The Hindu : Sport / Football : Raul and Spain determined to prove a point

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2006

Sport

Sport - Football

Raul and Spain determined to prove a point

France looks to extend a five-match unbeaten run in competitive games against its neighbour

ESSEN: For a man about to play his 99th international and who is already the all-time leading scorer for his country and in the Champions League, there should be no need to question the pedigree of Spanish captain Raul.

Yet going into the World Cup second round clash with France on Tuesday, his 29th birthday, there remains the nagging feeling that the prolific striker still has something to prove after never quite delivering for Spain when it really matters.

Time to make amends

A match against France is the ideal opportunity for him to make an impact and help erase memories of their last competitive meeting in the Euro 2000 quarterfinal when Raul missed a last-minute penalty in a 2-1 defeat.

He has scored 44 goals in 98 internationals and won the Champions League three times with Real Madrid but his tournament disappointments mirror his country's.

Both invariably look impressive in qualifying, rack up goals in friendlies and set off with high hopes every second summer.

Raul hopes to celebrate his birthday by knocking France out of the World Cup and ending the career of former Real Madrid teammate Zinedine Zidane.

Coach Luis Aragones hinted that Raul, who was relegated to the bench in the group stage, will play at least one half against `Les Bleus.'

``Hopefully this will be his last match,'' Raul said about Zidane, who will retire after the World Cup.

``Zidane is a great player and he is playing his last matches in this World Cup. Hopefully, for the good of Spain, the one tomorrow (Tuesday) will be his last match.''

Underachiever

Yet Spain has failed to get past the quarterfinals in its last nine World Cups and though the Spaniards have had a little more success in the European Championship they have earned a reputation as Europe's great underachiever.

Tuesday's game comes 22 years to the day since it lost the Euro '84 final to France. Four years ago Spain lost to South Korea on penalties in the World Cup quarterfinals, having beaten Ireland in a shootout in the previous round.

Raul missed the Korea clash with a groin injury but having come off the bench in the first two games in Germany looks set to win his 99th cap against France.

If he is to get his 100th here then Spain will have to find the form it showed in the opening 4-0 demolition of Ukraine and in the latter stages of its 3-1 win over Tunisia.

Steadily improving side

France steadily improved through the group phase and showed some incisive attacking, let down by wayward finishing, in the 2-0 win over Togo that secured second place behind Switzerland.

Playmaker Zinedine Zidane missed that match through suspension but should return to a five-man midfield behind sole striker Thierry Henry as France looks to extend a five-match unbeaten run in competitive games against its neighbour.

``We're improving and I believe we'll continue to do so,'' said France coach Raymond Domenech. ``It's not now that we want to play the perfect match. It's in the final on July 9.''

Likely line-ups: Spain: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Pablo Ibanez, Mariano Pernia, Cesc Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Fernando Torres, Raul and David Villa. Coach: Luis Aragones.

France: Fabien Barthez, Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, William Gallas, Eric Abidal, Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele, Franck Ribery, Zinedine Zidane, Florent Malouda and Thierry Henry. Coach: Raymond Domenech.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy). — Agencies

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport