Spain will be determined to lay down a marker when they take on Switzerland in Group H on Wednesday.
Del Bosque's men aiming to live up to billing as favourites
Spain will be determined to lay down a marker when they take on Switzerland in Group H on Wednesday.
Having triumphed at Euro 2008, Spain finally managed to lose the tag of perennial underachievers who always impress in qualifying but then flatter to deceive in major tournaments.
Vicente del Bosque's squad is also brimming with experience in terms of players who have enjoyed great success at club level, and Spain enter the World Cup as the favourites to claim glory.
Spain will have had the opportunity to assess the form of all their rivals by the time they and Switzerland take to the field in Durban as the last of the 32 teams to get their campaigns under way.
Del Bosque had had to sweat over the fitness of several of his key men in the weeks approaching the World Cup, with Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta among those causing the manager a headache.
Liverpool striker Torres has recovered from knee surgery but might not be risked from the start and appears more likely to figure from the substitutes' bench.
Andres Iniesta is also a doubtful starter after being taken off with a minor thigh injury in the thumping 6-0 warm-up win over Poland.
Cesc Fabregas is fit after missing the end of the season with Arsenal due to a broken leg and could be given the nod in a five-man midfield, with Golden Boot hopeful David Villa leading the line.
Switzerland news
Switzerland overcame the odd wobble in qualifying, including a shock defeat to Luxembourg, to book their place in South Africa.
They are outsiders to progress to the last 16 behind Spain and Chile, but will believe they can make it through from a group that also includes Honduras.
Manager Ottmar Hitzfeld has suffered two big setbacks ahead of the game with the news that Alexander Frei and Valon Behrami will play no part.
Captain Frei has an ankle injury and is set to be replaced in attack by Eren Derdiyok, while West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami has a thigh problem.
Hitzfeld is hopeful that both players will recover in time for what could be the decisive second match against Chile next Monday.
