Denmark test Del Bosque's Spain before qualifiers

European champions Spain get their first test under new coach Vicente del Bosque in a friendly away to Denmark today as the teams warm up for next month's opening World Cup qualifiers.

Tonight's match in Copenhagen is one of several around the continent as the top teams in Europe are looking to get into gear ahead of the qualifiers for a place in the World Cup finals in South Africa in two years' time.

England coach Fabio Capello will expect a victory over Euro 2008 also-rans the Czech Republic at Wembley while Marcello Lippi begins his second stint in charge of Italy with a friendly against Austria.

In Moscow, the Netherlands will be gunning for revenge when they take on Russia, two months after being dumped out of the Euro 2008 quarter-finals by Guus Hiddink's men.

Del Bosque, who succeeded Luis Aragones, has sought continuity in a squad which faces Bosnia on September 6 and Armenia four days later in Group Five.

The former Real Madrid coach has selected four uncapped including Athletic Bilbao duo Fernando Amorebieta, 23, and Andoni Iraola, 26.

Injury to Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has opened the door for Sevilla's 20-year-old winger Diego Capel while up front relegated Real Zaragoza's Sergio Garcia has made way for Barcelona's 17-year-old prodigy Bojan Krkic.

England, who failed to qualify for this year's European Championship under former coach Steve McClaren, start their first full season under Italian Capello. He takes charge for the fifth time in the final warm-up at Wembley before his team open their 2010 World Cup qualifiers in Andorra on September 6 and Croatia four days later.

Capello has named a strong squad to face the Czechs who are playing their first match under new coach Petr Rada, successor to long-time boss Karel Brueckner who resigned after the Czechs's group stage exit at Euro 2008.

Capello did not call up any new players in his initial 23-man squad on Saturday, although he will now have to do without Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick who injured an ankle playing against Newcastle United on Sunday.

Lippi starts anew

Much has changed since Lippi walked away following Italy's 2006 World Cup triumph. A lacklustre showing at Euro 2008, where the Azzurri lost to eventual winners Spain on penalties in the quarter-final, led to Roberto Donadoni's departure and heralded Lippi's second coming.

Having watched the disjointed displays in June and the Olympic side's quarter-final defeat by Belgium on Saturday, Lippi will be under no illusions about the task ahead even if his first squad contains many of the same names as in 2006.

Fiorentina forward Alberto Gilardino, overlooked for Euro 2008, was one fresh face included in the squad by Lippi, having moved from Milan in the close season.

With Luca Toni injured and looking out of form at the Euros, Gilardino has a chance to stake a claim for a starting spot when Italy play their opening World Cup Group Eight qualfiers away to Cyprus on September 6 and at home to Georgia four days later.

Brueckner takes over from Josef Hickersberger but said he has had "no time for a revolution" ahead of their first World Cup qualifying Group Seven game at home to France on September 6.