Spain vs. Ukraine, the preview
Today is the day. Spain-Ukraine in Leipzig. Don’t miss it. Or do. Because both these teams will advance anyways.
The line-up:
GK: Iker Casillas
DL: Mariano Pernia; DC: Pablo Ibanez; DC: Carles Puyol; DR: Sergio Ramos
MC: Xavi; MC: Xabi Alonso; MC: Marcos Senna
FW: Luis Garcia; FW: David Villa; FW: Fernando Torres
I don’t think this line-up scares any superpowers, but it’s almost the best 4-3-3 formation available (just swap Reyes for Garcia).
On the bench: Raul. You have to expect he’ll make an appearance unless Spain puts on a goal-scoring clinic.
The bad guys: Ukraine’s Andriy Shevchenko is one of the top strikers in the world, he has a hot American model wife and he’s ready to make millions playing for Chelsea in London. That’s a lot going for him. Aside from him, I can’t tell you much about Ukraine. I do know that Anatoliy Tymoschuk was a great signing for me in my latest Football Manager season, so maybe he’ll do well. If you want to read about Ukraine, you’re better off clicking here.
Players to watch: Mariano Pernia, left back for Spain. He gets involved in the attack and he scores goals. Some consider him Spain’s secret weapon. If he scores, I’m officially starting the Mariano Pernia fan club. Dmytro Chigrynskiy, defender for Ukraine. Honestly, I just like the name Dmytro. Sounds like an X-men character. 
Prediction: Spain 1, Ukraine 1. Yeah, I know. Not what you want to see. The result will lead many to immediately write off Spain as contenders. I then expect the Spaniards to bounce back with goals galore wins over Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, feeding them confidence heading into the round of 16 where they’ll go on to the quarterfinals. At that point, anything can happen. Within reason.
Who to blame if Spain loses: Switzerland referee Massimo Busacca, as well as assistant referees Francesco Buragina and Matthias Arnet.
Previews: World Cup Blog, Marca, Reuters.
Live blog: Check it out on the main page.
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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 29 comments.
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Welsh, I see you have displayed your utter knowledge of football, Sheva is not the only player on the team, furthermore, Sheva might not play and if he does not, Ukraine will still fair well because it plays just as good without Shevchenko. Tunisia ? how have they displayed that they are a better team ? Ukraine qualified from the most difficult group and was the first country to qualify from Europe on top of that. Tunisia had a pretty rocky qualification process I would say, Im not saying they are a bad team, because I think they are better than people view, but they are still not better than Ukraine.
Posted from
United States




Tunisia could easily vie for second place. They were defeated just once in the qualifiers, 2-1 by Guinea, and they ended up with six wins and three draws. They also played well at the FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 2005.
Posted from
United States




of course spain will win..maybe Xabi Alonso or Luis Garcia will scored one..
why? simply because they’re REDS.lol.
YNWA
Posted from
Malaysia




I won’t be surprised if the previous post was made by Aragones




Sheva probably wont play tomorrow…. and if he does it will probably only be a few minutes… Raul wont play either…
So i dont know who will win, hopfully ukraine.
Everyone that made it this far is quite a talanted group, but looking back at ukraines qualifying group, turkey, greece and denmark (all in top 20) with only ukraine comming out of the group and only one loss to turkey… that has to mean something.




Raul not in playing 11, am sure it will be goal less till the point he is brought in….
0 -0 till Raul comes in and then 2-0 (Luis Garcia )
Posted from
India




Andriy I can see your point, the group that Ukraine qualified from was strong and that is if we go by reputation or the shaky fifa ranking system. Denmark wasn’t in their best form for years and took this danish team until it was too late to find its form, and Turkey are in transition after most of the ahging players quit the team. The Ukraine team peaked before any team, I wonder if that is the case now.
We shall after todays performances and we can take it from there. Until then I still think Spain will emerge as the winner 3-1.
Posted from
United States




It’s be a draw or a Ukraine WIN. I’m sorry, but Spain couldn’t even beat Russia, who’re not even “in it”. Good team, good players, but as always, Spain will crack under pressure to perform.
I’m putting my money on a team who’s got nothing to lose.
Posted from
Russian Federation




Good luck to Spain. I hope you guys do well. I have supported them at all other competitions but now they are my second team behind the Aussies. Put my Arsenal mate Reyes on, and you are sure to score
Posted from
Australia




This match is about which team want to win more…,in fact the Spanish do not even have to win to progress to the next round from their abnoxiously easy group H.After yesterday’s LOUSY,PATHETIC performance by group G(except Koreans),Spain don’t even have to worry about finishing top of their group!!Facts aside,for me,Spain will always play the beautiful game..,BEAUTIFULLY!!!
Posted from
Malaysia




A Shame Reyes and Fabregas is on the bench. I think they would have done better with some fresh young blood in the team. The combination Reyes/Torres also seem to work out. If Spain cant win all their matches in this group Fabregas and Reyes on the Bench is the Reason!!
Posted from
Norway




Spain will win 2-0 though I think that they will be a bit nervous like they always are in their first game. Ukraine will have their chances as well but they wont put them away just like croatia did against brazil. Nevertheless it will be a tough game but Spain will edge past them.
Posted from
United Kingdom




[...] 75 Minute Countdown: Ian breaks down Ukraine vs Spain on Spain’s Blog. Andriy previews the game on Ukraine blog and also writes about Schvchenko potential for playing. Bet on World Cup 2006 Buy World Cup Kits World Cup on your Mobile Phone Buy World Cup Tickets Swap World Cup Tickets World Cup Travel World Cup Photos World Cup Video Photo & Video Contest Category: World Cup 2006, LiveBlog, Group H Tags: LiveBlog, Spain-Ukraine, June 14, Spain, Ukraine, Tag Index « Dead Woman Comes Back to Life to See Germany Win World Cup | Home | If you found “LiveBlog: Spain-Ukraine” useful or interesting, please share it with others by bookmarking it at the following sites: .wp-notable img {border: none;margin-left:5px;} Comments | Add your comment [...]
Posted from
United States




It may be 92 degrees in Leipzig, but this game has started fiercely for both sides, fabulously for fans: we need a good game, after a run of somewhat sub-par performances (including yesterday’s overweight and underperforming Brazil debut). One advantage in this match: neither team is the overwhelming favorite, both teams have a chance at dark-horse status.
Pierre Uncensored http://www.pierretristam.com
Posted from
United States




For Ukraine, here’s the question: where’s Rusol (other than landing himself yellows?) Where’s Gusin? For that matter, where has Shevchenko been all game? Yes they’re being outplayed by a wonderful display of on-point football the likes of which Iberia hasn’t produced in the last, oh, half millennium, but since when have you heard of Ukrainians being intimidayed by anything, and anyone? That’s the surprise in this match: the unevenness–not to take anything away from the superior beauty of the Spaniards.
Pierre Uncensored http://www.pierretristam.com
Posted from
United States




A cloud is wafting over the Ukrainian side, and it’s got the Chernenko effect colored all over it…
Pierre Uncensored… http://www.pierretristam.com
Posted from
United States




The game is out of reach for Ukraine, advancing into the second round isn’t–if the Ukranians think the battle of the Muezzins, between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, will allow them to divide and conquer. But they may be surprised: Tunisia, now Africa’s last hope, are no push-overs, and the Saudis can be unpredictable despite having a man older than the dunes in goal.
Pierre Uncensored http://www.pierretristam.com
Posted from
United States




What a terrific run of football in this game. Leipzig was once known as the Communist world’s capital of gymnastics; today it’s the capital of the beautiful game: three of the four goals in this game deserve to hang at the Louvre, even if Ukraine haven’t put up much of a worthy opposition.
Pierre Uncensored http://www.pierretristam.com
Posted from
United States




How symbollic of this game: Shevchenko takes his one and only true shot all match in injury time, slams against a Spain defender, and hears the whistle calling an end to this big, big defeat for Ukraine. This was the Match of Death they would have rather avoided. Wonderful Spain, but Ukraine ain’t done yet.
Pierre Uncensored http://www.pierretristam.com
Posted from
United States




4-0 now the critics can shut the hell up!!!
Posted from
United Kingdom




AMAZINGGG!!!! Spainnn ruless!!! They played really greatt!!! I hope they go on great!!!!
Posted from
United Kingdom




espana, played amazin!! had a wiked team lined up, n showed how good they are, still only there first game, we have more to see!! ESPANA TO WIN!!
Posted from
United Kingdom




I was off by one goal. Even better than expected. See you in the second round!
Posted from
United States




I underestimated Spain by two goals, but i’m quite happy to be proven wrong!
¡Vamos España!
Posted from
Philippines




ohfksdfdks
Posted from
India


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