GERMANY: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Spanish and Ukrainian fans in Leipzig ahead of their countries World Cup match

Record ID: 664887

  • Title: GERMANY: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Spanish and Ukrainian fans in Leipzig ahead of their countries World Cup match
  • Date: 14th June 2006
  • Summary: WIDE: SPANISH FANS CROSSING STREET WALKING TOWARDS CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED SPANISH FAN, SAYING: "Well, I think we are going to win today because we are strong, we have very good players like Fabregas and Torres. We are going to win."
  • Embargoed: 29th June 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA9F37DK552WF5RLWLY71J74CMU
  • Story Text: Soccer fans from Spain and Ukraine gathered in Leipzig, Germany on Wednesday (June 14) ahead of the Group H opening match.
    The two nations breathed a sigh of relief when they were drawn alongside Tunisia and Saudi Arabia for the World Cup. On paper the two European sides are strong favourites to claim the top two places and a passport into the knockout round, leaving the other two teams to scrap it out for the minor places.
    "Well, I think we are going to win today because we are strong, we have very good players like Fabregas and Torres. We are going to win," said one Spanish fan making his way to the stadium.
    But Ukraine qualified for their first ever World Cup with a spectacular campaign in which they saw off Euro 2004 winners Greece, 2002 World Cup semifinalists Turkey and former European champions Denmark.
    Their primary weakness, however, is seen as their likely overdependence the team's one truly world-class player, Andriy Shevchenko who goes to the finals just days after joining English champions Chelsea.
    "Zero-zero would be too good for us. Spanish weather. We face Spanish weather," said one Ukrainian fan.
    Spain, however, are notoriously poor starters at World Cups, their 3-1 win over Slovenia in four years ago being their only opening-match victory in nine attempts.
    The opening group match in Leipzig is the likely group decider, but both teams will do well not to underestimate their other opponents.
    Whoever loses though will have to ensure maximum points in their second game with Spain facing Tunisia in Stuttgart on June 19 and Ukraine meeting the Saudis in Hamburg on the same day.
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