Spain look to early form for France showdown

KAISERSLAUTERN, June 24: ''This is when the World Cup really begins,'' Spain coach Luis Aragones remarked after his side's 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

Spain's narrow victory meant they could celebrate finishing top of their group with a maximum nine points for only the third time in 12 editions of the tournament.

But the shine was taken off their achievement by the disappointing nature of their display and the fact that later in the day they learned they would face former world champions France in the last 16.

''The side we want to avoid is France for their characteristics and the way they play,'' Cesc Fabregas had said before his team's opponents had been decided.

Aragones had echoed the midfielder's feelings a few days earlier.

''France may not be playing well at the moment, but they have the experience of the big occasions that makes them very dangerous.'' Spain deservedly took the plaudits for their sparkling 4-0 destruction of Ukraine and their determined 3-1 comeback win over Tunisia, but yesterday's game was a different story.

With a place in the last 16 already assured, Aragones took the opportunity to rest his first-choice side and field the second stringers against the Sons of the Desert.

The 67-year-old had admitted he was risking a potential selection headache if the substitutes played well, but if he was hoping they would make life difficult for him he was disappointed.

Apart from busy performances from wingers Joaquin and Jose Antonio Reyes, none of the substitutes did anything to make him change his mind about his first-choice starting XI.

The side started well enough and took the lead before the break, but they failed to press home their advantage and it was the Saudis who proceeded to make all the running.

''I can draw a number of conclusions from this game, but they were mainly negative,'' said Aragones. ''We lost control of the game and were at their mercy after the break.'' But if the team performance was disappointing it will make Aragones's selection job for Tuesday's match in Hanover that much easier.

He knows that only a return to the slick, dynamic style of play that characterised Spain's first two games will allow them to progress to the quarter-finals and a possible showdown with Brazil.

The last time France and Spain met in a tournament was in the quarter-finals of Euro 2000. Les Bleus won through 2-1 after Raul missed a penalty at the death and went on to add the European crown to their world title.

REUTERS