Spain is targeting a morale-boosting win over Colombia in this week's international friendlies, several of which have been severely disrupted by injuries to key players.
While Italy has goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon back for its game against Germany, the Netherlands and England will be understrength for their games against Austria and Denmark on Wednesday after players withdrew with problems they picked up at the weekend.
Spain is without Carles Puyol and Cesc Fabregas for its match against Colombia in Madrid but can still call upon the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, David Villa and Iker Casillas as it aims for a first win in four friendlies since adding the 2010 World Cup to the European Championship title it won in 2008.
Although Spain has won its opening three qualifiers for Euro 2012, in friendlies it drew 1-1 at Mexico, lost 4-1 at Argentina and lost 4-0 in Portugal for its worst defeat since 1963.
''The players have shown good signs together but we've still got the shadow of Portugal over us, which we can't allow to happen again,'' coach Vicente del Bosque said. ''We've got to prepare as best we can.''
Those preparations have been disrupted somewhat by the late withdrawal of Arsenal midfielder Fabregas, who dropped out on Monday because of a stomach bug. Puyol was left off the team to let the Barcelona captain recover from a knee injury.
Juanma Mata and Javi Martinez were left out so they can play for Spain's under-21 team, although Sevilla winger Jesus Navas returns to the senior squad for the first time since September.
Del Bosque is anticipating a tough match.
''(Colombia) has all the virtues of South American football: they're a dynamic team, they link up well with each other, they've got reliable players in attack,'' Del Bosque said. ''And they've also got many players who play in the European leagues.''
Surprisingly, Spain and Colombia have only met once before - a 1-1 draw in a friendly played in Bogota in 1981.
The Netherlands, which lost July's World Cup final in Johannesburg 1-0, is without striker Robin van Persie, playmaker Rafael van der Vaart and midfielder Nigel de Jong for its game against Austria in Eindhoven.
Like Fabregas, Van Persie played in Arsenal's 4-4 Premier League draw against Newcastle on Saturday, but has pulled out because of 'flu and was replaced by FC Twente forward Luuk de Jong.
De Jong, who has scored 11 goals in 24 league and cup matches this season, called his late call ''a great surprise.''
''Being called up is confirmation for me that I'm doing well at FC Twente,'' De Jong said.
But coach Bert van Marwijk has opted against replacing Van der Vaart or Nigel de Jong, the latter of whom was set to make his international return after being dropped for three matches for a tackle that left Newcastle player Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken leg.
A potential clash between Marc Janko and his FC Twente teammates Theo Janssen, Luuk de Jong and Peter Wisgerhof was ruled out after Janko withdrew from the Austria squad with a hip injury.
England was already without captain Rio Ferdinand when Steven Gerrard, goalkeeper Ben Foster, striker Peter Crouch and forward Gabriel Agbonlahor withdrew from the squad.
Coach Fabio Capello called up West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green and striker Carlton Cole as replacements, reducing the squad for the match in Copenhagen to 23 players.
Buffon is in line for his first start as Italy captain against Germany in Dortmund. The Juventus goalkeeper was Cesare Prandelli's pick to take over from the now retired Fabio Cannavaro but has not played an international since injuring his back in Italy's World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 14.
He returned to Juventus colors in early January and quickly dispelled doubts about his ability to overcome such a long absence.
Also in Italy's squad is Brazil-born midfielder Thiago Motta, who holds an Italian passport because his grandfather was born in the country. FIFA is still deliberating whether the player is eligible since he played at the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup in a de facto Brazil under-23 side.
Also Wednesday, France hosts five-time World Cup holder Brazil.
France coach Laurent Blanc decided against recalling Patrice Evra even though the Manchester United is eligible after a five-game ban for his part in a training ground strike at the last World Cup.
''It is a sporting choice, and only a sporting choice,'' Blanc said. ''There is a lot of competition for places in that position.''
Blanc instead chose Barcelona's Eric Abidal and Arsenal's Gael Clichy to compete for the left back spot, with Clichy's teammate Laurent Koscielny receiving a first callup.
In other matches, Argentina meets Portugal in neutral Switzerland, Croatia hosts the Czech Republic and Turkey plays South Korea.
