Spain are the world's top ranked team and overwhelming favourites to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup, ahead of 5 times champions Brazil, and defending champions, Italy.  They capped their Euro 2008 title with a clean sweep of the qualification matches leading up to the World Cup.

Their formidable forward line is led by David Villa, who top scored in the European Championship, and Fernando Torres, the popular star of Liverpool. Their mid-field has Xavi and Andres Iniesta, both Barcelona players, with a strong defence comprising Sergio Ramos and Carlos Puyol, alongside goalkeeper, Iker Casillas.

Vicente Del Bosque who took over as coach from Luis Aragones hopes to build on his predecessor's Euro 2008 success. In Torres, Spain boast one of the world's most prolific goal scorers; this will be Torres' second World Cup. Torres credits his goal scoring skills to his early experience with Atletico Madrid.

Another player to watch is the 21 year old right back, Juan Manuel Mata, whose stint with Valencia has seen him mature into a formidable player. Apart from assisting the forwards, Mata has a happy propensity for scoring goals.

Spain, who are in group H, along with Chile, Honduras and Switzerland are expected to head their group, and are likely to play Portugal in the pre-quarter-final round. They are likely to face defending champions, Italy, in the quarter finals, the first real challenge they are likely to face.

Given the talent of this Spanish team, they need to guard against over-confidence and look beyond their past when they have tended to perform below potential. They must remember the instance of France in World Cup 2002. France, having won Euro 2000, entered the tournament with a weight of expectation that proved too hard to bear, and crashed out, in the second round. Their legion of fans will be praying that Spain don't succumb to the same fate.

 

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