Aragones wants subs to give him selection headache

MANNHEIM, Germany, June 22 (Reuters) Spain coach Luis Aragones wants his second string side to give him a selection headache by producing a top-class performance against Saudi Arabia tomorrow.

With qualification for the last 16 already assured, the 7-year-old has opted to make wholesale changes to the starting lineup for their final match in Group H.

''I'm going to make it difficult for myself by changing the team around,'' Aragones told a news conference on the eve of the match.

''Some coaches might prefer to play safe and choose the same team, but I'm not going to do that. Someone might play very well and I will risk criticism because he might not be chosen for the next game.'' Aragones, whose side extended their unbeaten run to 24 games with a 3-1 comeback win over Tunisia on Monday, said he had as much faith in the back-up players as in his first choice side.

''I'm giving an opportunity to the others to express themselves.

All the players have great quality and I'm sure they are going to play well and win the game. I've got as much confidence in this team as the other one.'' FREAK INJURY He said the 36-year-old Santiago Canizares, who missed out on the last World Cup when he suffered a freak injury after dropping an after shave bottle on his foot, would play in goal in preference to the other reserve keeper Pepe Reina.

''Goalkeeper is a very difficult position,'' he said. ''But I have to listen to my conscience and Canizares will play. He is in great form at the moment.'' He also made it clear that midfielder Cesc Fabregas would start despite the fact that he was booked after coming on in the Tunisia match.

''You have to take risks sometimes and Cesc is a very important player for us with the way he reads the game. In any case, I don't think he will pick up another card.'' Aragones said he was pleased Spain had impressed so many people with their performances in the opening two games, but added that the knockout stages would provide the true test.

''The good thing about Spain is that we are generating a lot of expectation and that is encouraging,'' he said. ''But the real World Cup is only just about to start. The big teams are all going to go through and that is when the main event starts.'' REUTERS DH KN1901