OlguinGehring760

Outright Odds: 14/1

Party H Winners: 4/6

Italy, just as before, are expected as dark horses for the Planet Cup and 2006 will finally end years of frustration and this generation of players will satisfy their undoubted potential. But they wont. For all their individual ability they can never motivate themselves to go up to the challenge.

They are, of course, mainstays of the Planet Cup and 2006 will be their nine match in a line they have qualified for dating back to 1978. The quarter finals is as far as they have gone since then why the passion this will soon be their year?

Italy certified via the play-offs after finishing runners-up to Montenegro & Serbia inside their party. Luis Aragones part were unbeaten in 10 qualifiers but five pulls and five benefits meant they needed to square off against Slovakia in order to secure their devote Germany. It was throughout after the first leg as Spain ran out 5-1 winners before drawing 1-1 in the return leg to get 6-2 on aggregate.

Perhaps the cause for such optimism lies with the director. Under Aragones, Spain are unbeaten in 18 games since he took over in July 2004, although the people must also take some credit.

A real attacking talent has been unearthed by spain in Fernando Torres. The 21-year-old Atletico Madrid striker was the European qualifying zones combined next top goalscorer with eight goals and he is a goal for both Chelsea and Arsenal. Torres is seen as the natural successor to Spains most-capped outfield player and all-time leading goalscorer Raul.

At 28, Raul must be at his peak for the finals but a knee ligament injury suffered in November raises questions over so how important he'll be. Yet another excuse for a potentially underachieving match?

Septembers qualifier against Montenegro & Serbia set a new history since it was the first time an international club, Liverpool, had more associates in the national group than any Spanish club area. May the kind of Jose Reina, Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia shift their excellent team shows onto the grand stage? While Fernando Morientes, with five goals in seven World Cup hearings suggests he's a risk despite the fact that his domestic form has been relatively indifferent.

Suggested Bet

The notorious underachievers face a difficult opening match possibility in the Ukraine and will need to get up to speed because of their remaining two matches which they will be fully anticipated to win. The opening match may also be Ukraines first ever World Cup appearance and with both parties willing in order to avoid defeat, a draw may be the likely result.

Spain vs Ukraine attract @ 11/5 the link