Soccer: Spain's hopes depend on magic Raul

ULSAN - Spanish hopes of halting the South Korean bandwagon tonight may rest on the recovery of Raul, a player whose predatory instincts could finally unsettle the co-hosts.

The groin strain the striker suffered in the second half of Spain's second-round win over Ireland last Sunday looked little cause for concern at first, with Jose Antonio Camacho's squad lucky enough to have six days to prepare for their quarter-final.

The medical bulletins from the Spanish camp have been positive enough, but three days before the game he had still to return to training and doctor Genaro Borras would only say he was moderately optimistic.

Camacho feels time may be running out for Raul.

"If Raul says he's 100 per cent fit and the doctor says he's 100 per cent fit, he will play. If not, he won't.

"You have to take into account it's not just one game we have to play, we hope there are two more. We need to control this tie from the start because a game can be won in the first minute or the 90th, as we have seen, so we need a player who is match-fit."

Diego Tristan, of Deportivo La Coruna, whom Camacho is reluctant to pair with Raul, would be the natural replacement.

Camacho professes to be unconcerned about the injury, but few people in Spain will share that laid-back attitude.

There is no one else who can do the same job of hustling from midfield when Spain do not have the ball, starting attacks when his side win it back and finishing with skill and nerve.

Raul's scoring record going into the cup was an impressive 25 goals in 51 games, but he did find himself with something to prove after disappointing slightly in his two previous appearances in major tournaments.

In France in 1998, he managed one goal but could not prevent Spain going down 3-2 to Nigeria in their opening game and making a first-round exit.

In the European Championship finals two years ago, he was also far from his best, scoring once against Slovenia but missing a last-minute penalty against France in the quarter-finals that would have taken the game to extra time.

He immediately dispelled any doubts about his head for heights with a virtuoso display in Spain's 3-1 win over Slovenia in their opening group B game this month.

With Tristan disappointing in the main striker's role, Spain were struggling to make much of their possession before Raul changed the game with one moment of brilliance.

Luis Enrique's run into the box was checked by the centre-back and the ball rebounded out to Raul just inside the area.

Instead of lunging for the ball, Raul swung backwards, committing the covering defender in the process, and won himself the time he needed to stab the ball in.

Raul took his tally to three with twocontrasting goals in Spain's third game against South Africa.

"There are just no words to describe Raul," midfielder Joaquin said. "He's always the same, giving it everything for the team in every game."

Raul was also Spain's outstanding player before injury forced him off against Ireland, even if he did not make the scoresheet.

While he was on the field, Spain had a dangerous look about them every time they moved forward. Without him, the Irish goal was hardly threatened.

Raul is not always the most ruthless of finishers, and sometimes the easier chances slip away. It is in the split second offered by an opposition mistake or simple bad luck, when there is no time to weigh the options, that he shows himself to be a different class.

Those half-chances will be all important in what is sure to be a frenetic game against South Korea, and if Raul is fully fit, Spain will have every reason to believe they can succeed where Portugal and Italy failed.

- REUTERS

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