Spain and Macedonia are set to play in a Euro 2016 qualifying match on Monday, September 8.
Kick-off time is 2:45 p.m. EDT (8:45 p.m. CET) at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia.
The game will be broadcast on TVE La 1 and Movistar TV in Spain, as well as MTV1 in Macedonia.
The game is also available on Sky Sports 5/HD in the United Kingdom, as well as ESPN Deportes and ESPN3 in the United States.
Live streaming is available on Sky Go Extra and Watch ESPN.
Spain are 1/10 to win the match, as compared to 33/1 for Macedonia, according to OddsChecker.
AP: Spain Hopes to Begin Renewal Against Macedonia
BARCELONA, Spain—The once mighty Spain used to waltz past minor European teams like Macedonia.
But after the embarrassing exit from the World Cup, Spain’s first qualifier for the 2016 European Championship will be an important test of its rebuilding project as the team opens its campaign to win a third straight European title.
Spain showed little sign of having moved on from its botched world title defense when it lost 1-0 at France in a friendly on Thursday. Combined with its World Cup group phase performances, Spain has now lost three of its last four matches.
Here are five things to know about Spain’s match against Macedonia at Levante’s Ciutat de Valencia Stadium on Monday:
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COSTA'S CURSE
Diego Costa has enjoyed a spectacular rise, with his club last season, Atletico Madrid, winning the Spanish league title and his positive start at Chelsea in this campaign.
His good fortune hasn’t carried over to Spain.
Diego Costa was supposed to be the new piece that revitalized Spain’s aging attack at the World Cup. But the striker arrived in Brazil not fully recovered from a right hamstring pull and couldn’t provide any of the speed or athleticism behind many of his 36 goals for Atletico.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque wasn’t deterred and called Diego Costa back based on his four goals in three games at Chelsea.
But again the striker failed to get a shot on target against France, and now a left hamstring injury means he will miss the team’s first Euro 2016 qualifier.
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MUNIR'S MOMENT
Munir El Haddadi has again found himself to be in the right place at the right time.
Del Bosque replaced the injured Diego Costa with Barcelona’s young forward, who just a few weeks ago was largely unknown outside the walls of Barcelona’s La Masia football academy.
But the 19-year-old Munir scored on his debut for Barcelona in the Spanish league opener in place of the injured Neymar, and that earned him his debut with Spain’s under-21 team earlier this week.
Now Diego Costa’s injury has opened the door for the youngster to join the elite of Spanish football.
“When they told me my jaw fell open,” said Munir. “It’s a dream come true. I know I have to savor it, take advantage of this opportunity and give it my best shot.”
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CASILLAS' CRISIS
Once untouchable at both Real Madrid and the national team, goalkeeper Iker Casillas has entered arguably the most delicate phase of his career following his shambolic World Cup.
Casillas lost his starting job in the Spanish league at Real Madrid two seasons ago and only recently recovered it.
A long-term injury to former Barcelona goalie Victor Valdes ensured Casillas started the World Cup matches, but as Del Bosque looks to renew his squad perhaps the unthinkable of moving past Casillas and his 156 caps has become a real possibility.
For the moment, his competition is Manchester United’s 23-year-old David de Gea, who started the France friendly. Espanyol’s Kiko Casilla, 27, has also been included in the squad for the first time.
“De Gea is one of the options we have and his growth as a player and background validate him as one of our goalkeepers of the present and the future,” Del Bosque told Cuatro television.
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X MARKS THE SPOT
Midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso played significant roles in Spain’s midfield and the passing style that was key to its success from 2008-12.
Now with both retired after Brazil and Andres Iniesta injured, Spain turns to Atletico Madrid’s Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion and Raul Garcia.
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EASY ROAD
Regardless of the turmoil surrounding the team, Spain has an easy road to qualification for Euro 2016 in France.
Also in Group C, Ukraine plays Slovakia while Luxembourg faces Belarus on Monday.
The top two teams from each group qualify automatically. The best third-placed team also qualifies automatically, and the other eight third-place teams can qualify through a playoff.
