WORLD CUP GAME TIPS: SPAIN V UKRAINE BETTING ODDS PREVIEW

Ukraine will look to get their first World Cup off to a great start as they take on group favorites Spain in Leipzig on Wednesday in Group H.

For manager Luis Aragonés, he will start with three men up front, but Raúl will start on the bench with David Villa joining Fernando Torres and Luis García up front. Mariano Pernía, who scored on his debut last week, will likely start at left-back.

For the debutants led by Soviet legend Oleg Blokhin, it is yet unknown whether striker Andriy Shevchenko will be fit enough to start from the opening whistle.

The new Chelsea striker says he is good to go from the outset, but Olexiy Bielik is set to go in his place if he is unable to go.

Facts:

Spain have not lost under Luis Aragonés, a streak that spans their last 22 international matches. Their last loss was at Euro 2004 against Portugal when they failed to get out of the group stage.

Ukraine will be looking to be just the second of the six first-time World Cup participants to earn a point in their first match. Côte d'Ivoire, Angola, Ghana and Togo all lost while Trinidad & Tobago earned a draw.

Head to head:

The only two meetings between the two nations came in qualification for Euro 2004 with the first match in Kiev finishing 2-2 and the return in Madrid ending 2-1 in favor of Spain.

Probable line-ups:

Spain: Casillas, Ramos, Puyol, Ibáñez, Pernía, Senna, Alonso, Xavi, Luis García, Torres, Villa.

Ukraine: Shovkovskiy, Yezerskiy, Rusol, Vashchyuk, Nesmanchniy, Husin, Tymoschuk, Shelayev, Rotan, Rebrov, Shevchenko.