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Spain coach Aragones aims for history against Canada [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
Spain coach Luis Aragones will make history if his side avoid defeat in their friendly at home to Canada on Saturday.
The Spain boss has yet to taste defeat in his 12 games in charge and if his side do not lose to the Canadians, they will beat the previous unbeaten start to a managerial reign set by Jose Antonio Camacho.
However, statistics can be misleading as although Aragones has yet to suffer defeat, his reign has seen a series of disappointing results and performances.
Scoreless draws away to Lithuania and Serbia & Montenegro, as well as failure to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina on two occasions, mean Saturday's game is little more than a prelude to Wednesday's crucial World Cup qualifier against Serbia & Montenegro.
Failure to beat them in the Vicente Calderon stadium would be a terrible blow for Spain as it could put them out of the running for the automatic qualification spot for next summer's finals, and defeat for Aragones' men in Belgium in October would even see them miss out on a playoff spot.
Aragones is expected to use Saturday's game to experiment, as he continues to struggle to find a formula to turn Spain's football into goals.
Although Raul and Fernando Morientes are expected to form the attacking partnership next week, neither impressed in the recent 2-0 win over Uruguay.
That could see Aragones give a chance to Fernando Torres and Raul Tamudo to stake a claim against Canada, while Albert Luque will also start on the left of midfield ahead of the in-form Vicente Rodriguez.
Antonio Lopez could also start at left back, while Pablo Orbaiz starts in central midfield.
Nevertheless, almost everyone is focussed on Wednesday's game as goalkeeper Iker Casillas, back in the side after a thigh injury proved.
"We are working well together and although we have to play Canada, everything is designed so that we are in the best possible form against the Serbs," he said.
"We are going to play an important game and the moment of truth has arrived. Everyone knows just what is at stake and nobody should doubt that we are going o give it everything," added Casillas, who was unconcerned that such an important game has arrived after only one game in the Spanish season.
"It means we can play with our batteries fully charged. We have rested all (northern) summer, worked well in pre-season and now we have all our strength to play at full pace."
PA Sport
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