(Photo: Reuters/file)Spain's Cesc Fabregas.
Spain vs Panama takes place on Wednesday in an international friendly which will see the small Latin American country take on the World Cup and European champions. The game will kick off at 4.30 p.m. ET and fans can watch online through live stream (details below).
Spain manager, Vicente del Bosque, has refused to bow to ordinary protocol for international friendlies and selected a strong squad to travel to Central America. His decision may have upset a number of domestic managers and teams, but the Spanish manager has been adamant that some of the central players of his squad make the journey together, and that the game has relevance.
The Spanish squad traveling to Panama will have six Barcelona players in it, as well as three more from Real Madrid.
Whenever top players are on international duty their domestic team's coaches and fans keep their fingers crossed that they will not be injured. Most understand when the players are pulled away from domestic duties for World Cup qualifiers or similar competitive matches, but some get hot under the collar when their best players are pulled away for international friendlies.
However, the Spanish manager has demanded 9 players from Spain's top two teams travel to Latin America, and has not worried about angering coaches.
That does not mean some top players haven't been left behind, however, and Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez, Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol have all be left behind.
Follow us
In addition English Premier League players Fernando Torres and David Silva have not been included, but were left out to continue to rest rather than travel.
Spain vs Panama kicks off at 4.30 p.m. ET and can be watched online through live stream by clicking here.
1352
