Spaniards desperate to start on a winning note

			Venue: Faro-Loule, Algarve Stadium Kick-off time: 00-15 a.m. Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland) SPAIN Coach: Inaki Saez World ranking: 3 Average age of squad: 26 Most capped player: Raul (72) Leading scorer in squad: Raul (38) RUSSIA Coach: Georgy Yartsev World ranking: 31 Average age of squad: 26 Most capped player: Alexander Mostovoi (64) Leading scorer in squad: A Mostovoi (13) Story continues below this ad LAST MEETING (Friendly) Sept 23, 1998 at Granada (Spain) RESULT Spain 1(Bitor Alkiza) Russia 0 HEAD TO HEAD PLAYED: 6 Spain 3; Russia 1; Draw 2

Spain need victory from their Euro 2004 debut against Russia in Group A on Saturday to avoid unwanted complications and make a convincing case for a first major title for 40 years. Spain’s only moment of glory came when they beat the Soviet Union to win the European Championship in 1964.

Since the group stage was introduced at the finals in 1980, they have only once managed to win their opening game, in 1988, and the players are anxious to shrug off their reputation as slow starters. Spain certainly cannot afford a repeat of Euro 2000, when they lost their opening game against Norway and were lucky to sneak through with wins over Slovenia and Yugoslavia.

Spain have at least remained free of serious injuries since Michel Salgado was forced to pull out, with just slight niggles for David Albelda and Ivan Helguera. Russia, who as the Soviet Union won the first European Championship in 1960 and reached three more finals, have more to worry about after injury accounted for first-choice central defenders Viktor Onopko and Sergei Ignashevich. Left back Dmitry Sennikov has a pulled thigh muscle but is expected to start, while playmaker Dmitry Loskov is nursing a leg injury.

Russia will also be without Yegor Titov who failed a drugs test after the first leg of the playoff against Wales and coach Georgy Yartsev is aware of the task his patched-up side face. Yartsev said, “Raul and Morientes are known worldwide and their midfielders are very good with the ball. We only have a chance if we play disciplined and highly organised football.’’