Saudi Arabia v Spain - Preview

Paqueta defiant as Casillas calls for goals

Spain's Iker Casillas has called for a confidence-building show of strength when they face Saudi Arabia in their final Group H match on Friday.

Spain, who have notched up two convincing wins over Ukraine (4-0) and Tunisia (3-1), are looking to secure the minimum-required draw to top their group and secure a second round date with the runner-up in Group G.

That could lead to a clash with either France, Switzerland or South Korea.

And while that prospect holds little fear for Casillas, the 25-year-old Real Madrid keeper is adamant the Saudis' tag as the group's whipping boys should not hold them back.

"We shouldn't be scared of playing either France or South Korea now, but it's important for us to win against Saudi Arabia," he said after Spain overturned their 1-0 first half deficit to Tunisia in style Monday.

While Spain's peformances have put them on the road to the quarter-finals, which they have failed to get past in 56 years, the Saudis have only just atoned for their past World Cup disaster.

The Sons of the Desert arrived with the unforgettable memory of their 8-0 defeat to Germany at the last World Cup still lingering.

In their first Group match Marcos Paqueta's side moved quickly to shed their reputation, taking a 2-1 lead over Tunisia in the second half before Roger Lemerre's side snatched an injury-time equaliser.

Against Ukraine, the Saudis fell victim to a team still smarting from a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Spain - and they paid the price.

However ahead of another potential mauling by Spain, Brazilian Paqueta, who speaks to his players through a Portuguese-Arabic translator, is defiant.

"I'm a fighter. I look at life like a challenge. Problems are for men, challenges for warriors.

"I try to do the most I can and prepare myself for that."

Paqueta was eager to praise his team after the 4-0 Ukraine drubbing, saying they had gone some way to erasing the disastrous showing at the 2002 World Cup.

"We suffered the same fate Ukraine did against Spain, two goals in the first-half and another right at the start of the second-half that created havoc.

"But the team did not give up and fought until the end," the Brazilian said. "I'm at ease and have peace of mind because we did our utmost.

"We knew we had two difficult games against Ukraine and Spain, but in life you have to have hope in everything and be positive right to the end.

"The most important thing is that the players showed they were committed and eliminated the image of its last World Cup participation.

"We now have to concentrate on the Spain game. We have to focus all our efforts on that," he said.

Teams

Saudi Arabia

Mabrouk Zaid, Ahmed Dokhi, Redha Tuker, Hamad al-Montashari, Abdulaziz Khathran, Hussein Sulimani, Mohammed Noor, Saud Kariri, Khaled Aziz, Sami al-Jaber (capt), Saad al-Harthi: Coach: Marcos Paqueta

Spain

Santiago Canizares, Michel Salgado, Juanito, Carlos Marchena, Antonio Lopez, Cesc Fabregas, David Albelda, Andres Iniesta, Joaquin, Raul (capt), Jose Antonio Reyes: Coach: Luis Aragones

Referee

Coffi Codjia (BEN)