Raul and co could be world-beaters (Allsport).

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Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho has continued to play down his team's chances of lifting their first ever World Cup ahead of Sunday's second round clash with the Republic of Ireland in Suwon.

After winning all three of their group games while other top sides have been eliminated, Camacho's men have seen their odds on lifting the trophy drastically reduced.

Although he is pleased with Spain's achievements to date, Camacho has steadfastly refused to get carried away.

"It's very nice, we have fulfilled some aims such as winning our opening game or scoring three goals in every game, but we have to look for other aims now," Camacho told El Mundo Deportivo.

"I'd love us to play Brazil (in the final), but football is not mathematics," he said.

"We have to enjoy what we have done up to now and everything in the future is imaginary."

The stark reality for Spain is that they have to overcome a difficult Republic team who will not make things easy for them.

"I think Ireland are one of the most in-form teams in the world and their results show that," said Camacho.

"They are hard and hard-working, with a great mentality, and they know how to pressure their opponents where it hurts.

"They can counter-attack quickly and attack in numbers, while also getting men back into defence," he added.

Camacho also looked back to past encounters with the Irish.

"It has always been hard for us to beat them, they remain organised for 90 minutes and, if you give something away, they grasp it and give nothing away in return.

"It will be a difficult, balanced game and with a very tight scoreline, as it always has been."

The coach may have the odd unhappy memory involving players from the Emerald Isle, as he played at full-back for the Spanish team who famously lost to Northern Ireland in the 1982 World Cup.

But he is keeping his conscious thoughts very much on the present, and believes the hard work is about to begin in earnest.

"I am respectful and, for the moment, all I am speaking about is Ireland.

"History says we have failed to respect our rivals and that's why things have gone as they have done. We'll play Ireland and then we'll see," he said, when asked about a possible quarter-final clash with Italy.

"Now is when the World Cup starts. The first step was to get here, but now we have to look to get into the quarter-finals against a very difficult side," he added.

"If we have it, they will have to work very hard to get it away from us, but we give it away too often.

"That's what we have to work on as well as defending set pieces."

Camacho commented on the early exits of France, Argentina and Portugal.

"It shows football is getting more even all of the time and a small dose of luck can leave you in or knock you out," added Camacho.

"Other teams have done better than they have and have earned respect for doing so," he said.