SEVILLE, Spain — David Beckham is set to make history on Wednesday when England plays European champion Spain in what will be Fabio Capello toughest test during an impressive start as England manager.

Beckham can equal Bobby Moore's mark of 108 appearances for England, the most by an outfield player and second only to Peter Shilton's 125 appearances in goal.

"(Beckham's) a reference for the English team," said Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Beckham's former teammate at Real Madrid. "He brings a lot of leadership and character to the locker room and I think that hasn't changed to now."

Capello has recalled Beckham to the squad after the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder moved to AC Milan to keep alive his chances of playing in the 2010 World Cup. Beckham is looking to turn his two-month loan deal into a permanent move.

Capello is off to the best start by an England coach since Alf Ramsey, who led England to victory at the 1966 World Cup, with eight wins in 10 games and a single defeat.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque puts Capello's successful reconstruction of England down to defense, discipline and an emerging crop of players.

"There is a new generation of young English players that are very talented and will be very good, are very good," Del Bosque said. "But their injuries are still important injuries."

Regulars Wayne Rooney and Jermaine Defoe as well as defender Luke Young are out, and striker Emile Heskey is doubtful. Heskey is among six players from Aston Villa, including midfielder James Milner, while striker Carlton Cole of West Ham could also make a debut.

Capello can count on the return of defender Ashley Cole, while John Terry and Rio Ferdinand will anchor the defense for the first time since a World Cup qualifying win at Croatia last year.

Spain, the top-ranked country in FIFA's poll, is on a 28-match unbeaten run dating to November 2006.

Del Bosque has won six straight since replacing Luis Aragones, while Spain has taken 18 straight when figuring in an extra-time penalty victory over Italy at Euro 2008.

"The truth is that it's a game of superstars, an attractive matchup," Del Bosque said.

Striker Fernando Torres will feature despite only recently returning from a hamstring injury, which had left Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez concerned.

"Everyone wants to enjoy this great moment with the national squad after having gone through bad times in other years," said Torres, one of five Liverpool players in the team.

Center back Carles Puyol is out with a foot injury, with Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique filling his spot and Sergio Busquets earning a maiden call-up. Valencia winger David Silva also returns.

Casillas will move into third in Spain's all-time appearances list with 89, to trail only Real Madrid teammate Raul Gonzalez (102) and Andoni Zubizaretta (126).

"I've never made a point to think about it, I just take it step-by-step," the 27-year-old Casillas said. "But it's an honor."

It is the teams' first meeting since spectators at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium greeted England's black football players with monkey chants during a friendly in 2004.

Spanish players were not allowed to respond to questions by reporters on Tuesday over whether a repeat of those scenes would play out at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

Spain leads Group 5 in World Cup qualifying with 12 points from four games — three more than closest rival Turkey, while England is also perfect through four games to lead Group 6 by five points over Croatia.

The match is Capello's first return to Spain since leading Real Madrid to the La Liga title in 2007, although the Italian was fired two weeks after the Spanish club's record 30th league trophy.

England has won 11 of the 21 friendlies played between the two countries although Spain has won the last two.

Spain has never lost in 22 matches at Sevilla's home ground, with a 1-1 draw against Belgium in 1995 the last game played there.