Santisteban cautiously optimistic

By Luis Arconada & Luke Williams

Although his team are among the pre-tournament favourites for the FIFA World Under-17 Championship, which begins in Finland on Wednesday, Spain coach Juan Santisteban is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

Santisteban aim
"The aim is to reach the latter stages," he told uefa.com. "But look what happened in Portugal [earlier this year in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship]. We played very well but when it got to the final and we had to win, we couldn't [Spain lost 2-1 to the hosts]."

Glittering career
Santisteban has enjoyed a glittering career as a player and coach. Four times a European Champion Clubs' Cup winner with Real Madrid CF, he also played for AC Venezia, Real Betis Balompié and the Baltimore Bays in the United States. He then started coached with Madrid's youth sides in 1970, before becoming assistant coach at the club, a post he held for 16 years. Since joining the Spanish national association in 1988, he has won a staggering seven youth competition titles.

Lifetime contribution
What is more, the players he has brought through the ranks - including Iker Casillas, Iván de la Peña and Joseba Etxeberría - have often gone on to win further honours. It is no wonder then that in August 2001, in recognition of his contribution to football, Santisteban received the Special UEFA President's Award at the gala in Monaco.

U17 crown eludes Spain
Unusually, though, considering the youth trophies he has won over the years, the U17 world crown has eluded Santisteban and Spain; indeed only two European countries have lifted the trophy in nine attempts.

Tiredness a factor
Santisteban is concerned that Spain's attempt to break this duck in Finland could be hampered by the schedule of the tournament, just as tiredness seemed to come into play in Portugal earlier this year. "I don't think it is advisable for youngsters to play five games in ten days," he said. Santisteban is also wary of the first-round pool in which his side have been drawn - Group D alongside the United States, Sierra Leone and Korean Republic.

'Difficult opponents'
"I am a little bit frightened," he confessed. "The USA are always difficult opponents, they have developed a very good youth system. Sierra Leone are Africans, and teams from this continent are always strong at this age. As for Korea, we really don't know anything about them."

Tough tie
If Spain negotiate their way through to the last eight, they face a potentially tough tie against one of the sides from Group C, arguably the strongest of the sections, containing Spain's European Championship conquerors Portugal as well Brazil, Cameroon and outsiders Yemen. "It's a very difficult section," he said.

Understandable caution
For all their caution, Spain's squad is virtually unchanged from the European Championship so they stand every chance of making an impact. "I have brought more players in case someone falls injured," Santisteban said. "But 95 per cent of the team is the same as the one in Portugal. Of course players like Xisco and Jurado are more talented, but the level is very similar between all the players."

Spain youth honours:

UEFA European Under-16 Championship:
Winners 1986, 1988, 1991, 1997, 1999, 2001; Runners-up 1992, 1995

UEFA European Under-19 Championship:
Winners 2002

UEFA European Under-18 Championship:
Winners 1995; Runners-up 1996

FIFA World Youth Cup:
Winners 1999; Runners-up 1995

FIFA World Under-17/16 Championship:
Runners-up 1991

Spain squad:
Goalkeepers: Adan, Ivan, Mandaluniz.
Defenders: Ruz, Raul Llorente, Francis, Sanchez, Arzo.
Midfield players: Tebar, Sisi, Markel, Silva, Jurado, Pallardo, Cesc.
Forwards: David, Javi, Xisco, Oskitz, Cases.