Spain wary of Belarus in World Cup qualifier

By Steve Douglas

Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 10 2012 5:01 a.m. MDT

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Real Madrid's Alvaro Arbeloa, left, in action with FC Barcelona's Andres Iniesta, right, during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.

Andres Kudacki, Associated Press

Summary

A club side from Belarus caused one of the biggest surprises in Champions League history last week. Now, the country's national team has a chance to spring another against world champion Spain.

LONDON — A club side from Belarus caused one of the biggest surprises in Champions League history last week. Now, the country's national team has a chance to spring another against world champion Spain.

Belarus, without a point from two Group I games and the world's 87th-ranked team, hosts Spain in one of the biggest mismatches of Friday's World Cup qualifiers.

The Spanish have won their last 23 qualifying matches stretching back to 2007 but are wary of their opponents in light of BATE Borisov's 3-1 victory over German club Bayern Munich in a recent Champions League group match.

A win for Spain would bring the team level on points with France, which isn't in action on Friday, ahead of their highly anticipated meeting on Tuesday.

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