How they qualified

The holders topped their five-team group with six wins and two draws, and only briefly looked troubled by runners-up France when Franck Ribéry ran at their defence.

World Cup high

Short memory? The meat in their euro sandwich, they survived Holland’s attempts to maim them and won the ugly final in 2010, four minutes from the end of extra time when the magnificent Andrés Iniesta half-volleyed his shot past Maarten Stekelenburg.

World Cup low

Leading 2-1 against Nigeria in 1998 with 18 minutes to play they ended up losing 3-2 and the team, stacked with excellent players in their prime such as Luís Enrique, Raúl, Fernando Hierro and Sergi, were knocked out at the group stage when they drew their next match with Paraguay.

Familiar faces

Nacho Monreal (Arsenal), Juan Mata (Chelsea), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Jesús Navas (Manchester City), Álvaro Negredo (Manchester City), David de Gea (Manchester United), César Azpilicueta (Chelsea), David Silva (Manchester City), Javi García (Manchester City), Roberto Soldado (Tottenham Hotspur), Fernando Torres (Chelsea).

The manager

Vicente del Bosque added two league titles as head coach of Real Madrid to his five as a player and won two Champions League before being sacked for lacking the sexy profile demanded by the club’s absurd president. With Spain he has won the World Cup, European Championship and Allo Allo’s coveted René Artois lookalike competition.

How in danger is he?

He has earned the right to be the master of his own destiny. 0/10

Most likely to light up Brazil

Take your pick from Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla, David Silva, Cesc Fàbregas and others many but the likeliest standout players remain Iniesta and Daily Mail blind spot, the extraordinary Xavi.

Most likely to be sent home in disgrace

Sergio Ramos has been sent off 17 times for Real Madrid but not once for Spain in 115 appearances but his club and country value him too highly to bother branding him a disgrace.

Title odds: 5/1

The stereotype is …

Team of magical elves hypnotising the opposition with short, rhythmical passing which proves so mesmeric it makes centreforwards redundant.

The reality is ...

Team of magical elves … they are tougher than they seem, are very strong defensively and use width to redress the imbalance provided by two formerly world-class centreforwards Fernando Torres and David Villa simultaneously hitting the slide.

What they’re known for?

Tiki taka 36 per cent

Unemployment 19 per cent

Timeshare cockney wideboys 22 per cent

Napping all afternoon 23 per cent

How Brazilian are they?

More Brazilian than Brazil and just as smug about their style of play.

How Google translates the national anthem

It’s an instrumental, which did not stop Eamon Dunphy in 2012 saying the squad had decided not to sing the non-existent words to show Barcelona and Real Madrid players were united in common purpose.

Duration

One minute and 18 sec or 16 bars of brassy pomp and circumstance to honour the king.

How to dress like their fans

Pastel cashmere jumper slung around the shoulders Style Council-style, eternally sockless and with Ray Bans doubling as Alice band or red shirts, wineskins and comedy matador hats.

Commentator's go-to fact

In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. He had three ships and left from Spain; he sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.