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Confederations Cup Preview: New Zealand - Spain
New Zealand and Spain play in the second match of the Confederations Cup on Sunday evening...
12-Jun-2009 7:59:36 PM
Kick Off: Sunday 14 June 2009. 20.30 CET. Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
European champions Spain open their Confederations Cup campaign on Sunday evening when they take on Oceania Nations Cup winners New Zealand in Rustenburg. Vicente Del Bosque’s team can stretch their unbeaten run to 32 matches if they avoid defeat but will be wary of the All Whites who nearly shocked Italy during the week…
Super Spain
For Spain this will be their first time in the Confederations Cup but, due to their superb form over the past year, they start the tournament as undoubted favourites. Undefeated since Romania beat them in a friendly in November 2006, they have not only won the European Championships last year but have also risen to the top of the world rankings.
In fact, they are the only side to be at the top of the rankings that has never won the World Cup, something they will be aiming towards next year in South Africa. For now though they will be fully focused on this tournament and will be trying to put all talk of Real Madrid and the goings on back home out of their head.
For some that will be easy but perhaps for others like David Villa it might be harder. The Valencia hitman has been strongly linked with a move to the capital and his hat-trick in the friendly against Azerbaijan during the week did little to damage his reputation. Vicente Del Bosque will no doubt be doing his best to keep all eyes firmly focused on the upcoming game and certainly Spain will not want to slip up against New Zealand.
Third Time Lucky?
Whilst this is the first time in the Confederations Cup for Spain, this edition marks New Zealand’s third appearance at the tournament and they will be hoping to improve on their prior performances. On neither occasion have they managed to get past the round and, along with the Ivory Coast, they are the only side to have played in the competition but never picked up a point.
Ranked number 82 in the world they come into this clash with Spain as obvious underdogs but showed against Italy in the week that they are improving. It might have only been a friendly but three times the Southern hemisphere side led against the World champions before they were eventually beaten 4-3 late on.
Should New Zealand not manage to overcome Spain as expected then they might at least have a chance of picking up their first point in the tournament with South Africa and Iraq in the group. The hosts open the competition on the same day looking to get off to the perfect start against their Middle Eastern opponents.
FORM GUIDE
New Zealand
June 10 Italy 4-3 New Zealand (Friendly)
June 6 Botswana 0-0 New Zealand (Friendly)
Mar 28 Thailand 3-1 New Zealand (Friendly)
Nov 19 New Zealand 0-2 Fiji (World Cup Qualifier)
Sep 10 New Zealand 3-0 New Caledonia (World Cup Qualifier)
Spain
June 9 Azerbaijan 0-6 Spain (Friendly)
April 1 Turkey 1-2 Spain (World Cup Qualifier)
March 28 Spain 1-0 Turkey (World Cup Qualifier)
February 11 Spain 2-0 England (Friendly)
Nov 19 Spain 3-0 Chile (Friendly)
TEAM NEWS
New Zealand
The All Whites are likely to play a similar side that started against Italy, with Chris Killen yet again providing the main threat up front.
The main change could be in attack, where Ricki Herbert may prefer to play with more men in midfield and take away a striker.
Probable Line-Up (4-4-2): Moss – Mulligan, Lochhead, Vicelich, Boyens – Elliott, Barron, Bertos, Brown – Smeltz, Killen
Spain
Vicente Del Bosque gave some fringe players a run out against Azerbaijan in the week but he should start with his strongest team for this match.
Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, David Silva and Xavi should all return to the starting eleven, whilst Gerard Pique is still recovering from injury and might be rested this match.
Probable Line-Up (4-4-2): Casillas – Ramos, Albiol, Puyol, Capdevila – Cazorla, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Silva– Torres, Villa
PLAYER TO WATCH
New Zealand
With the offensive weapons that Spain possess, New Zealand will have to be at their best up front if they are to challenge them and Chris Killen should be in confident mood after his brace against Italy. The All Whites strength at set-pieces caught the World champions a couple of times and they will be hoping to hurt Spain from similar situations.
Spain
With one of the most star studded squads in the tournament Spain have so many match-winners, but the key on Sunday could be breaking New Zealand down for the first time. Hence, Xavi’s creative presence in midfield will be vital and he will be hoping to provide some good balls for the front men.
PREDICTION
Spain starts the match as clear favourites and rightly so against opposition ranked 82 places below them in the world rankings. The earlier they can score the first goal the easier it should be for them and even though New Zealand will be determined, they should be no match for the European champions.
New Zealand 0-4 Spain
James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com
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