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Spain will forget about their victorious Euro 2008 when they begin World Cup qualifying under new coach Vicente del Bosque against Bosnia in Murcia on Saturday.

Former coach Luis Aragones won plaudits at home and abroad after leading Spain to victory at the European Championships in June, their first major title in 44 years.

But the road to Austria and Switzerland was a rocky one after they made a slow start, losing two of their first three qualifiers, which left the side under pressure to make up lost ground and heavily criticised in the local media.

"The last campaign will serve as a good experience for the games we have coming up," midfielder Marcos Senna said.

"This time round we will be different from the start. We want to give our all and forget all about Euro 2008 which was great, but is in the past now. We have to focus on the present."

Since replacing Aragones, Del Bosque has preached a message of continuity. He approaches his first competitive match at the helm with last month's 3-0 friendly victory over Denmark under his belt.

Injury has deprived him of striker Fernando Torres, who scored the winner in the Euro 2008 final against Germany, and in-form midfielder David Silva.

He has only called up Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic as a replacement, but the 18-year-old may have to wait to make his senior side debut, with Euro 2008 top scorer David Villa set to start as a lone striker against Bosnia in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

Sevilla's tricky winger Diego Capel could make the starting line-up, after debuting against Denmark - the only major change from the Aragones era.

Spain have never lost to Bosnia but only took two points off them in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, drawing 1-1 home and away.

Bosnia coach Miroslav Blazevic is without injured captain and defender Emir Spahic as they set out to qualify for their first major tournament, but is not overawed by the challenge.

"Regardless of the fact we are playing the European champions, I am sure we can achieve something against them. I am pleased with the determination shown by my players," he said.

A new-look team will be aiming to restore France's faith in coach Raymond Domenech when the Euro 2008 underachievers begin their World Cup qualifying campaign against Austria on Saturday.

France will have a 23-year-old goalkeeper in Steve Mandanda and a defence without retired stalwart Lilian Thuram, France's most capped player.

In contrast right-back Bakari Sagna has appeared only three times for his country.

The midfield will also be reshuffled after the departure of Cluade Makelele, who has retired, and in the continued absence of injured 32-year-old captain Patrick Vieira.

In attack they will miss the speed and ingenuity of the injured Franck Ribery.

France limped out in the group stage of the European Championship and Domenech has returned in battling mood.

"It will be a game for fighters. We saw how Austria played at the Euro finals, they are very powerful and they like to put their opponents under pressure," Domenech said.

"We are not there for tourism. If we are not able to fight for the ball then we must have no illusions," he added.

In-form Karim Benzema will partner new captain Thierry Henry up front and Domenech can also call on young midfielder Samir Nasri who has made an impressive start in the Premier League with new club Arsenal.

The 21-year-old Nasri made his senior debut for France in a friendly win over Austria in Paris last year, firing in the free kick that Benzema converted for the game's only goal.

Austria also suffered a group stage exit as joint Euro 2008 co-hosts along with neighbouring Switzerland but, unlike the French, managed to exceed most of their supporters' expectations.

Widely predicted to be the whipping boys of the tournament, the Austrians under then coach Josef Hickersberger held Poland to a 1-1 draw and were beaten by a single goal in their other matches against Croatia and eventual runners-up Germany.

Now coached by former Czech Republic trainer Karel Brueckner, Austria demonstrated their growing confidence last month when they held world champions Italy to a deserved 2-2 draw in Nice.

Brueckner is expected to stick predominantly to his starting line-up from that match, allowing defensive all-rounder Paul Scharner to play his first competitive international in nearly three years.

The Wigan player missed out on Euro 2008 after a public falling out with Hickersberger in 2006.

Panathinaikos midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz has retained the Austrian captaincy after Brueckner told the players to hold a dressing room vote on the matter.

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has called up uncapped AEK Athens midfielder Vassilis Pliatsikas for the World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg on Saturday and Latvia four days later.

Romania midfielder Banel Nicolita has been ruled out of their opening World Cup qualifiers in Group Seven at home to Lithuania on Saturday and Faroe Islands next Wednesday.

Reuters