker likely to partner Fernando Torres up front.

Spain meet Russia on June 10 and will also face European champions Greece and Sweden at the group stage in the tournament being co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland.

(Reporting by Mark Elkington, writing by Simon Baskett in Vienna)