Sunday, June 4 2006

MADRID: Raul Gonzalez may be destined to spend more of the World Cup on the bench than on the field.

Labouring under poor form and an increased threat from younger strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa, the Spanish captain is no longer assured of a place in the starting lineup.

It’s been a tough season for the national team’s all-time leading scorer, who has 42 goals in 92 internationals.

Last November, the Real Madrid striker suffered his worst ever injury — damaging his left knee cap, external meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament in a league game with FC Barcelona.

Since his return to fitness in February, Raul has struggled to make Madrid’s first team, fuelling suggestions that he is in decline.

While Spain coach Luis Aragones has denied that he will omit Raul from his 23-man squad, describing the 28-year-old striker as “fundamental,” he hinted it was “possible” Raul wouldn’t be picked on current form.

Raul, who is also the second highest scorer in the Champions League with 51 goals in 101 matches, said he hopes for an upturn in his fortunes before the tournament kicks off on June 9.

“All I know that I will try to get back to my best at least to be able to lend a hand,” Raul told sports daily As in March.

“I suffered an injury which left me unsure whether I was going to play again this season. Now I feel very good.”

Raul has received support from Torres.

“With Raul on the field, we feel more secure,” the Atletico Madrid forward said. “Raul is our leader. There’s no doubt.

Because he’s the captain and because he has shown when he gets criticised, when things aren’t going right for him, the important matches arrive and he always appears.”

Torres could have been thinking of the World Cup qualifier with Serbia-Montenegro last September when Raul’s headed goal earned his team a 1-1 draw and led Aragones to say “he almost won the match single-handed.”

Raul, who in 2001 was runner-up for the European “Player of the Year” award and third place in the “World Player of the Year,” said Spain has a good chance of improving on their disappointments of past tournaments.

“We will be strong. It’s a great moment for us to give our all. This could be Spain’s World Cup,” the striker said.

Raul made his Spanish league debut at 17 in 1994 and debuted for the national team two years later.

His prolific scoring and determination helped Madrid lift three Champions Leagues and four Spanish league titles, but his goal tally has fallen each season since Madrid last won a trophy in 2002-03.

Spain plays in Group “H” with Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. (AP)