Spain will seek to extend their two-year unbeaten run in Group H opener against World Cup debutants Ukraine in Leipzig on Wednesday.

Spain's last defeat came on 22 June 2004, when they were edged 1-0 by hosts Portugal at Euro 2004. Since then, Spain have enjoyed a 22-match unbeaten run.

In previous World Cup matches, Spain and Brazil hold the longest running unbeaten streak of seven matches, with four wins and three draws for Spain, and seven wins for Brazil.

Spain's best performance in World Cup came in 1950 when they finished fourth. In 2002, they reached the quarter-finals but lostto co-hosts South Korea 5-3 on penalties (regular time 0-0, extra time 0-0).

Like Brazil and Argentina, Spain play artistic football and are strong in their traditional 4-4-2 attacking formation. Coach Luis Aragones had tried 4-3-3 formation in pre-World Cup warm-ups but the results were not impressive.

Spain are expected to return to 4-4-2 and focus on attacking towin with more goals than their opponents.

Taking on Ukraine, Spain captain Raul from Real Madrid may start on the bench, with Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid and David Villa from Valencia likely to start up front.

It was not a major surprise when Villa was picked for this Spain squad, claiming the final striking berth ahead of the more experienced and out of form Fernando Morientes.

With plenty of pace, determination and skill in abundance, he made his name with Real Zaragoza, but it was only when he secured a switch to Valencia that he was able to show the full array of his talents to a wider audience.

Villa has regularly been linked with moves to a host of big name clubs and would be more sought after if he shines in the World Cup.

However, Raul is by far Spain's most experienced international player. His 95 caps are second all-time to Andoni Zubizarreta's 126. His 43 international goals are an all-time record for Spain.

Cesc Fabregas, 19, could become Spain's youngest player ever at the World Cup. That is more than one year younger than record holder Julen Guerrero who was 20 years old on 17 June 1994 when he figured in Spain's 2-2 draw with South Korea.

Ukraine, one of six debutants at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, are also trying to make history once and again and they are really tough opponents to any finalists.

Ukraine reached the World Cup finals by winning European Qualifying Group Two, leaving Turkey, Denmark and European Champions Greece behind them.

Ukraine have played five friendly matches in 2006 and kept five clean sheets. They whitewashed Costa Rica 4-0, crushed Libya 3-0, routed Luxembourg 3-0 and fought to a scoreless tie with both Azerbaijan and Italy.

Andriy Shevchenko was the top marksman in his country's World Cup qualification campaign with six goals.

European Footballer of the Year in 2004 and since leaving Dynamo Kiev for AC Milan in 1999, Shevchenko has twice been Italian first division leading marksman.

Ukraine's captain and undisputed team leader, Shevchenko won his first full cap aged just 18 against Croatia in April 1995, having broken into the Dynamo Kiev first team less than a year earlier.

However, Shevchenko injured his knee playing for AC Milan against Parma in early May. He faces a late fitness test despite returning as a substitute last week. If Shevchenko misses out, Sergei Rebrov could partner Olexiy Belik in attack.

Rebrov is Ukraine's all-time most capped player with 70 caps.

Spain and Ukraine have met each other twice before. The two countries were in the same qualification group for Euro 2004 in Portugal.

On 29 March 2003, Ukraine drew 2-2 at home, with goals from Andrii Voronin and Oleksandr Horshkov, while Raul and Joseba Etxebarria found the net for Spain. The Spaniards won the reverse fixture on 10 September 2003, when Raul (two) and Andrei Shevchenko were the scorers.