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Spain and the aftershave factor

Albert Luque receives attention during training

MADRID, Spain -- Spain has a reputation as a European club football powerhouse but its national team has so far failed to mirror the success of its domestic clubs.

In European club competitions Spanish teams strike fear across Europe. Real Madrid have won the Champions league twice in three years and this season beat Barcelona in the semifinal.

The national team are regularly tipped to build on that success and win international titles but have never come close to a world cup triumph.

In Japan and South Korea, Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho just wants his squad to perform to their full potential.

He told CNN: "I'd like, just for once, whether we win or lose, to play up to our capabilities, so we don't have to blame it on bad luck or anything else."

Out of the 10 World Cups that Spain has played in, its best finish was in 1950, when it took fourth place in Brazil.

Team preparations for this year's tournament have not gone well. A freak accident knocked star goalie Santiago Canizares out of the tournament before a ball had been kicked.

He severed a tendon when he tried to use his foot to block a bottle of cologne falling to his bathroom floor.

However, sports journalist Jesus Del Rio, believes Canizares' injury has reduced the pressure on the Spanish squad.

"Now that this has happened before the World Cup, I think we can play more relaxed. It would be very difficult for things like this to happen again," he said.

The vast majority of the World Cup squad play in Spain's domestic league for clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Deportivo La Coruna.

And Spanish fans will be hoping, that club success can this time be translated into international excellence.