Spain on horizon for Lithuania

Lithuania can warm up for their Euro 2012 qualifying clash with Spain next week, when they host Poland on Friday.

Manager Raimondas Zutautas has led his side to fourth in Group I with four points from three games, but can experiment with his line-up before their match against the reigning European champions on Tuesday, with both matches at Steponas Darius ir Stasys Girenas stadionas.

The Lithuanian defence will be led by Hearts centre-back Marius Zaliukas, who has represented his nation at senior level since 2005, while 36-year-old Tomas Zvirgzdauskas is in the squad, and would add valuable experience to theback four.

Marius Stankevicius, another Lithuanian defender who plays for Valencia on-loan from Sampdoria, will bring his experience of playing La Liga football to the fore when they meet Spain in Euro qualifying, but the 29-year-old can tune his skills against Poland on Friday.

Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will be missing for his country, after severely injuring a finger playing for Arsenal against Barcelona in the Champions League.

Poland are unbeaten in their last six international friendlies, last losing 2-1 to Australia in September.

Lithuania have lost their past two – a 2-0 loss to Hungary and a 3-1 defeat to Spain – but beat the Czech Republic away 1-0.

Also in action on Friday will be Uruguay, when they travel to Estonia. It will be the first time Oscar Tabarez’s men will have played since losing 2-0 to Chile in a friendly in November, while Estonia are fresh from a 2-2 draw with Bulgaria last month.

Other friendlies on Friday include: Korea Republic v Honduras, China v New Zealand, Kuwait v Jordan, Iraq v Korea DPR, Montenegro v Uzbekistan, Qatar v Tunisia and Panama v Bolivia.