Del Bosque nears his 100th game as Spain coach

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque will once again get back to work with his players this week as he prepares for a friendly game against Costa Rica and a European Championship qualifying match away to Belarus.

It is just a year since Spain flew to Brazil as defending World Champions only to return home early after being knocked out of the first round.

Since that disappointment Del Bosque has been working to renew an aging squad and the past 12 months have seen 15 players receive their first international call up as he prepares for next summer's challenge.

"We can't talk about the Euros yet; we're still in the qualifying stages," said Del Bosque in sports paper Marca.

"We're trying to use the players who are in the best form and that we feel are best suited to these matches and over the next year we will try to build the foundation of a side that can do well at the European Championship if we qualify," he said.

Del Bosque replaced Luis Aragones after Aragones had led Spain to the 2008 European Championship title and went on to lead his country to success in the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 Europeans.

Now his is closing in on his 100th game in charge, which will be in Belarus.

"It's been a long journey, but a great one," he said, content with his seven years in charge.

"We inherited a fine legacy and we've been able to manage it well. I hope we're going to leave things in the best possible shape for my successor, whenever that is," explained the Spain coach.

Del Bosque also explained he had not called up Chelsea striker Diego Costa as a result of his recent injury problems, but said he was happy with the form of Juventus forward, Alvaro Morata.

"He's had a very good season; it's been a platform for development at a big club in Juventus. He's proven his ability and he can be our present and our future. He has the attributes to make history with Spain," he commented. Endi