Spain's Xabi Alonso (L) celebrates with team mate Pedro Rodriguez after he scored a goal against Poland during their friendly soccer match in Murcia June 8, 2010. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

"I can't control people's hopes, but we know it is going to be difficult. We know we have to play the best teams in the World and we will be against the best players there are," he said.

The coach had good and bad news regarding injuries: the good news was Fernando Torres' goalscoring return, but the bad news was that the inspirational Andres Iniesta had to leave the pitch before halftime with a hamstring problem.

"We changed him as a precautionary measure. It looks like a slight strain, but we are going to give him some tests in Barcelona," he explained, before praising Torres. "He played half an hour and we are sure that his talent and power will arrive at the World Cup," said Del Bosque.