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FRANCE, HOLLAND, SPAIN AND PORTUGAL
World Cup football 2006 home page
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Cup football 2002 home page Champions in the World Cup 1998 and at Euro 2000, France surprisingly did not get beyond the group stage in 2002. They have got many experienced players now and if their striker Thierry Henry (Arsenal) has a good tournament, they could win the World Cup again. Djibril Cisse (Liverpool) was the top scorer in qualifying with four goals but he broke his leg playing in the 3-1 win over China on 7 June 2006 so Henry's partner in attack is likely to be David Trezeguet (Juventus). Midfielder Frank Ribery (Marseille) has done well in the warm up games and could make the starting line up instead of Florent Malouda. The French first team is probably Barthez (Marseilles, goalkeeper), Sagnol (Bayern Munich, right back), Thuram (Juventus, defender), Gallas (Chelsea, defender), Abidal (Lyon, left back), Viera (Juventus, midfield), Makelele (Chelsea, midfield), Zidane (Real Madrid, midfield), Malouda (Lyon, midfield), Henry (Arsenal, forward), Trezeguet (Juventus, forward) HOLLAND Holland had a tough 1-1 draw with Australia on 4 June 2006 and Sneijder, Cocu and Van Bronkhorst were all injured in the game. All three players are returning to fitness and may play in Holland's first World Cup game against Serbia and Montenegro. Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored against Australia and Robin Van Persie is likely to start with him in attack after a good performance too. The Dutch also have to play Argentina and the Ivory Coast (Africans nations cup runners up to Egypt) in the group stage and will have to be at their best to progress. The first team when fit may well be Van der Sar (Manchester United, goalkeeper), Kromkamp (Liverpool, right back), Mathijsen (AK Alkmaar, defender), Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven, defender), Van Bronckhorst (Barcelona, left back), Cocu (PSV Eindhoven, midfield), Sneijder (Ajax, midfield), Van Bommel (Barcelona, midfield), Robben (Chelsea, midfield), Van Nistelrooy (Manchester United, forward), Van Persie (Arsenal, attack) SPAIN Spain have a very good team at the World Cup 2006 and should be strong enough to win their group (which also has Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia in it). Spain beat Croatia 2-1 in their last warm up game on 7 June 2006 with goals from Mariano Pernia (left back) and Fernando Torres (attacker). Previously they beat Egypt 2-0 with goals from Raul (attacker) and Reyes (midfield). They could have a midfield from Liverpool and Arsenal with Luis Garcia, Alonso, Fabregas and Reyes in the squad. Albelda (Valencia), Xavi (Barcelona), Senna (Villarreal) and Joaquin (Real Betis) will also be competing for a midfield place. Their strongest team is difficult to pick but could be Casillas (Real Madrid, goalkeeper), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid, right back), Pablo (Atletico Madrid, defender), Puyol (Barcelona, defender), Lopez (Atletico Madrid, left back), Luis Garcia (Liverpool, midfield), Alonso (Liverpool, midfield), Fabregas (Arsenal, midfield), Reyes (Arsenal, midfield), Raul (Real Madrid, forward), Torres (Atletico Madrid, forward) PORTUGAL Portugal beat England at Euro 2004 and made it to the final of that competition before losing 1-0 to Greece. They still have their coach Felipe Scolari who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002. Like Spain, Portugal have a strong midfield with Deco (Barcelona) in the heart of midfield. Portugal's last warm up game was against Luxembourg who were beaten 3-0 with two goals from Sambrosa and a late goal from Figo. The Portuguese team could be Ricardo (Sporting Lisbon, goalkeeper), Miguel (Valencia, right back), Carvalho (Chelsea, defender), Meira (Stuttgart, defender), Caneira (Valencia, left back), Petit (Benefica, midfield), Maniche (Chelsea, midfield), Deco (Barcelona, midfield), Figo (Internazionale, winger), Ronaldo (Manchester United, winger), Pauleta (Paris St Germain, attacker)
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