Can Spain defend its World Cup title and win its fourth straight major trophy? Captain Iker Casillas admits that the challenge will be greater than in the past.
"We know that it'll be very difficult because everyone wants to be champions, not just Spain," said Casillas, according to Goal.com. "After the last four years we know that every team will give 100 per cent against us and will want to beat us.
"But we go there with the aim of defending the title which we won in South Africa and try to make the people of Spain proud again," he added. "We can promise that we will make a huge effort, we will be up for it and we are full of hope that we can do it."
Spain faces a tremendous challenge right away in its first match against Netherlands. The two sides met in the World Cup final that Spain won 1-0. Spain also has to play Chile, a team it faced in the 2010 tournament and recently tied 2-2 in September. Spain also has to take on a downtrodden Australia side in the group round.
"The draw was tough," Casillas said. "It includes the runners-up from last time who had a magnificent qualifying campaign.
"And Chile who have always given us problems the last two or three years when we have played them."
If Spain fails to win the group and finishes second, it will likely play Brazil in the round of 16. The defending champs were annihilated 3-0 against the hosts in the 2013 Confederations Cup last summer.
Spain won the 2008 Euro Cup, 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euro Cup and is the first team in history to win three straight tournaments; it would be the first ever to win four in a row if it managed a World Cup victory.
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