The first cycle of group play in the FIFA World Cup comes to a close on Wednesday with all four Group H teams in action, Spain taking on Ukraine at 8:55 a.m. ET (ESPN2) and Saudi Arabia facing Tunisia three hours later (also on ESPN2). Then Cup hosts Germany start the second series of matches in the groups when they face neighbors Poland in Dortmund.
Spain finally get a chance to get the ball rolling in Leipzig, facing a Ukraine team looking for a result in its first-ever World Cup match. But just because the Eastern Europeans are new on the world stage doesn't mean they don't have the talent to make an impact. In fact, they were the first team apart from the hosts to secure passage to the World Cup, topping a difficult Group 2 that also included Denmark, European champions Greece and a Turkey team that finished third in the World Cup four years ago.
Ukraine also boasts one of the most deadly strikers in the world in Andrei Shevchenko, a new arrival to London's Chelsea FC after a stunning career at AC Milan. However, "Sheva," as he is known, has been battling a knee injury and it remains to be seen if he will be in the starting 11.
Shevchenko isn't the only lethal striker that will be on the field; Spain has several of their own, as well, including Real Madrid legend Raul. Arsenal striker Jose Antonio Reyes is also a danger and could start, especially since Spain coach Luis Aragones often lines his side up in a 4-3-3 formation. Spain is looking to break their World Cup curse in Germany, having never advanced to the final in the competition.
In Wednesday's matinee, Tunisia, the only African side returning to the World Cup for a second consecutive appearance, will face a Saudi side that coasted through qualifying with an undefeated record in 12 games (10-0-2). Saudi Arabia scored 24 goals during that run while only allowing two. They will be looking to veteran goalkeeper Mohammed Al Deayea to keep things tight in the back in his fourth World Cup appearance.
Tunisia, which qualified for the World Cup by winning Group 5 in Africa (and knocking out rivals Morocco), will have to face the Saudis without their top goal scorer, Francileudo dos Santos. The Brazilian-born striker, who has 18 goals in 28 matches for the 'Carthage Eagles,' has a shin injury that will keep him sidelined. He could be ready to play for Tunisia's second match on June 19 against Spain.
Hosts Germany can all but assure itself a spot in the knockout round with three points against rivals Poland in the day's last encounter. After netting four goals in the tournament opener, Jurgen Klinsmann's side has already proven to be dangerous on the attack. Miroslav Klose, who scored five times in the World Cup four years ago, already has two to his name and will be looking to add more. Perhaps more importantly for Germany, team captain Michael Ballack is expected to make his first appearance in the tournament after missing the opener due to a right calf injury.
Poland was disappointing in its tournament opener, a 2-0 loss to Ecuador. The side needs a positive result to avoid the same result they produced four years ago in Korea/Japan, where it was mathematically eliminated from second round contention after dropping both of their first two games. All is not lost for the Poles, though, as they have a strong history in tournaments in Germany. In 1974 they produced a third-place finish in Germany, though they will need to create more offensively than they were able in a lackluster effort last Friday.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
