Spanish Eager for World Cup Group B Opening Win

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, June 02, 2002

Spanish Eager for World Cup Group B Opening Win

Spain will be looking for their first winning World Cup start in more than 50 years when they take on newcomers Slovenia in a Group B clash in Kwangju, South Korea, later on Sunday.

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Spain will be looking for their first winning World Cup start in more than 50 years when they take on newcomers Slovenia in a Group B clash in Kwangju, South Korea, later on Sunday.

Spain are strong favorites to win a group that also includes Paraguay and South Africa, and should have the edge over Slovenia in terms of both talent and experience.

With a squad based on four of Europe's best club sides of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Deportivo Coruna, they have the ability to beat any team in the tournament in their 11th appearance at the World Cup finals.

But their last time win in the opening match was in 1950 while tournament debutantes Slovenia might just work out an upset in Kwangju.

"We know that getting a result against any side these days is very difficult," Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho said prior to the game. "We'll be playing to win, though, and we believe we can do just that."

Spain, who beat Slovenia 2-1 in Euro 2000, have highlighted Zlatko Zahovic as the danger man in the opposition line-up.

The Slovenians were generally impressive at the European championships and held their form by reaching the World Cup finals with an unbeaten record.

Coach Srecko Katanec believes his side's biggest problem on Sunday will be watching close on Spanish quick-witted forwards. " They are all very, very strong," he said.

"If you let the player loose, if you lose him, if you don't mark him closely, it can be very dangerous for our goal," he added. "I'd like to say to the whole of Slovenia who watch us now that we will fight, we will do our best."

Probable teams:

Spain (4-4-2): 1-Iker Casillas; 5-Carles Puyol, 6-Fernando Hierro, 20-Miguel Angel Nadal, 3-Juanfran; 21-Luis Enrique,8-Ruben Baraja, 17-Juan Carlos Valeron, 11-Javi de Pedro; 7-Raul, 10-Diego Tristan

Slovenia (4-5-1): 1-Marko Simeunovic; 2-Goran Sankovic, 4- Muamer Vugdalic, 6-Aleksander Knavs, 3-Zeljko Milinovic; 7-Doni Novak, 8-Ales Ceh, 10-Zlatko Zahovic, 11-Miran Pavlin, 18-Milenko Acimovic; 13-Mladen Rudonja

Match referee: Mohamed Guezzaz (Morocco)

Linesmen: Ali Tomusange (Uganda)

Egon Bereuter (Austria)

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