Group H: Spain v Switzerland preview

Spain will enter the World Cup fray with a swagger despite question marks over the fitness of Fernando Torres and Andres Iniesta when they face Switzerland in their opening Group H match.

Their squad is so full of talent that anything but a comfortable win for the European champions will be considered something of a shock when the last two teams in the tournament finally get their campaigns underway.

Having broken their major tournament hoodoo at Euro 2008, Spain's consistent defence, startlingly talented midfield and corps of lethal strikers have made them the favourites of many to carry off football's biggest prize in South Africa.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque will probably not risk Torres, who is recovering from knee surgery, and play David Villa as a lone striker in front of a five-man midfield.

Andres Iniesta looks likely to win his race to recover from a thigh strain and take his place in that midfield but with quality like Cesc Fabregas or Villa's Valencia team-mate Juan Mata on standby, Del Bosque may not be unduly worried.

In their opening match at the Moses Mabhida stadium they meet a workmanlike Swiss team which has had a poor run-up to the tournament and will be without their leading goalscorer and captain Alex Frei.

The Swiss will also be missing midfielder Valon Behrami because of a thigh injury while Frei's ankle injury means Eren Derdiyok will partner Blaise Nkufo up front if coach Ottmar Hitzfeld sticks with his favoured 4-4-2 formation.