European champions Spain said they will tread carefully, but confidently at the World Cup finals in South Africa emboldened by the respect from international rivals.

Spain produce some of the world's most technically gifted footballers but prior to their victory in the 2008 European Championships they were regarded as perennial underachievers.

Two years after their continental triumph, Vicente Del Bosque leads a virtually unchanged team to the June 11-July 11 tournament where they will face Switzerland, Honduras and Chile in Group H.

While most in the squad will be harbouring secret wishes of going all the way, Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez was quick to remind observers that the team had seen few changes from its 2008 winning side.

"We have changed very little, a few players, the coach, but... we practically have the same squad and there's a good atmosphere in the squad," Hernandez said at the team's training camp in Schruns, in western Austria.

"It's in our hands. (But) it will not be easy, that's for sure.

"We will have to be cautious and progress carefully, although with the belief that we are confident facing any team.

"We will see whether it's true that the time has come for Spain to win the World Cup."

So far, Spain have never made it as far as the World Cup semi-finals, however performances in recent years mean 'La Furia Roja' (Red Fury) are among the big favourites in South Africa.

Villarreal defender Joan Capdevila said that winning their first Euro title since their maiden victory in 1984 can only help their bid.

"We have won the respect of our opponents, which we did not really have before," said Capdevila.

"Our fighting spirit has improved, as well as our skills, and I believe our opponents fear us much more than they did before.

"We've made a lot of improvements in the last two years and it's clear that on the whole we've progressed."

Hernandez said they will take each game as it comes and respect all their group rivals, but hinted that Spain feel confident of dispatching Chile, who on paper are their strongest opponents.

"On paper, Chile is the strongest rival," he added.

"But we are talking on paper: on the pitch, a lot can happen."

Spain first face Switzerland on June 16 in Durban and face Honduras five days later in Johannesburg. Their final group game against Chile is on June 25 in Pretoria.

Midfielder Hernandez, whom the Spanish media have dubbed 'The Brain', said the other favourites to win the World Cup were France, Brazil, Argentina, Italy and Germany.

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