"Of course, with Shevchenko we have one team and without him it is quite another team."

Ukraine is a real threat with a fit Shevchenko. In European qualifying, the team won a group that contained European champion Greece, 2002 World Cup semifinalist Turkey, and Denmark.

Blokhin calls Spain the favorite, downplaying his team's chances.

"We will therefore work out two strategies — one for playing Spain and another for playing Saudi Arabia and Tunisia," he said.

Don't underestimate Tunisia. The club may lack some tactical savvy, but there is talent in midfielder-defender David Jemmali, midfielder Hatem Trabelsi and defenders Karim Saidi and Rahdi Jaidi.

Coach Roger Lemerre's attack is led by Ziad Jaziri and Brazilian-born striker Francileudo Santos.

Lemerre led France to the 2000 European championship, and took Tunisia to the African continental crown four years later.

"We are fortunate enough to be playing the Saudis in the first game," Jammali said. "If we get off to a good start in that match, it could put us on the road to qualifying."

Saudi Arabia is the likely tailender in the group and lacks a single player on the 23-man roster who plays in a top European league. However, surprises happen: In 1994 in the United States, the Saudis reached the second round.

Coach Marcos Paqueta's team is led by defender Hamad Al-Montasheri, the Asian player of the year. Captain and midfielder Sami Al-Jaber and goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Deayea — the world's most experienced international player — also are seasoned at this level.

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Group H

Saudi Arabia

FIFA World Ranking: 34

Coach: Marcos Paqueta

2006 qualifying: Undefeated in two Asia qualifying stages, 10-2-0

2002 Finish: Eliminated in group play

Key Players: Mabrouk Zaid (Al-Ittihad/Saudi Arabia), Yasser al-Qahtani (Al-Hilal/Saudi Arabia)