Spain battle ready
Spain captain Raul and young midfielder Cesc Fabregas will be in the team for the second round clash with France, coach Luis Aragones said on Monday.
The 67-year-old made the decision to help his side starve the former world champions of possession in Tuesday's game.
'A coach has to look at the small details that decide games and one of the things I want to do is to make sure we control the game,' Aragones told a news conference.
'I'm only changing the team in order to strengthen an aspect that will help us win the game.
'My aim is to hit the nail on the head. I'll be the first to admit if I get it wrong, but I don't think I will,' he added.
'For us it is vital to have the ball and with these two it will be easier to do that.'
Raul should start at the expense of forward Luis Garcia, while 19-year-old Fabregas will replace Brazilian-born midfielder Marcos Senna.
Fabregas caught the eye this season with his impressive performances against Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals when he outplayed former Arsenal team mate Patrick Vieira who is a key figure in the French midfield.
Raul, who celebrates his 29th birthday on the day of the match, has a score to settle with France after missing a last-minute penalty when Spain lost 2-1 to Les Bleus in the quarter-finals of Euro 2000.
The Real Madrid striker is Spain's all-time leading scorer with 44 goals and will make his 99th international appearance against France.
Aragones was in bullish mood despite the fact that Spain have never beaten France in a competitive match, saying he had no plans to return home just yet.
'My bags are still unpacked and I've even left my shaving kit in the bathroom at (Spain's World Cup base in) Kamen,' he said.
'You could say that this is the most important game of my career, but I don't feel overawed. In fact, I think the bigger the game the less nervous I feel. I think we're better than the opposition and I'm convinced that we'll win.'