Spain find it tough

ByEurosport

Published 23/06/2006 at 13:59 GMT

Spain grabbed their third win of the tournament so far with a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Friday to finish as winners of Group H and progress into the last sixteen, but Luis Aragones' side were made to work hard for the victory, winning by a solitary

FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup Saudi Arabia-Spain Juanito

Image credit: Reuters

In truth, the Spaniards never looked like losing the game, but they could, and should, have won it by a greater margin.

FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup Saudi Arabia-Spain

Image credit: dpa

A combination of poor finishing a brilliant goalkeeping were the reasons for the unconvincing scoreline, although Aragones is unlikely to be too concerned, considering he made eleven changes to the side which beat Tunisia in the last game.

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Raul was recalled and given a starting place, but the captain failed to get on the scoresheet and was substituted at half time, Aragones preferring to give David Villa a run out.

JOAQUIN ON FIRE

One player to impress and further his claim for a starting place in the next round match-up against either France, South Korea or Switzerland however, was Joaquin.

FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup Spain Saudi Arabia-Spain Joaquín

Image credit: Reuters

The Real Betis winger tormented the Saudi defence during the first half and was only denied getting on the scoresheet by the brilliance of Mabrouk Zaid in the Saudi goal.

Zaid performed heroically, and if it were not for him, Marcos Paqueta's side would surely have gone in four or five down at half time. He pulled off further saves to deny David Albelda and Jose Antonio Reyes to keep his side in with a chance.

SAUDIS PEGGED BACK

The Saudis barely made it out of their own half during the opening 45 minutes, but Spain had problems in making their dominance of possession count, waiting until the 36th minute for a breakthrough.

FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup Saudi Arabia-Spain Raul Juanito

Image credit: Reuters

The goal came from a perfectly delivered Reyes free kick which the Arsenal man whipped into the centre for Juanito to rise unmarked and thump home a powerful header.

Spain's profligacy in front of goal continued in the opening stages of the second half, and before too long, the Saudis imposed themselves, and began to play the ball around nicely.

Indeed, the underdogs could have even nicked a goal as defender Hussein Sulaimani twice forced Santiago Canizares into action midway through the half.

SAUDIS CAN BE PROUD

But it was not to be a famous victory for the Saudis, but they can head home with their heads held high.

FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup Saudi Arabia-Spain Bench

Image credit: dpa

Spain, for their part, cruise into the last sixteen, and with their strength in depth, remain a force to be reckoned with.

"The game didn't have a lot of importance because we had already qualified but it was a chance for the other players to impress," goalscorer Juanito said.

"We all did the best we could and I was pleased with my performance because it isn't every day you can score a goal in a World Cup," he added.

"NOT EASY OPPONENTS"

Aragones recognised his own team's limitations in the second half, whilst praising the Saudis for their battling performance.

FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup Saudi Arabia-Spain Aragones

Image credit: dpa

"We played well enough in the first half but lost too many balls too easily in the second when we took it a little easy.

"But they were not easy opponents. They made it difficult for us."

Man-of-the-match: Mabrouk Zaid - the 'keeper's performance was nothing short of heroic, and if it were not for his saves, the Saudis could well have been looking at a similar scoreline to the 8-0 reverse against Germany they suffered at the last World Cup.