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Gerard Pique insists status as Confederations Cup favourites will not distract Spain

Image: Gerard Pique: Ready for clash with Republic of Ireland

Gerard Pique has insisted Spain's status as Confederations Cup favourites will not distract them as they complete their preparations for the competition.

Spain beat Haiti 2-1 in Miami on Saturday evening and Del Bosque will shuffle his pack ahead of a clash with Ireland which Pique believes will represent a good test. He said: "The game against Haiti was a good game to try some aspects, and we can continue to try to play different keepers and strikers to find the best team we can. "It (Ireland) is a good national team with strikers like Robbie Keane, who has had a good international career, and we hope we can win it." Victor Valdes will start in goal, while Santi Cazorla will play in an attacking role behind David Villa. Del Bosque said: "We have team that can either be more offensive or more defensive based on what we choose. "Overall, we will likely follow the same formula tomorrow that we used against Haiti, in particular with Javi Martinez in the middle and Santi Cazorla as an attacker. "It's a formula that we believe in."

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