Sunday June 18, 2006

Spain promises Tunisia same play that crippled Ukraine

STUTTGART, Germany (AP): Spain promises more of the same when it faces Tunisia in its second Group H match on Monday.

The Spanish demolished Ukraine 4-0 in their World Cup opener and another win would put them into the second round. The North Africans would be content with a draw to maintain a good chance of advancing.

"We're going to play exactly like we did in the last game,'' Spain coach Luis Aragones said upon arrival in Stuttgart. "We have a style of playing and we're not going to change it for anybody.''

His Tunisia counterpart, Roger Lemerre, knows tactics are essential to avoid suffering a similar pummeling to the one that Spain handed Ukraine in the World Cup Group H opener.

Lemmere plans "to know what we are going to do and above all, to go out and do it.''

The biggest worry the former France coach has is how to stop Spain's midfield from one-touching its way through the Tunisian defense.

An early goal by the Spanish and Tunisian keeper Ali Boumnijel could see several more. But if the Tunisians withstand the initial surge from strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa, Tunisia's confidence could grow as Spain's dissipates.

"We know we have to be strong, physically and technically, and win a lot of one-on-ones against this team,'' Tunisia midfielder Adel Chedli said. "If we let them play, we're dead.''

The Spaniards look harmonious and focused in the greenery at their Westphalian training camp. Players praise the camaraderie Aragones has instilled in a squad historically splintered in Catalan, Basque and Castilian factions.

Even worse for Lemerre, the Spaniards refuse to consider themselves as World Cup favorites, as much of their nation does after the scoring orgy against Ukraine.

"We have to keep our feet on the ground more than ever and face the match against Tunisia as if it were a final,'' defender Carlos Marchena said.

Aragones insists Tunisia, the first African nation to win a World Cup match when it beat Mexico 3-1 in 1978, will be a more difficult opponent to overcome than Ukraine.

"I'm concerned about their midfield,'' Aragones said. "Their midfield will keep us under pressure and make it difficult for us to move up. I know Lemerre, and I know how he works.''

Still, when perennial power faces minnow, there is always the risk the favorite takes the outcome for granted.

If the North Africans get the first goal, Spain's memory of World Cup disappointment could resurface.

Eleven tries and no final is a bitter record for a country that counts itself among the great soccer nations.

The Ukraine match _ Spain's best ever World Cup opener _ fed hopes that 2006 is the year "La Furia Roja'' (the Red Fury) finally delivers.

Against Tunisia, which is playing its fourth World Cup, Spain will seek to prove that its near-perfect debut wasn't a fluke.

The Carthage Eagles have to avoid a repeat of the jitters which saw them throw away the lead in their opener against Saudi Arabia and only salvage a 2-2 draw with an injury time goal.

"There will be changes, but in homeopathic doses,'' Lemerre said about his lineup. "I have the feeling that we have the ability'' to do well against Spain.

Unlike Lemerre, Aragones is blessed with a wealth of talent that allows him to keep Spain's all-time top scorer Raul Gonzalez on the bench. But Aragones is unlikely to tinker with the 4-3-3 lineup he fielded against Ukraine with Torres, Villa and Liverpool's Luis Garcia up front.

"Lineups are never easy for a coach, but in this case we are going down the same road more or less,'' Aragones said.

On the other end, Tunisia's main striker Ziad Jaziri will face Spain's terrier-like defensive commander Carles Puyol.

Tunisia will hope to see more attacking threat from Ajax Amsterdam right-back Hatem Trabelsi, who often functions as a winger in a cautious lineup, but only got forward in the early stages against Saudi Arabia.

Without that kind of support, Tunisia cannot expect slightly built striker Ziad Jaziri to repeat his outstanding performance against the Saudis, when he scored one and set up the other.

Tunisia also needs an improved showing from Radhi Jaidi, another of its most experienced players, in the center of its defense to have any hope of keeping Spain's strikers at bay.

"God willing, maybe we will spring the big surprise,'' Jaidi said.

Sergio Ramos, who won the right slot in the back four over Real Madrid teammate Michel Salgado, said Spain takes the momentum of its dominating victory over Ukraine.

"I hope things keep going well for us,'' the 20-year-old Ramos said. "But honestly, I'll settle for 1-0.''

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