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Home|Germany 2006|Travel|Guide|Groups|Group H
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Germany World Cup 2006 Group H
GROUP H
*SpainSpain made hard work of qualifying despite favourable draws in
both the group stage (where they eventually stumbled to second-place
behind Serbia and Montenegro) and the playoffs (a 6-2 aggregate
win over Slovakia). If ever the Spanish are to shed the tag of World
Cup underachievers, having been drawn alongside debutants Ukraine,
Tunisia and Saudi Arabia in Group H, now is the time. The heartbeat of the 2006 side hails from champions Barca, most notably the uncompromising Carlos Puyol and inventive schemer Xavi. The goalscoring burden lies with 21-year-old Athletico Madrid frontman Fernando Torres, scorer of seven goals in qualifying. While Valencia's new recruit David Villa, the current leading homegrown forward in La Liga with nine goals from 14 games, will add vital support. Fixtures
Spain v Ukraine 14 June; KO 15:00; Leipzig CoachLuis Aragones Record1962, 1966, 1978, 1998 First Round; 1982, 1990 Second Round; 1934, 1986, 1994, 2002 Quarter Finals; 1950 Fourth place FIFA RankingMen to watchLuis Garcia, Fernando Torres, Xavi Hernandes Predictions & Latest OddsShould make it out of the group with Ukraine, anything less would
be a major upset. How they qualifiedSpain came through the play-offs 6-2 on aggregate against Slovakia after a struggle in European Group 7 with Serbia & Montenegro to qualify. On the sidelines 67-year-old coach Luis Aragones will probably call it a day after
the World Cup, however Spain perform at the tournament. AnalysisThe SquadGoalkeepers Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool,
England), Santiago Canizares (Valencia) 
UkraineEurope's first qualifiers and from arguably its toughest group at that, Ukraine should not be underestimated despite an obvious reliance of 2004 European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko. They were fast off the blocks in qualifying despite being matched with European champions Greece, 2002 semi-finalists Turkey and Denmark - all nations placed well above them in FIFA's world rankings - and only truly conceded vital points once their passage to Germany had been assured. Stubborn defensively, with 'keeper Aleksandr Shovkovski a formidable presence in goal and 22-year-old Andriy Rusol earning recognition as a determined defender ahead, Ukraine's Achilles heel might, perversely, be their lack of goals. Their crucial victories away in Athens and Istanbul were built on defensive resilience with Shovkovski, the Dynamo Kiev custodian, leaking just seven goals in 12 qualifiers. Still, in addition to Shevchenko, coach Oleh Blokhin has Bayer Leverkusen's Andrey Voronin to call upon upfront as well as Shakhtar Donetsk forward Andriy Vorobey. Fixtures
Ukraine v Spain 14 June; KO 15:00; Leipzig CoachOleh Blokhin RecordFirst appearance at the World Cup Men to watchAndriy Shevchenko Despite any previous experience at this level, Ukraine should get
beyond the group stage. How they qualifiedUkraine won European Group 2 ahead of Turkey, Denmark and Euro 2004 champions, Greece. On the sidelinesCoach Oleh Blokhin was the 1975 European Footballer of the Year
and is also a Ukrainian MP. AnalysisThe SquadGoalkeepers Oleksander Shovkovsky (Dynamo Kiev), Andriy
Pyatov (Vorskla Poltava), Bogdan Shust (Shakhtar Donetsk) 
TunisiaLife is looking up for Tunisian football as the national team have qualified for their third World Cup finals in succession and are African Champions to boot. Wily French coach, Roger Lemerre, who took France to victory at the 2000 European Championships, has created a strong, hard-running unit which is difficult to break down but possesses potency in attack and on the counter in the shape of Brazilian-born striker Francileudo dos Santos and local hero Haikel Gmandia. Tunisia scored more goals than any other team in African qualifying - netting twenty five times but they also conceded more than any of the other four qualifiers - shipping nine goals in ten games. Fixtures
Tunisia v Saudia Arabia 14 June; KO 18:00; Munich CoachRoger Lemerre Record1978, 1998, 2002 First Round FIFA RankingMen to watchFrancileudo dos Santos and Haikel Gmandia Predictions & Latest OddsTunisia have never made it past the first round, look for that
trend to continue. How they qualifiedTunisia topped African qualifying group 5 ahead of rivals Morocco, who they have superceded as North Africa's paramount team. On the sidelinesCoach Roger Lemerre is the first manager to lift continental titles
in both Europe and Africa. AnalysisThe SquadGoalkeepers Ali Boumnijel (Club Africain), Hamdi Kasraoui
(Esperance Tunis), Adel Nefzi (US Monastir) 
Saudi ArabiaThe priority for the 'Sons of the Desert' next summer is to redeem Saudi football in the eyes of the world after the 2002 debacle in Japan and that game with Germany. Three games, no goals scored and 12 conceded equalled disaster and humiliation for the team that became only the second Asian nation to reach the second round in 1994. The results four years ago could work in the country's favour if other teams take them too lightly. That would be a mistake as since being appointed as the team's coach in October 2004, Gabriel Calderon has exuded an air of efficiency. His team certainly did as it strolled through qualification unbeaten, six games that included a pair of wins over South Korea. The coach is now Marcos Paqueta. The Saudi Arabian team has a strong spine with a strong Al-Ittihad flavour. Mabrouk Zaid in goal, defender Hamad Al-Montashari and midfield general Mohammed Noor all play for the Asian champions. In attack, veteran striker Sami Al-Jaber will want to finish a fourth World Cup in style while young partner Yasser Al-Qahtani looks to have a bright future. Fixtures
Saudi Arabia v Tunisia 14 June; KO 18:00; Munich CoachMarcos Paqueta Record1998, 2002 First Round; 1994 Second Round FIFA RankingMen to watchSami Al-Jaber Predictions & Latest OddsShould perform better than 2002 but we see them falling at the
first hurdle. How they qualifiedCame through the Asian Qualifying Zone, comfortably enough, ahead of South Korea. On the sidelinesThere are rumours Calderon may be ditched for a bigger name before
the finals begin. AnalysisThe SquadGoalkeepers Mohammad Al-Deayea (Al-Hilal), Mabrouk Zayed
(Al-Ittihad), Mohammad Khouja (Al-Shabab) For highlights of the qualifying rounds, read Soccerphile's Ozren Podnar's "Best of the World Cup Qualifiers." |
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