Team: Spain

Perennial underachievers once again?

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Coach: Luis Aragones
Captain: Raul
Winners: Never - reached the final pool in 1950 before settling for glorious failure
Pitted against: Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia
Prospects: Will surely emerge from a relatively easy group but could come unstuck if complacency is allowed to set in
Odds: 14-1

What to expect from Spain? Sublime skill? Definitely. Dodgy defending? Most likely. Internal bickering? Everyone expects it. An ultimately disappointing campaign that ends in gratuitous finger-pointing? You can count on it, writes Carl O'Malley

Spain, so often the connoisseurs of the club game, have never come to terms with regional divisions, inner demons and over-confidence. The nation that boasts the current European Cup champions, Barcelona, and the club that has won it more times than any other, Real Madrid, have never progressed beyond the World Cup quarter-finals.

Like their most famous literary export, Don Quixote, the Spanish side have often looked to be on a noble and righteous journey into the history books, only to be thwarted by turmoil within.

In 1986, there was a narrow defeat to Brazil before a succession of wins pitted them against Denmark in the second round. They dispatched their opponents with ruthless efficiency in a 5-1 win before drowning in expectation as they faced Belgium but were eliminated on penalties.

Four years later in Italy, a Michel hat-trick against South Korea was the highlight of a stroll through the group stages but a Dragan Stojkovic brace for Yugoslavia punished complacency in the next round.

In 1998 their struggle was epitomised in their three group games. When the pressure was on, goalkeeper Andoni Zubbizaretta gifted a good Nigerian side a 3-2 win. A scoreless encounter with Paraguay followed before a 6-1 thrashing of Bulgaria when progression was already unattainable.

After scraping past Mick McCarthy's Ireland side on penalties in the second round in 2002, Spain faced a winnable quarter-final against co-hosts South Korea but a disallowed Fernando Morientes goal and 120 minutes of frustration ended with another shootout with the wrong result.

Spain's group this time around is the envy of many a team in the competition. Ukraine and Andriy Shevchenko offer the biggest threat, but Tunisia and Saudi Arabia should hold few surprises. Exit at this stage will hurt more than all that has gone on beforehand.

A banana skin could await in the shape of Togo, South Korea or Switzerland, the latter being preferable for their continental predictability. The hosts could be next and history looks favourably on the home side.

Success in Germany therefore, will depend on how many demons have been exorcised. One positive is the amount of Spanish players who now ply their trade in foreign leagues. Their experience of Iberian exile will be invaluable with Reina, Alonso, Fabregas and Reyes all proving big hits in the Premiership.

The other hope for Spanish fans is that political differences between Basques, Catalan and Spanish nationalists can be put to bed for at least one month. After rumours that defender Asier del Horno was unwilling to pose with a national flag did the rounds, Spanish fans may well be content with the news that the Chelsea player will now miss the tournament with an Achilles injury.

Spain have undoubted talent, and depth to their squad and if they finally do reach a World Cup final, they should do so in style. Chances are though, the quixotic bunch will be their own worst enemies.

World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Santiago Canizares (Valencia)
Defenders: Antonio Lopez (Atletico Madrid), Pablo Ibanez (Atletico Madrid), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Juanito (Real Betis), Asier del Horno (Chelsea), Michel Salgado (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Carlos Marchena (Valencia)
Midfielders: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Jose Antonio Reyes (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Joaquin (Real Betis), Luis Garcia (Liverpool), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), David Albelda (Valencia), Marcos Senna (Villarreal)
Forwards: Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid), Raul (Real Madrid), David Villa (Valencia)