Spain have learnt lesson for visit of Latvia

MADRID, Sep 11 (Reuters) Spain's players know they need to learn from past mistakes and not take a win for granted at home to Latvia in tomorrow's Euro 2008 qualifier in Oviedo.

Spain coach Luis Aragones was frustrated by their approach to the Iceland game on Saturday, when they managed to scramble a 1-1 draw in Group F after playing most of the game with 10 men.

Although happy to rescue a point he felt the team had started poorly before Xabi Alonso's expulsion changed the nature of the game.

''We are making a big mistake if we believe we can beat teams easily, and the results prove that,'' Aragones was quoted as saying on the Spanish Football Federation's Web site (www.rfef.es).

Press reports said Aragones tore into his players at halftime in Reykjavik, though midfielder David Albelda sought to play the incident down.

''It was nothing,'' he told a news conference on Monday. ''We need to learn from our mistakes and look to start strongly and to score an early goal.'' Forward Luis Garcia was on the same wavelength, adding: ''Against Latvia we have to give 120 per cent. In football today there are no easy teams, even less so at international level.'' Spain are third in the group, level on 16 points with second-placed Northern Ireland, and three adrift of leaders Sweden after eight games.

FABREGAS BACK They remain unbeaten in their last five qualifiers, with the draw against Iceland ending a run of four wins.

Aragones will be without Liverpool midfielder Alonso after his red card, but has Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas back from suspension. He could come in for Xavi.

Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Valencia's David Villa look set to lead the line again, though the former was reportedly upset at being substituted for eventual goalscorer Andres Iniesta in Iceland.

Latvia are fifth in the group with six points, having played a game less, but are in high spirits after collecting their second win in qualifying with a surprise 1-0 home victory over Northern Ireland on Saturday.

The win came courtesy of an own-goal from Chris Baird and the three points lifted them off the bottom of the group.

They have lost twice and drawn once against Spain, and never registered a goal.

Probable teams: Spain: Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Carlos Marchena, Juanito, Mariano Pernia or Joan Capdevila; Joaquin, David Albelda, Xavi or Cesc Fabregas, David Silva; David Villa, Fernando Torres.

Latvia: Andris Vanins; Oskars Klava, Deniss Ivanovs, Dzintars Zirnis, Kaspars Gorkss, Vitalijs Astafjevs; Imants Bleidelis, Juris Laizans, Andrejs Rubins; Maris Verpakovskis, Girts Karlsons.

Referee: Alon Yefet (Israel) REUTERS BJR AS1011