Spain hit the ground running with opening win

LEIPZIG, June 15: Notoriously poor starters at the World Cup, Spain broke with tradition and hit the ground running with their crushing 4-0 victory over Ukraine in their opening Group H match.

It was not just the emphatic nature of the score line, but also the manner of their victory that suggest that after 56 years of underperformance 2006 might just turn out to be Spain's year.

For a side that has so often failed to benefit from the rub of the green, everything went right for them in Leipzig as they dismantled a Ukraine side that many believed would cause them serious problems.

The midfield, orchestrated by the outstanding Xavi, stretched their opponents across the pitch in the sweltering heat, while Xabi Alonso and strikers David Villa and Fernando Torres dealt the killer blows as they shared out the four goals.

The Spanish fans responded with a series of neatly choreographed Mexican waves as they chanted ''Si, si, si, nos vamos a Berlin'' (Yes, yes, yes, we're on our way to Berlin).

They have witnessed their fair share of false dawns but perhaps the most telling indication that this victory could be the start of something big was the refusal of the players and coach to get carried away by the performance.

''We have to stay calm about it,'' said centre-back Carles Puyol. ''We weren't such a bad side before and we aren't such a good one now.

''Beginning a World Cup like this is a real boost to our morale, but we have to remain humble.'' Aragones struck a similarly cautious note. ''Historically we have done nothing at the World Cup,'' he said. ''This time we hope to do something but we've got a very difficult game against Tunisia and they are a better footballing side than Ukraine.'' The 67-year-old, whose team have now gone 23 games unbeaten since he took charge after Euro 2004, did, however, hint that he has his sights set high in Germany.

''We want to get close to the level of the teams that win the World Cup,'' he said.

''What counts is our mental preparation. In a league, the best team wins, but in a knockout competition it isn't always that way. We need to work on those tiny details that can make the difference in these tournaments.''

REUTERS

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