Spain vs Russia preview

Posted on | June 9, 2008 | No Comments

Constant underachievers at both continental and world levels, Euro favourites Spain kick off their campaign against Guus Hiddink’s Russia in Innsbruck. Many legends of the game, including Gary Lineker have tipped the Spanish to set this tournament on fire.

Luis Aragones has an embarrassment of riches to choose from in midfield- so much that Cesc Fabregas and Xabi Alonso, two players who regularly start for their clubs may have to sit on the bench. Spain recovered from two losses in their first three games in qualifying to top their group. Their defence will be marshalled by Carlos Puyol and Sergio Ramos. Spain’s defence has shown vulnerabilities in recent times, and goals like the recent one they let in against Peru should be avoided. Marcos Senna is likely to beat Xabi Alonson and Ruben de la Red to a starting XI spot along with Xavi Hernandez. Andres Iniesta is a minor doubt, having suffered from food poisoning. Aragones has ignored Real Madrid’s Raul and will start with Torres and Villa upfront. Iker Casillas is solid in goal. This game is a repeat of the Euro 2004 one, which Spain won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Juan Valeron.

Guus Hiddink has a record of taking every team that he has coached at the World Cup past the group stage. It was his South Korea that stunned Spain in the 2002 World Cup. The last team he coached at the Championships were the Netherlands in 1996, who went out in the last eight to France. Andrei Arshavin misses this game along with the one against Greece due to suspension. Prolific Pavel Pogrebnyak is injured, and Russia will miss him in attack. That means that Roman Pavlyuchenko will have to shoulder Russia’s scoring burden in this game. Russia eliminated England in qualifying, with a little help from Croatia. Hiddink may choose to pack his midfield with Semshov, Zyrianov and others as to not give Spain any space, and to isolate Villa and Torres. Russia, one may remember, were the only team to beat Greece at Euro 2004. The results of their last two friendlies have been encouraging, wins over Serbia and Lithuania. and Kazakhstan. Russia conceded just seven goals in qualifying.

This might be Russia’s tournament, after Zenit St. Petersburg won the UEFA Cup. No underdog has won in this tournament yet, excluding the Dutch win over Italy. The game to be a 1-1 draw, with Torres and Pavyluchenko scoring. Spain might as well win it 1-0, but the Russians will give it their all.

Related posts:

1. Russia vs Spain preview
2. Greece vs Russia preview
3. Russia vs Sweden preview
4. Netherlands vs Russia preview
5. Spain vs Sweden preview

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