Favourites Spain start the defence of their world title away to Georgia on Tuesday when coach Vicente del Bosque will have another chance to test the form of record marksman David Villa, recently returned from eight months out with a broken leg.
Barcelona striker David Villa ruled himself out of the running for a place in Spain's squad for Euro 2012 on Tuesday after failing to fully recover from a broken leg.
Spain face Ronald Koeman's Netherlands away on Thursday before returning home for the second-leg on March 23.
David Villa earned European champions Spain a 1-0 victory over Bosnia in their opening 2010 World Cup qualifier in Group Five on Saturday. The Valencia striker missed a first-half penalty but made amends early in the second half when he rounded the goalkeeper to score from Cesc Fabregas's pass.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Sunday
David Villa took his career goals tally to 301 when he netted twice as holders Barcelona eliminated third-tier Alaves 6-1 on aggregate to qualify for the last 16 of the King's Cup on Wednesday.
Barcelona striker David Villa had successful surgery on his broken left leg on Monday and doctors said it would take him four to five months to recover.
Substitute David Villa scored a superb last-gasp winner and Cesc Fabregas netted twice as leaders Barcelona came from two goals down to stun 10-man Sevilla 3-2 and extend their perfect La Liga record on Saturday.
David Villa and Xabi Alonso netted long-range free kicks from near-identical positions to help Spain to a 3-0 win over Venezuela in a friendly international on Tuesday.
Barcelona's David Villa proved he still has a sharp eye for goal by scoring twice as the holders cruised into the King's Cup quarter-finals by beating second division Cordoba 5-0 at the Nou Camp on Thursday.
Spain striker David Villa spent a lot of time dodging questions about his future last summer and is likely to have to do the same again at the World Cup finals in South Africa from next month. Valencia's leading marksman was on the brink of joining Florentino Perez's new Real Madrid project last June, before his president Manuel Llorente pulled the plug on the deal.
A round-up of the UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg matches played on Tuesday.
Lionel Messi's double and a David Villa goal on his return form injury helped Barcelona hammer visitors Real Sociedad 5-1 to give new coach Tito Vilanova the perfect start to their La Liga campaign on Sunday.
Everton have signed David Moyes for a second spell as their manager, the Premier League club said on Saturday.
The post was deleted about an hour later. The league did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
David Villa, a miner's son from the northern Spanish region of Asturias, has struck a rich seam of goals in South Africa that may help lift the Iberian nation to a first World Cup triumph.
David Villa struck twice to lead Barcelona to a 5-0 rout of Real Madrid on Monday with a scintillating performance which put the champions two points clear of their arch-rivals at the top of the Spanish La Liga.
A summary of Tuesday's Champions League first leg quarter-finals between Arsenal and Real Madrid, and Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.
An inspired David Villa scored one sublime goal and created another for Andres Iniesta as European champions Spain beat 10-man Chile 2-1 and advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup on Friday.
A summary of Saturday's action in the Premier League.
New York City continued their recent surge as Spaniard David Villa notched two classy goals, including the late winner, in a 2-1 away win.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday
Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
The defeat halted Brighton's impressive three-game winning streak which included a 4-1 win over Chelsea and a 3-1 victory at Arsenal in the League Cup on Wednesday.
Images from Tuesday's action in the Premier League
Leandro Trossard transformed the mood at Arsenal with the winning goal as they recovered from an early setback to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at home.
A round-up of Saturday's action in the English Premier League.
Graham Potter is in talks to replace Lopetegui, according to British media reports, and the former Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion manager is expected to take charge of West Ham for their FA Cup third-round game at Aston Villa on Friday.
Manchester City thrashed West Ham United 4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday to claim their first back-to-back wins since October.
A summary of Thursday's action in the Premier League.
A round-up of Saturday's fifth round action in the FA Cup
IMAGES from UEFA Champions League matches played on Tuesday
Manchester City came from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 and secure their place in the Champions League playoffs
Ivan Toney, once Brentford's lynchpin in attack, has moved to Al-Ahli for 40 million pounds ($52.50 million).
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Sunday.
Arsenal's title hopes hit with 2-0 loss to Villa as Man City get boost
A round-up of Saturday's action in the Premier League.
A summary of Saturday's action in the English Premier League.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Friday.
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