Outright Odds: fourteen/one
Group H Winners: four/six
Spain, yet again, are tipped as dim horses for the planet Cup and 2006 will at last stop a long time of disappointment which era of gamers will fulfil their undoubted probable. Nonetheless they wont. For all their individual expertise they are able to never inspire by themselves to rise on the obstacle.
They're, of course, mainstays of the planet Cup and 2006 will probably be their 8 Event inside of a row they have got experienced for dating back to 1978. The quarter finals is in terms of they have long gone because then so why the obsession that this might be their 12 months?
Spain skilled by using the Perform-offs immediately after finishing runners-around Serbia & Montenegro within their team. Luis Aragones side have been unbeaten in 10 qualifiers but 5 draws and 5 wins intended they needed to sq. off against Slovakia as a way to secure their put in Germany. It had been throughout following the 1st leg as Spain ran out five-1 winners before drawing one-1 during the return leg to win 6-two on mixture.
Probably the result in for these kinds of optimism lies Together with the supervisor. Less than Aragones, Spain are unbeaten in 18 game titles given that he took above in July 2004, Even though the gamers have to also take some credit.
Spain have unearthed a real attacking talent in Fernando Torres. The 21-12 months-outdated Atletico Madrid striker was the ecu qualifying zones joint fourth best goalscorer with seven goals and He's a concentrate on for both of those Arsenal and Chelsea. Torres is noticed since the purely natural successor to Spains most-capped outfield participant and all-time top goalscorer Raul.
At 28, Raul must be at his peak for your finals but a cruciate knee ligament damage suffered in November raises issues over just how influential he is going to be. Another excuse for any perhaps underachieving tournament?
Septembers qualifier from Serbia & Montenegro established a different report as it absolutely was The 1st time a foreign club, Liverpool, experienced a lot 꽁머니 more Reps in the countrywide squad than any Spanish club side. Will the likes of Jose Reina, Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia transfer their superb club performances on to the grand phase? Though Fernando Morientes, with 5 plans in 7 Environment Cup appearances means he is a menace Although his domestic variety continues to be to some degree indifferent.
Advisable Guess
The infamous underachievers confront a tricky opening match prospect within the Ukraine and will need to get up to speed for their remaining two matches which they will be entirely envisioned to earn. The opening match can even be Ukraines first ever Planet Cup visual appearance and with each side eager to stay away from defeat, a attract may be the very likely consequence.
Spain vs Ukraine draw @ eleven/five