As one of the favourites to win the 2010 World Cup, Spain could end up hurting the squad's chances, Liverpool's Spanish international Fernando Torres said in an interview published Sunday.

"Everyone expects a great deal from us and that pressure is not always good for a player," the 25-year-old striker told XLSemanal, the weekly magazine supplement of daily Spanish newspaper ABC.

"We have good players who have played harmoniously for three or four years now. If we miss this chance to win the World Cup, it is possible that we will not have a second opportunity. The pressure is enormous," he added.

Spain, the winners of Euro 2008, are ranked number one in the year-end FIFA standings for the second straight year, making them the only side to ever claim the top spot in the rankings without winning a World Cup.

Often accused of under performing at an international level, their best placing remains fourth in 1950 World Cup.

They secured their place in the 2010 World Cup finals in September this year, making a perfect World Cup qualifying record with 10 wins.

Spain is in Group H alongside Chile, Honduras and Switzerland.