Spain is the enigma or European football: the country with Real Madrid and Barcelona and array of talented players that seems to perennially underachieve on the big stage. Currently the squad boasts so many top class strikers that players as gifted as Torres, Raul, David Villa and Fernando Morientes could find themselves on the bench. Cesc Fabregas, one of Europe’s hottest talents, is fast becoming the main man in a strong midfield and the squad, as always, looks great.

Spain are looking good to qualify, having lost two matches and won five, and much will rest on their matches against Sweden and Denmark. The fact that Spain play their final two matches at home to Sweden and Northern Ireland means that, barring catastrophe, their fabulous players should be on display in Austria and Switzerland next summer.