Captains Sidelined But Spain and Ukraine Still Confident
June 14, 2006
Group favorites Spain could be given an unexpected boost ahead of their opener against Ukraine -- if Andrei Shevchenko decides to sit out Wednesday's afternoon match in Leipzig.
Shevchenko is recovering from a month-old knee injury he picked up in his last match for AC Milan before his move to English champions Chelsea last week.
And despite playing for 30 minutes and scoring in the 3-0 friendly victory over Luxembourg last week, 'Sheva' appears pessimistic about his chances. "I do not know if I will be 100 percent against Spain," he said Sunday.
Whether a sign of their supreme confidence, or indeed a fine piece of bluffing, Shevchenko's absence at Ukraine's World Cup debut is not causing too much concern.
Having sailed through qualifying, Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin said he can do without his star forward, who will expect to return in time for the other group matches against Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
"Germany played without Ballack against Costa Rica and that didn't prevent them from winning," Blokhin said. "Apart from Shevchenko we have quite a few more players who are dangerous in front of goal."
Blokhin usually plays Bayer Leverkusen's Andriy Voronin as an attacking partner of Shevchenko in a 4-4-2 formation in which Spartak Moscow midfielder Maksim Kalinichenko can push forward into the hole.
Promising attacking midfielder Ruslan Rotan also chipped in with a trio of goals during qualifying, while Shakhtar Donetsk striker Oleksiy Byelik scored two goals so both could fill in.
If Shevchenko recovers in time, it could provide a psychological advantage against a side which has won only two opening round World Cup matches in their past 10 appearances.
If he does not, it could prove to be an indication of Blokhin's long-term plans for the 29-year-old Shevchenko who he will be hoping to field for the remainder of the competition.
A star-studded Spain side will be bidding to shake off a 56-year hoodoo, which has seen them failing to get as far as the semi-finals, when they take on Ukraine. And Spain's coach Luis Aragones also seems confident enough to leave out a star forward, with captain Raul Gonzalez likely to sit out the game.
Raul expected to be dropped for opening game
After an indifferent season wracked with injuries with both Real Madrid and the national side, Raul practiced with the presumed substitutes Monday afternoon, while Aragones drilled 11 players likely to start in the Group H opener.
Spain's front-line during the session consisted of David Villa, Fernando Torres and Luis Garcia with Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso and Marcos Senna forming a three-man midfield. Mariano Pernia, Carles Puyol, Pablo Ibanez and Sergio Ramos made up the defense with Iker Casillas in goal.
Athletico Madrid's Torres looks to get the nod ahead of Raul. His goal scoring record is solid if a little inconsistent, while his starting partner Villa finished behind Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o in Spain's Primera Liga scoring charts this season.
Torres, Garcia and Villa front a 4-3-3 formation
Luis Garcia has also proven his goal scoring abilities, the Liverpool winger hitting a hat-trick past Slovakia in the 5-1 qualifying playoff win when Aragones lined up a 4-3-3 for the first time.
Spain can boast perhaps one of the most competitive and technically astute domestic leagues in the world, but their record in major competitions has been comparatively dour.
Four years ago it was South Korea who stopped Spain in their tracks at the quarter-final stage, a hurdle which they had failed to get over since they finished fourth in the 1950 World Cup.
However, with youth and the experience of some players playing in the tougher English Premiership, Spain are being tipped to at least make the last eight.
Spaniards want Brazil contest to prove their worth
World Cup debutant Cesc Fabregas feels Spain can even cause a surprise. "I believe we have one of the best technical teams in the world and we know it. I think we can do something here in Germany," said the Arsenal midfielder.
A potential meeting with Brazil awaits at the quarter-finals stage, but Spain have already resigned themselves to that challenge. "It's very important for us to play against Brazil," said veteran defender Michel Salgado.
"If we meet them in the quarter-final, no problem. If you want to win the World Cup, you have to beat all the teams."
"We are not afraid."