Outright Odds: 14/1
Team H Winners: 4/6
Spain, yet again, are tipped as dark horses for the globe Cup and 2006 will eventually stop decades of disappointment which generation of gamers will fulfil their undoubted potential. Nonetheless they wont. For all their personal talent they are able to by no means encourage themselves to rise to your challenge.
They're, naturally, mainstays of the earth Cup and 2006 will likely be their eight tournament in the row they have experienced for relationship back again to 1978. The quarter finals is as far as they've got long gone due to the fact then so why the obsession that this will be their yr?
Spain certified by means of the Perform-offs following ending runners-as many as Serbia & Montenegro in their group. Luis Aragones facet had been unbeaten in 10 qualifiers but 5 draws and five wins meant they required to sq. off towards Slovakia as a way to secure their 꽁머니 spot in Germany. It had been all over just after the 1st leg as Spain ran out five-one winners in advance of drawing one-1 inside the return leg to get 6-two on combination.
Probably the cause for these types of optimism lies Along with the manager. Under Aragones, Spain are unbeaten in 18 games because he took around in July 2004, Even though the gamers need to also take some credit rating.
Spain have unearthed a real attacking talent in Fernando Torres. The 21-12 months-aged Atletico Madrid striker was the ecu qualifying zones joint fourth major goalscorer with seven targets and He's a target for both of those Arsenal and Chelsea. Torres is observed because the organic successor to Spains most-capped outfield participant and all-time primary goalscorer Raul.
At 28, Raul ought to be at his peak to the finals but a cruciate knee ligament damage suffered in November raises thoughts around just how influential he might be. One more excuse for any possibly underachieving tournament?
Septembers qualifier versus Serbia & Montenegro established a brand new document as it absolutely was the first time a foreign club, Liverpool, had far more Reps from the countrywide squad than any Spanish club aspect. Will the likes of Jose Reina, Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia transfer their exceptional club performances onto the grand phase? While Fernando Morientes, with 5 aims in 7 Globe Cup appearances indicates He's a threat even though his domestic variety has actually been relatively indifferent.
Encouraged Wager
The infamous underachievers experience a tricky opening match prospect inside the Ukraine and will require to receive on top of things for his or her remaining two matches which They are going to be fully expected to gain. The opening match may also be Ukraines 1st at any time Planet Cup visual appeal and with both sides eager to avoid defeat, a draw will be the very likely end result.
Spain vs Ukraine attract @ eleven/5