THIS COULD be one of the ties of the group stages with Nigeria's flair up against Spanish skills and organisation. Self-belief as much as skill will determine how far Spain and Nigeria go in France 98 and Saturday's opening Group D game should demonstrate whether either team can be considered major players in this World Cup. There is plenty of evidence to suggest Spain are ready to abandon their customary role of under-achievers at major championships, while Nigeria were unlucky not to reach the last eight four years ago and remain the most likely African threat, although Morocco might yet push them close. Sitting back and allowing the Olympic champions too much space is definitely not an attractive option and the onus is on the Spaniards to show they have grafted a cutting edge on to their traditional defensive strength. In this respect 20-year-old Real Madrid striker Raul is a key figure while Barcelona's Luis Enrique, who scored a hatful of goals in the Spanish league last season, will be looking to repay coach Javier Clemente's faith in him. Only one side - the Faroe Islands in a 6-2 defeat - have put two goals past the indomitable Andoni Zubizarreta in any competitive fixture in the past two years and Chelsea's new signing Albert Ferrer wants his team mates to concentrate on the basics initially, and that means keeping the Nigerians out. "I think the first match is always decisive," he said, well aware of the reaction back in Spain if Nigeria should win. "It will be very important for us to win this match." Clemente, largely untroubled by injuries in the build-up, is equally wary. "We start with a real match. When you play a big team, the players put more into it, they are more motivated. It's like getting Juve in the European Cup draw. You sit up." Nigeria are less of an unknown quantity than they were in USA 94 - "I've seen them some 14 times. We've seen them everywhere and from all angles," revealed Clemente - when they were only beaten by Italian Roberto Baggio's extra-time winner. Their recent friendly form has been distinctly mixed and the knee injury which kept striker Daniel Amokachi out of training at the start of the week is merely the latest hiccup. African player of the year Victor Ikpeba has had to apologise this week for criticising the team's preparations. The Monaco striker said he might quit the side after the tournament because he was fed up with being sidelined, played out of position and told off for talking to the press. Political uncertainty at home - Nigeria will be allowed to wear black armbands following the death of their country's military leader General Sani Abacha - has ruffled the Super Eagles' composure too. Coach Bora Milutinovic concedes his side are likely to tone down their adventurous tactics of four years ago. "We've lost friendlies and we've played badly, but I think we're now in better psychological shape," he said. "We played Yugoslavia, Germany and the Dutch and although it did not go ideally, at the same time we know where we are. I prefer to go into a World Cup like this, knowing we have to fight for 90 minutes. Spain have an excellent team but they are not perfect." PROBABLE TEAMS: Spain: 1-Andoni Zubizarreta; 2-Albert Ferrer, 6-Fernando Hierro, 20-Miguel Angel Nadal, 12-Sergi; 18-Guillermo Amor, 8-Julien Guerrero, 21-Luis Enrique, 10-Raul, 19-Kiko, 11-Alfonso Nigeria: 1-Peter Rufai; 17-Augustine Eguavoen, 3-Celestine Babayaro, 5-Uche Okechukwu, 6-Taribo West; 7-Finidi George, 8-Mutiu Adepoju, 15-Sunday Oliseh, 10-Jay-Jay Okocha, 4-Nwankwo Kanu, 20-Viktor Ikpeba

GROUP E KICKS OFF: THE DAY'S OTHER MATCHES   KOREA v MEXICO, Lyon, 4.30pm This battle of the outsiders gives South Korea their best chance to shed the World Cup finals' most unwanted record - 10 matches without a win. Neither side can hope for much joy from games against Holland and Belgium. Mexico have been abysmal in the warm-ups and face opponents itching for a victory which would start their 2002 bandwagon rolling. "This is our fourth successive World Cup but we have never won a match, so for that reason the game against Mexico is a decisive one for us," said Cho Chung-yun, head of delegation and general secretary of the South Korean association. Mexico are not going to roll over, though. Striker Francisco Palencia said they aimed to grab the Koreans, specialists in the art of counter-attack, by the throat from the onset. "We're going out to win. We're not going to speculate on any draws. We're going to try to blow Korea away and be the only side on the field," he insisted. PROBABLE TEAMS: Mexico - 22-Oscar Perez, 3-Joel Sanchez, 18-Salvador Carmona, 4-German Villa, 16-Isaac Terrazas, 6-Marcelino Bernal, 9-Ricardo Pelaez, 14-Raoul Lara, 11-Cuauhtemoc Blanco, 10-Luis Garcia, 15-Luis Hernandez. South Korea - 1-Kim Byung-ji, 13-Kim Tae-young, 5-Lee Min-sung, 20-Hong Myung-bo, 12-Lee Sang-hun, 15-Lee Sang-yoon, 7-Kim Do-keun, 6-Yoo Sang-chul, 2-Choi Sung-yong; 10-Choi Yong-soo, 18-Hwang Sun-hong HOLLAND v BELGIUM, St Denis, 8pm The Dutch, scorers of 10 goals in their last two games, meet a side thirsting for revenge after their humiliation in the World Cup qualifying competition. Belgium lost twice to their neighbours in qualifying, but coach Georges Leekens insists he is already looking past the Dutch game to Mexico a week later. "I've always said Mexico, Mexico, Mexico - ever since the World Cup draw, he insisted. If we beat Mexico and South Korea, we qualify for the second round. For his part Guus Hiddink is having a hard time convincing an ebullient public that his side is not a dead cert for round two. The Dutch coach admitted: The Belgians are much cannier, much more cunning, than when we met before" he said. The Dutch are almost certain to miss Bergkamp, who has been out of action with a hamstring injury for six weeks. The Arsenal striker is likely to start on the bench, with Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink filling his spot. In defence, Frank de Boer is also doubtful after twisting an ankle in training earlier in the week. PROBABLE TEAMS: Netherlands - 1-Edwin van der Sar, 2-Michael Reiziger, 3-Jaap Stam, 4-Frank de Boer, 5-Arthur Numan, 7-Ronald de Boer, 11-Philip Cocu, 10-Clarence Seedorf, 14-Marc Overmars; 9-Patrick Kluivert, 21-Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Belgium - 1-Filip De Wilde, 2-Bertrand Crasson, 3-Lorenzo Staelens, 4-Gordan Vidovic, 5-Vital Borkelmans, 6-Franky Van der Elst, 15-Philippe Clement, 7-Marc Wilmots, 21-Danny Boffin, 8-Luis Oliveira, 10-Luc Nilis.

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