Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas insists there are no small teams in the World Cup.
Spanish shot-stopper warns team-mates against complacency
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas insists there are no small teams in the World Cup as the tournament's joint favourites prepare for their opening game against Switzerland.
Along with five-time champions Brazil, La Roja have been widely tipped to be crowned champions in South Africa this summer.
Spanish football is riding the crest of a wave as they bid for their maiden World Cup title following their Euro 2008 triumph and the record-breaking achievements of Barcelona in 2009, but Casillas is not getting carried away ahead of Wednesday's Group H opener.
"There's no one team here," said the Real Madrid goalkeeper, who has been a mainstay between his country's sticks for the past decade.
"Just look at Japan beating Cameroon, or Paraguay drawing with Italy.
"Those games came down to one specific moment, so there are no small opponents - the smaller teams are growing and growing.
"We have to be ready for anything. Switzerland can be as difficult an opponent as anyone.
"We have been declared favourites and we will try to deliver our best for the match. Everyone likes playing against Spain so they'll be at their very best."
Good fight
Casillas claims Luis Aragones, the man who coached Spain to European glory in 2008, was '100 per cent totally different' from current coach Vicente Del Bosque and warned that winning the World Cup would involve scrapping for the title.
"Del Bosque has added a new touch and brought in new ideas," added Casillas, featuring in his third finals.
"He's a very intelligent man who has kept the central bloc of players and added some finishing touches, slotting in five or six new players.
"Certainly, it's not easy to win the European Championships, but we want to play well, earn respect and hope we can put up a good fight and win it. It's not going to go without a fight."
Casillas added: "(Spain) may be a great team but if we don't win the World Cup, we won't have reached our objectives."
