June 8, 2006
THE ULTIMATE TEASERS
World Cup never reigns with Spanish team

So much talent -- so much expectation -- so much disappointment.

Spain's World Cup history can be summed up in those nine words.

Spain's failings are mind-boggling, given that the country boasts one of the best leagues in Europe, certainly one of the most exciting and high scoring on the continent and has not one, but two mega-clubs that enjoy a successful history.

In 11 appearances in soccer's promised land, however, Spain never has officially reached the semifinals.

This year's team could very well be headed toward some familiar territory. Despite its World Cup struggles in the past, the Spaniards were selected as one of the eight seeded slots.

One problem with these great expectations has been the success of Spanish First Division sides in European competition, notably Real Madrid and Barcelona. While these teams traditionally vie for the Spanish title and go deep into the Champions League, many of the key players on both teams are of foreign ancestry.

As one of the eight seeded teams, Spain should have a relatively easy time in Group H against the likes of the Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. If the Spaniards can't find their way to the second round with that relative easy path, coach Luis Aragones should resign right after the referee blows his final whistle of the June 23 match with Saudi Arabia.

Given the uneven success of the national side -- Spain failed to get out of the first round at Euro 2004 -- Aragones is optimistic.

"We know we are capable of beating any team and are close to being among the top sides," Aragones told Reuters on March, when his team pulled off a 3-2 comeback in an international friendly with Ivory Coast. Spain rallied twice as Real Betis defender Juanito scored on a header with five minutes remaining.

"We believe we are very close to where we want to be for the World Cup."

Arsenal's 18-year-old midfielder Cesc Fabregas made his international debut in the match. Forward David Villa said the teenager had "dazzled everyone."

"I was pleased with my performance and I hope I have done enough to prove to the coach that I can continue in the squad," Fabregas said.

Spain might need the likes of Fabregas to excel because its top scorer, Raul, was sidelined for several months with a partial cruciate ligament tear in his left knee in November. Raul, who should still be in the prime of his career -- he turns 29 on June 27 -- suffered the injury when he misfired a shot as during Real Madrid's 3-0 home loss to Barcelona.

He was hopeful of a quick comeback while Real team physicians said the striker had to follow a conservate treatment program.

"There was a moment in which I thought I would be out for a very long time," Raul told reporters at a news conference. "That still may happen, but the probability is that I will be back in a much shorter period. At the moment there are no dates set, but it might take three or four months to see how the knee responds, but I can see myself helping Real win a trophy and then playing in the World Cup."

Raul wasn't the only key performer struck by the knee injury jinx. Midefielder Xavi, 25, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during training in December and was considered a longshot for Germany. "It's a great shame and a big setback," Aragones told Reuters.

Aragones, incidentally, wound up in the middle of some controversy that made some unwanted worldwide headlines himself.

In 2004, a Spanish TV crew caught Aragones trying to motivate Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes during a National Team training session. Aragones referred to French international Thierry Henry, Reyes' Arsenal teammate, using language that was interpreted as offensive and racist. When the footage was shown in England, the media was surprised there wasn't a demand from the media for Aragones to resign.

As it turned out, Spain hosted England in an international friendly at Real Madrid's home, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium as the hosts prevailed. But the fans and soccer were the real losers that day as Spanish supporters made "monkey chants" every time a black English player touched the ball.

Spain's traditional No. 1 weakness is in goal. Keepers have made blunders that cost Spain in the Olympics (all the way back to the 1920 Summer Games) and World Cups. For example, Andoni Zubizarreta, a four-time World Cup performer, literally handed a 3-2 result to underdog Nigeria at France '98 by fumbling the ball away on two occasions. Santiago Canizares became the last in a long line of keepers to screw up, stepping on the broken glass from a bottle of cologne the dropped onto the bathroom several weeks before the kickoff of the 2002 World Cup.

In his place stepped Real Madrid's Iker Casillas, who performed admirably well and is still the No. 1 keeper. Carles Puyol is considered one of Europe's, if not the world's, best defender.

But if history is a guide, don't expect much from this Spanish side, even if the team enjoyed an 18-game unbeaten run through the winter of 2006, having last lost on June 6, 2003.

"I'm not very confident about the national team," Canal Nou TV's Paco Lloret was quoted by www.BBC.com." "They are good players but never can reach the semifinals. Although Spain will be with the best teams in the draw, I don't expect a successful World Cup."

An interesting bit of information for World Cup history buffs

Spain has thrown the theory of home-hemisphere advantage out of the window. In its five appearances in European-based World Cups, the Spaniards are a feeble 6-7-5. In fact, they have one of the worst records for a host country, going 1-2-2 in 1982.