Spain v Ukraine - Preview

Doubts over Raul and Shevchenko set to favour Spain

Group H favourites Spain could be given an unexpected boost ahead of their opener against Ukraine - if Andriy 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.

"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 on 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.

But all eyes will be on a star-studded Spain side who are bidding to shake off a 56-year hoodoo which has seen them failing to get as far as the semi finals.

Spain coach Luis Aragones has come nearer to naming his team for the match, which for the Spanish will kick off at the inhabitual time of 1500 (1300 GMT).

Aragones on Sunday lined up an apparent blueprint during an 11-a-side training game in which Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres, Valencia's David Villa and Luis Garcia of Liverpool spearheaded a 4-3-3 formation.

Raul meanwhile was on the opposing side, and after receiving two knocks to his thigh and his ankle he left the training session early.

"It was just a couple of knocks," said the 28-year-old Real Madrid striker, whose World Cup preparations have been severely hit by a three-month lay off due to a cruciate ligament injury.

The debate over the availability of Spain's record goalscorer (43 goals) comes second in importance to the overall challenge which awaits.

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.

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".

Teams

Spain

Iker Casillas (capt), Segio Ramos, Pablo Ibanez, Carles Puyol, Mariano Pernia, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Marcos Senna, Luis Garcia, David Villa, Fernando Torres: Coach: Luis Aragones

Ukraine

Oleksandr Shovkovski, Vladimir Yezerskyi, Andriy Rusol, Vladyslav Vashchuk, Andriy Nesmachnyi, Oleg Gusev, Anatoli Tymoschuk, Andriy Gusin, Ruslan Rotan, Andriy Voronin, Andriy Shevchenko (capt): Coach: Oleg Blokhine

Referee

Massimo Busacca (SWI)