Madrid - The Spanish football federation is aiming to celebrate its centenary by winning a prestigious friendly at home to Argentina on Saturday. It will be one of the last international matches staged at Atletico's Madrid Estadio Calderon, which is scheduled to be demolished in 2012.
Spain will be without injury victims Marcos Senna, Santi Cazorla and Fernando Torres.
National manager Vicente del Bosque has called up exciting Sevilla right-winger Jesus Navas, who claims that he is now over the anxiety attacks that prevented him turning out for "La Seleccion" until now.
"I am delighted to be here," said Navas at the federation's Madrid training ground on Wednesday. "This is a wonderful opportunity for me, and I intend to give my all."
It will be the 100th international match for Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas.
"These 99 games have passed rapidly," he said. "To be 10 years in the national team is not easy, I never thought I would reach 100 games."
Casillas added that his "best moment" for Spain was picking up the Euro 2008 trophy as captain.
Saturday's game will be an opportunity for Lionel Messi to finally reproduce his Barcelona form for Argentina.
The Barca idol has been frequently slated by the Argentine media for being a peripheral figure for his country.
"It is going to be a handsome game," said Messi on Wednesday.
"It will be a clash between great players...Let's hope that the fans can enjoy it."
The relationship between Messi and volatile national manager Diego Maradona has been tense, but Maradona seemed to be trying his best to be friendly towards the Barca hero in training on Wednesday.
After the Madrid friendly Maradona will fly to Zurich for a disciplinary hearing at football world governing body FIFA concerning his obscene comments to the media after Argentina has qualified for the World Cup finals by winning away to Uruguay in October.
According to sports daily AS on Thursday, Maradona is facing a touchline FIFA ban of between two and five matches for his ugly outburst.
