Krong Angkor

Spain wary of Brazil or Portugal in last 16

MADRID (AFP) - World Cup favourites Spain feared a potential clash with Brazil or Portugal in the last 16 after being handed a seemingly straightforward group in the draw for the finals in South Africa on Friday.

The European champions, FIFA's top-ranked team, are joined by fellow Hispanic nations Honduras and Chile in Group H, along with Switzerland, in the draw made in Cape Town.

Spain have never lost to any of the three.

"We can't complain or be happy," said coach Vicente del Bosque. "But each team has its qualities -- Honduras is a good team, Chile is a great team and Switzerland will be a difficult rival.

"But we can't think about the second round, we must qualify first."

Valencia striker David Villa, Spain's Euro 2008 Golden Boot winner, said Chile, who finished second behind Brazil in the South American qualifying group, would be the toughest match in the round-robin stage.

But he warned that "the next stage will be most difficult," referring to Spain's potential second-round confrontation with the winners or runners-up of Group G, which includes Brazil and Portugal.

Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas also urged caution.

"It looks like we were lucky, in terms of other possible rivals. But we must respect all the teams and not think that we have nine points in the bag," said the Real Madrid star.

"Spain has a moral obligation to be in the second round... The next stage is the way it is, we will have to play some big matches to reach the final."

"On paper, Chile is the most difficult of the group, then the last 16 will be difficult," said Valencia winger Juan Mata.

"Our first goal must be win the first two matches against Honduras and Switzerland."

His teammate Pablo Hernandez agreed that "it's not a bad group, but the pairing after that will be difficult".

Real Madrid's Brazilian star Kaka dubbed Group G, "the Group of Death", as it also includes Ivory Coast and the unknown quantity of North Korea.

Real's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo also admitted it would be "a very difficult group. But it doesn't matter, we can't complain. I'm not happy, but that's the way it is," he told a news conference in Madrid.

Spain face Switzerland on June 16 in Durban, then Honduras in Johannesburg five days later before playing Chile in Pretoria on June 25.

Spain, who won their qualifying group with a 100-percent record, beat Chile 3-0 in a friendly last November.