Raul (right) - not certain to be fit (Allsport)

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Spain will not risk Raul in their World Cup quarter-final against Korea unless he recovers 100% fitness.

Coach Jose Antonio Camacho warned the Korean co-hosts that they would need luck to overcome his side, and he is confident that even the loss of Raul should not stop his side advancing to the semi-finals.

Raul is struggling with a thigh injury and has just three days to recover fitness.

"I think it will be hard for him. Because we are playing in the quarter-finals, he will be marked specially by the Koreans and he has to be 100% fit or else he could suffer a setback and miss the rest of the competition," Camacho told Antenna 3 TV.

"He is being treated almost 24 hours a day so he has to improve, but it's all relative. All we can do is support him and hope he is better as soon as possible.

"He will want to play even though he's only at 50%, but he won't play unless he's 100%."

After seeing the Korean public's reaction to yesterday's win over Italy, Camacho believes his team may have had an easier task against the Italians.

He fears that the quarter-final match referee could be swayed by the crowd in Gwangju.

"I wanted Italy because they had had a key player sent off, it may have been a more attractive game for us to play and the referee would have been at 50%," he said.

"However, now we are here against Korea and we have to fight against the way Poland, Portugal and Italy suffered against them."

The streets of Korea were flooded with ecstatic supporters yesterday, and the odds of them winning the tournament have crashed.

"I have never seen anything like the atmosphere and the union between the Korean fans and the team," admitted Camacho. "We have to play against everything and show we are better.

"We know about difficult atmospheres with players from Madrid, Deportivo, Barcelona and Valencia in the squad.

"Rather than be paid, most players would pay to play games like this."

Saturday's match will decide who takes on Germany or the USA for a place in the June 30 final.

"I am excited by the game," added Camacho, "and the Koreans will also have to run hard and they are going to need some of the luck they had against Italy."

end

Of Raul's injury, team doctor Genaro Borras explained that there was only reason for "moderate optimism".

"We can talk about change, because he has started some passive stretching and we have begun to treat his injury," said Borras.

"The response has been good, but that doesn't mean the improvement would be enough on the pitch.

"He is improving but there is only moderate optimism, he still has problems.

"I can't say if he will be fit to play, nobody can. You can't say with muscular injuries. We are doing everything we can."

Meanwhile, midfielder Joaquin believes Spain have a superior technique which should see them through.

"Korea are a very strong team, but our technique can get the better of them," he said.

"I'm worried about them as a team; they work hard and they are very organised. They are where they are through their own efforts, not because of the referees.

"Against Italy they gave nothing up for lost and the striker [Ahn Jung-hwan] who scored their second goal looks very useful.

"If we can keep the ball, move it around and not lose it, we will make them have to chase the game and that will be an important factor.

"I don't think we are much better than Italy, but it will be a different game. We will play to our strengths and if we do as we know how, we are the better side - but you have to be prepared for anything."