Spain head to South Africa for World Cup

European champions Spain were due to leave for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa Thursday after staging one final training session on home soil, making them the last team to arrive for the tournament.

Vicente Del Bosque’s side, one of the favourites to win the tournament which gets underway Friday, was upbeat following their 6-0 win over Poland on Tuesday in their final warm-up match.

“We must be prudent, I see us as more as candidates to win the title than favourites,” said Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez.

Spain could be without one of their midfield mainstays Andres Iniesta for next Wednesday’s group opener against Switzerland as the Barcelona player suffered a bruised leg during the victory against Poland.

The squad is scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg on Friday morning. They will be based during the month-long tournament in Potchefstroom about 120 kilometres (75 miles) southwest of the South African city.

Spain are in Group H and will face Honduras on June 21 in Johannesburg and Chila four days later in Pretoria.

Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Letizia will attend Spain’s first match against Switzerland in Durban, the royal palace said Thursday.

Spain hold the distinction of being the only side to ever be ranked number one in the FIFA standings without winning a World Cup. Their best placing remains fourth place in 1950.

The country would only appear in two more World Cups until 1978, but have qualified for every tournament since then.