Pressure on Raul as Spain begin countdown

Question marks over the form of Spain's record goal-scoring captain Raul(L), seen here talking with national coach Luis Aragones during practice, continued to feed the concerns of the country's press.

Question marks over the form of Spain's record goal-scoring captain Raul continued to feed the concerns of the country's press.

Group H favourites Spain begin their World Cup campaign on Wednesday when they take on Ukraine in Leipzig.

However, coach Luis Aragones is keeping everyone guessing as to who will partner Atletico Madrid striker, Fernando Torres.

Real Madrid's Raul, who has scored a record 43 goals for Spain, should be given the nod although his build-up to the World Cup was hampered by five-month injury lay-off this season.

Spain's talented mix of youth and experience, characterised by the likes of Arsenal duo Antonio Reyes and Cesc Fabregas, suggests they have the best chance of surpassing the quarter-final stages for the first time since 1950.

And if Raul fails to live up to expectations in Wednesday's Group H opener against the Andriy Shevchenko inspired Ukraine, Aragones could be forced to make a switch.

The 67-year-old coach has said in recent weeks he will stand by Raul.

However Valencia's David Villa - the second highest scorer in the Primera Liga this season behind Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o - is knocking on the door for his chance at a regular place in the starting line-up.

And some believe Aragones should make sweeping changes.

Question marks over the form of Spain's record goal-scoring captain Raul, seen here at a practice session, continued to feed the concerns of the country's press.

Former Brazil striker Tostao, who won the World Cup in 1970, said Thursday that Spain's only chances of making it to the semi-final stages and beyond would be if Aragones left out Raul as well as a few other veterans.

"If Spain's technical staff have the courage to put their trust in some of the younger elements of the team they could go all the way - and win the World Cup," he told AS newspaper.

"If they don't want to get eliminated at the quarter-finals stage as usual, Spain should do without Raul and some of the older generation."

On paper, Spain should have it takes to top a group which is completed by Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

And some in the country, including prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, are practically predicting a Group H whitewash.

"I bet we're going to get past the quarter-finals. The team is strong and balanced - this time, it's going to happen," said Zapatero, who predicted a 2-0 win over Ukraine, a 3-1 victory over Tunisia and a 3-0 whitewash of Saudi Arabia.

Zapatero, a supporter of recent European champions Barcelona, showed some support for Spain's under-fire captain Raul.

However he did admit that it was Barca's midfielder Andres Iniesta who would play the key role for his "ability to organise the attacking game."

Spain's second match in Group H is against Tunisia in Stuttgart on June 19. They round off their first stage campaign - in what they hope will yield their first ever World Cup title - against Saudi Arabia in Kaiserslautern on June 23.