England-Spain and France-Argentina friendlies highlight a heavy slate of games on Wednesday’s international fixture calendar.

England and Spain will be looking for a confidence boost after disappointing fall campaigns in Euro 2008 qualifying when they meet in Manchester (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 3 pm ET).

England coach Steve McClaren will try again with a 4-3-3 formation used in last November’s draw against the Netherlands even though injuries have robbed him of star Wayne Rooney. Other changes include Shaun Wright-Phillips and Kieron Dyer starting up front with Peter Crouch. Jonathan Woodgate and Phil Neville will get starts in the back in the place of injured Chelsea players John Terry and Ashley Cole.

Ben Foster, on loan from Manchester United to Watford, gets his first start in goal. Foster’s selection over Paul Robinson follows a poor showing by Robinson in England’s 2-0 loss to Croatia last fall in Euro 2008 qualifying. Croatia leads Russia by two points and England by three in Group E.

Spain coach Luis Aragones could be on his way out if Spain has a poor game at Old Trafford. The Spanish are fifth in Group F, nine point behind leader Sweden, and lost, 1-0, at home to Romania in their most recent game, a friendly played last November. Former captain Raul has been left out of the Spain squad for the third successive time, so Fernando Torres and Fernando Morientes should start up front.

PROBABLE LINEUPS:
England — Foster G.Neville, Ferdinand, Woodgate, P.Neville, Gerrard, Carrick, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Crouch, Dyer.
Spain — Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pablo, Puyol, Capdevila, Albelda, Xavi, Iniesta, Silva, Villa, Morientes.

France and Argentina meet for the first time since 1986 (TV: Setanta Sports USA, live, 2:55 pm ET).

David Trezeguet should start for France against Argentina, the country in which he was raised before leaving to join Monaco at 17, in their match at the Stade de France. Trezeguet’s partner should be Thierry Henry, with whom he broke into pro soccer at Monaco, though France coach Raymond Domenech has lots of attacking options with Nicolas Anelka‘s recent fin form for Bolton and Djibril Cisse‘s return to action after breaking a leg in a friendly against China last June. Domenech’s main concern is in the middle of his defense, where his top five choices are all unavailable, and he should start Gael Givet and Julien Escude.

Argentina coach Alfio Basile, who is seeking his first victory since returning for a second stint in charge, will field a veteran team. Argentina captain Roberto Ayala, who enters the game with 106 caps, should become his country’s most-capped player. Veteran Javier Zanetti, left out of the World Cup squad, is set to play his first game for Argentina since 2005.

PROBABLE LINEUPS:
France — Coupet, Sagnol, Givet, Escude, Abidal, Ribery, Vieira, Makelele, Malouda, Henry, Trezeguet.
Argentina — Abbondanzieri, Burdisso, Ayala, G.Milito, Heinze, J.Zanetti, Gago, Cambiasso, L.Gonzalez, Saviola, Crespo.