World Cup Qualifiers Preview: Spain vs Georgia

In recent years, there hasn't been a better team in international football than Spain that gets the required results when necessary. So, on Tuesday night, the world and European champions will be confident of getting the required point against Georgia to seal their place in the 2014 World Cup.

Spain currently lead Group I by three points from France, and also hold a superior goal difference; meaning a draw against lowly Georgia in Albacete and their right to defend their world title is signed, sealed and delivered.

"We are hoping to finish first and we have it in our hands," Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque told reporters. "We've been through two really bad moments, the game against France at the Vicente Calderon and the one against Finland in Gijon.

"We've had moments of great difficulty for those two results. And yet, people are talking about the World Cup as something we've achieved when we're in a moment of trouble.

"Georgia are not England or Italy, but we have to finish the job. I'm not calm, even though it's true we only have one step left."

Despite the attacking talent at their disposal, Spain have not quite his the back of the net enough, leading to criticism of their forwards. Del Bosque, though, feels the criticism is unwarranted, despite Spain scoring just 12 goals in their seven previous qualifiers.

"It's not right to blame the forwards," he said. "(Roberto) Soldado is at Tottenham, Alvaro Negredo is at City, who paid a lot of money for him, (Fernando) Torres has had a great career.

"We have had four bad, uncomfortable games, but of those, France and Belarus played well. We are an attacking team but the stats show that we don't concede many goals and we defend well."

Del Bosque hinted at making a change in goal, with either Victor Valdes or Pepe Reina set to replace Iker Casillas, who has hardly featured for Real Madrid this season.

"We'll surely make some changes and one of them could be in goal," Del Bosque added.  "We have three fantastic goalkeepers and any one of them can play. It's not a problem to decide between them. If there's a problem, it's the number of options we have."

Where to watch

The match is scheduled for a 12.30 a.m. (IST, Wednesday) start with live telecast on Ten Action.

Expected lineups: Spain: Valdes; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Monreal; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Silva, Negredo, Pedro.

Georgia: Loria; Lobjanidze, Kashia, Khizanishvili, Khubutia; Kankava, Ananidze, Dolidze, Targamadze; Kobakhidze, Dvalishvili.

Prediction: 2-0 to Spain