Young Spaniards could surprise
By Paul Kennedy
Mananging Editor
Soccer America
SPAIN
Odds: 16-1 (8/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: t5 (t5/32). Previous appearances: 11.
Podium finishes: -.
With a long history of underachieving, Spain isnÆt often mentioned as a 2006 World Cup contender.
The Spaniards have one of the best young teams in the tournament but could go no farther than they did in the 2002 World Cup when they lost to co-host South Korea on penalties in the quarterfinals. If form holds in the first two rounds, Spain will meet heavy favorite Brazil in the quarterfinals. Spain, which benefits from a relatively easy path to the knockout phase, is a team in transition.
Gone are all but six players from the 2002 World Cup, and only three are probable starters: goalie Iker Casillas, defender Carles Puyol and midfielder David Albelda.
Captain Raul was in danger of losing out to Fernando Torres and David Villa in the battle for the two starting spots up front. Coach Luis AragonesÆ squad includes seven players from the English Premier League, including ArsenalÆs Jose Antonio Reyes and Luis Garcia, whom he may employ as wingers.
Arangones is high on his midfield, which he described as even above BrazilÆs in skill.
UKRAINE
Odds: 66-1 (t14/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: 45 (28/32). Previous appearances: 0.
Podium finishes: -.
Ukraine was the first European team to qualify for the World Cup by winning Group 2 ahead of Turkey (third at the 2002 World Cup), Denmark (10th in 2002) and Greece (Euro 2004 champion).
Ukrainian hopes at the World Cup, though, will rest on the fragile left knee of star Andriy Shevchenko. The AC Milan forward was sidelined a month before the finals and sat out the final Ukraine warmup but was expected start against Spain.
Coach Oleg Blokhin, who starred at the 1982 World Cup for the former Soviet Union, kept to his word by picking a team dominated by players in form with Ukrainian clubs over players struggling at clubs abroad.
He took eight players from his former club, Dynamo Kiev, including 23-year-old midfielder Oleg Gusiev and 21-year-old forward Artyom Milevsky, both considered hot transfer targets.
TUNISIA
Odds: 200-1 (25/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: 21 (15/32). Previous appearances: 3.
Podium finishes: -.
Tunisia, the African team to return from the 2002 finals, has its best chance of advancing in four trips to the finals. Roger Lemerre, who led France to the Euro 2000 title, takes an experienced team to Germany.
He recalled 40-year-old goalie Ali Boumnijel, hero of the Carthage EaglesÆ 2-1 victory over Morocco in the 2004 African Nations Cup final, and will take 18 European-based players to the World Cup, including Brazilian-born Silva Dos Santos and Ziad Jaziri, the goalscorers in the 2004 African Nations Cup triumph over Morocco.
Dos Santos was injured Wednesday in TunisiaÆs final warmup but was expected to ready to face Saudi Arabia.
SAUDI ARABIA
Odds: 500-1 (t29/32 teams). FIFA Ranking: 34 (23/32). Previous appearances: 3.
Podium finishes: -.
For Saudi Arabia, anything will be an improvement on its 2002 performance. It opened with an 8-0 loss to Germany four years ago and finished without a goal or a point.
ôWhat happened in Korea and Japan will be avoided,ö insisted Saudi federation chief Sultan bin Fahd. ôThe team will be very well prepared for Germany.ö
Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon, who qualified the Saudis for their fourth straight World Cup, was fired and replaced by Marcos Paqueta, who led BrazilÆs U-17s and U-20s to world titles in 2003. The Saudi squad is loaded with experience. Goalie Mohammad al-Deayea holds the world record with 181 caps and played with forward Sami al-Jaber on the Saudi team that reached the round of 16 at USA 1994.
PaquetaÆs hope is to win the Arab derby against the Tunisians and hope Spain or Ukraine crack.
''We will try to win it,ö he says. ôYou have one chance and you have to take it. If we win there will be more pressure on Spain and Ukraine, especially if one of them loses their first match.''
Odds are Ladbrokes odds as of May 30.
FIFA/Coca Cola rankings are as of May 17.