Del Bosque springs Fabregas surprise

Cesc Fabregas will start up front for Spain in their Euro 2012 opener against Italy on Sunday as coach Vicente Del Bosque picked a team without a recognised striker at the Arena Gdansk.

Fernando Torres, Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Negredo all start on the bench with Barcelona's Andres Iniesta and Manchester City's David Silva flanking Fabregas.

With Spain's record goalscorer David Villa absent because of injury the debate in the lead up to the game had been over who would get the nod up front in his place, but Del Bosque has thrown a curve-ball with the selection of the Barca midfielder.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli too sprung a surprise picking Juventus winger Emanuele Giaccherini in the wing-back role while veteran Roma midfielder David De Rossi lines up as expected in a back three between Juve pair Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.

Spain - (4-3-3)

Iker Casillas (capt); Alvaro Arbeloa, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba; Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso; David Silva, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta

Coach: Vicente del Bosque

Italy - (3-5-2)

Gianluigi Buffon (capt); Giorgio Chiellini, Daniele De Rossi, Leonardo Bonucci; Emanuel Giaccherini, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Thiago Motta, Christian Maggio; Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano

Coach: Cesare Prandelli

Referee: Viktor Kassai (HUN)