Vicente del Bosque bullish on Spain's Euro 2016 chances despite Georgia defeat

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque refused to dampen expectations ahead of Euro 2016, despite watching his side slump to a 1-0 defeat to lowly Georgia in their final warm-up game in Getafe on Tuesday night.

Spain became the first side to retain the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine four years ago, but then crashed out of the World Cup in Brazil after defeats to Chile and the Netherlands.

Del Bosque resisted calls for his resignation in 2014 and now says the country should be aiming for a hat-trick of Euro titles, despite their latest setback ahead of their opening Group D game against the Czech Republic in Toulouse on Monday. 

"We shouldn't set any limits," he said. "We can't say if we get to the semi-finals we will be happy, we need to aspire to win it.

"This is sport and we don't know how far we'll go, but we need to maintain the dream to fight for a third consecutive Euro title."

Del Bosque expects an open tournament with more than eight teams capable of winning the title in Paris on July 10.

"There are very good teams," said the 65-year-old. "The number of sides that can aspire to the title has grown.

"We can't speak of just six or eight teams, but even more teams that have a chance for sure."

He did reserve special praise for France though, in particular coach Didier Deschamps, who was captain when Les Bleus won the last tournament they hosted at World Cup 1998.

Del Bosque added: "Naturally in France when you look at the strikers they have, the number of midfielders, they are one of the favourites.

"They have players in midfield with extraordinary potential and a sensible coach. He is doing a great job."