Raul named Spanish captain

The prolific striker will take over from club team-mate Fernando Hierro, although the central defender is likely to play a major part in what is expected to be the last big tournament of his career.

Hierro currently tops the goalscoring charts for Spain but has Raul right behind him, although the 34-year-old defender is certainly in impressive form having notched a hat-trick on his birthday against Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

When asked about Raul, Camacho said: "At one stage I told him that I was protecting him a little bit, but now is the time to unleash him.  He has done it before and he does it for his team, now he will do it for the national side."

Speaking about potential problems in the national side, including Real's Iker Casillas and Pedro Munitis, Camacho continued: "Today it is not a problem for the team (Casillas) but if the situation does not change it could be.

"The same could be said about the case of Munitis."

Both are not first team regulars at Santiago Bernabeu with Cesar having replaced Casillas in goal and Munitis finding it difficult to break into the side, either in midfield or upfront.