Coach Vicente Del Bosque says he is used to being in charge of the team to beat ahead of his Spain debut.
Spain pressure no different to Real Madrid
Vincente del Bosque says he can call on his experience of being in charge of the team to beat ahead of his competitive debut as Spain coach.
The former Real Madrid boss, who replaced Luis Aragones after their Euro 2008 triumph, is preparing the Spanish for their opening 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia at home on Saturday, followed by Armenia four days later.
The weight of expectation that comes with leading a team transformed from perennial under achievers to one which now tops the Fifa world rankings was not a problem for Del Bosque
"I am used to that. My previous team was always the one everyone wanted to see beaten," the 57-year-old told a news conference.
Del Bosque spent over 30 years in the pressure cooker of Real Madrid as a player and then coach, steering them to two UEFA Champions League successes and two Primera Liga titles.
"The players are well aware of what they have achieved, and that the future starts again from tomorrow against Bosnia. It's a positive thing, they will all come out to beat the European Champions but we are our own worst enemies. It's a long road with little margin for error and we need to apply ourselves from the first moment.
"The past doesn't make us stronger but it certainly shouldn't make us weaker" he added.
Spain have not lost against Bosnia in four previous meetings, but only managed 1-1 draws home and away in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
Spain play Bosnia in Murcia, and Armenia in Albacete next Wednesday. The other teams in Group Five are Belgium, Estonia and Turkey.
