Raul (right) - struggling to be fit (Allsport)
RAUL WORRY FOR SPAIN
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Raul will only play against South Korea in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final
if he is 100% fit, claims Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho.
The Spain and Real Madrid hitman has been struggling all week since the
recurrence of a groin injury in the second-round win over the Republic of
Ireland on Sunday.
Raul missed training three days running and although he joined in with his
team-mates today at Spain's Ulsan base, he was still limping.
Raul, who has scored three goals during this World Cup, is vital to Spain's
hopes of reaching the semi-finals but Camacho is adamant he will not take any
risks with his fitness.
Camacho, who is definitely without David Albelda who has an inflamed testicle,
does not want to risk aggravating Raul's injury and perhaps lose him for the
rest of the tournament.
"If he and the doctor say he is 100 0.000000it he'll play, if not he won't play
because we're not thinking about playing only one game," said Camacho.
"Raul is important for us when he plays, but not when he doesn't play. We'll
wait until the last moment and if he isn't fit, obviously we'll change some
players.
"Whoever plays will try and qualify without thinking if he is there or
not."
Camacho played down fears the passionate home support might influence
Saturday's referee to favour the home side.
Camacho admits the decisions in South Korea's last two games against Portugal
and Italy have gone the way of the co-hosts, but claims this does not worry
him.
He acknowledges Guus Hiddink's side have worked hard and played some good
football.
"Up to now, all of the teams that have faced them have logically had bad
luck, but we hope we won't have any," he said.
"Korea are helped by the fact they are hosts and have fans that push them
onwards. They run lots and they have some quality. That is why they have got
past teams like Portugal and Italy.
"We're going to have everything against us, but we have players to get
through. If we lose, it will because they were better than us."
Camacho also dismissed Hiddink's claim that Spain have an advantage because
they have had two more days to rest and prepare for the game.
He countered that Hiddink's players have not had to play a gruelling European
season and he said: "They're prepared for it.
"They have prepared specially for the World Cup, knowing they would go a long
way and they were correct.
"Also they haven't had the long season that others have had."
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