The presence of Real Madrid's Beckham and Owen adds extra spice to a game that might otherwise have been overshadowed in Spain in the same week as "El Clasico" between Barcelona and their Primera Liga side.
Beckham, who returned to action in Real's 6-1 win over Albacete on Sunday after more than a month out with cracked ribs, will want to dismiss fitness concerns and put a controversy over a deliberate booking against Wales behind him.
| |||||||||||
The former Liverpool player will be hard pushed, though, against a Spanish side that could include four of his club team mates to emulate the feat of Gary Lineker the last time the two sides met at the Bernabeu in February 1987.
Lineker, then playing for Barcelona, scored all of England's goals in a 4-2 victory.
REYES V BECKHAM
Two Spanish players now plying their trade in the Premier League are likely to be given the opportunity to match their skills against the two exiled Englishmen.
Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes should be up against Beckham on the wing, and Liverpool's Xabi Alonso will be doing his best to ensure Anfield old boy Owen is not given too much space as he looks to control the centre of midfield.
Though Beckham and Owen will be a more familiar sight to the Bernabeu faithful, the bigger threat to Spain could well come from teenage striker Wayne Rooney.
Sparkling in Manchester United's 3-1 win at Newcastle United last weekend, in which the 19-year-old scored twice, Rooney will be looking to support Owen up front and also make a few of his trademark runs straight at a defence missing injured centre-backs Carles Puyol and Ivan Helguera.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has had mixed fortunes further back, with Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge returning from injury to continue the experiment of playing in midfield, ahead of left-sided Ashley Cole.
Beckham's return fills a space on the right, although the continued injury absence of Steven Gerrard means Nicky Butt will again deputise in the holding position, allowing goal-happy Frank Lampard to get forward.
At the back Rio Ferdinand will have to do without centre-back partner Sol Campbell, who is out with a calf problem and should be replaced by in-form John Terry.
Eriksson's policy of sparing his best players from second-half duty means there will be ample room for some of England's exciting youngsters, with Shaun Wright-Phillips likely to replace Beckham and Jermain Defoe ready to take over from Owen.
Probable teams:
Spain: Iker Casillas; Michel Salgado, Juanito, Carlos Marchena, Asier del Horno; Joaquin, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Jose Antonio Reyes; Raul, Fernando Torres
England: Paul Robinson; Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole; David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Frank Lampard, Wayne Bridge; Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen
Referee: George Kasnaferis (Greece)
