Spain coach Vicente del Bosque is hoping for more of the same next year after seeing his side end 2008 with a 3-0 win over Chile.

That triumph at Villarreal's El Madrigal stadium extended Spain's unbeaten run to 28 matches, while in the last 12 months alone they have been triumphant in all 16 of their matches, scoring 33 goals and conceding just five.

During that run they also clinched the Euro 2008 title and took over as the number one-ranked team in the world for the first time.

Del Bosque, who replaced Luis Aragones following Euro 2008, said: "It has been a fantastic year and we hope next year will be the same, or better."

Spain, whose unbeaten run stretches back to 2006, may have swept all aside this year but they did not have it so easy against Chile last night.

Marcelo Bielsa's side defeated mighty Argentina in a World Cup qualifier last month and they looked keen to add Spain's scalp as well with a determined showing at El Madrigal.

However, it was not to be as, after falling behind to a debatable penalty decision in the first half, they shipped two further goals after the break to leave empty-handed.

Del Bosque knew his side had been in a game though, saying: "We came up against a hard-working team, who not so long ago overcame Argentina and who, on occasion, man-marked us in midfield.

"My players have shown their quality and their ability to overcome the man marking. This is a united squad, ambitious and who enjoy themselves on the pitch."

The pick of Spain's goals was Fernando Torres' effort to make it 2-0 in the 67th minute, when the Liverpool striker coolly slotted home into the far corner of the net following a good Spain build-up.

Del Bosque felt that was just one of a number of plus points from the night though, adding: "It was a great goal, but it was not the only good thing in the game. There were moments of great football, above all some of the team play from us."

Torres' goal was his 18th in international football, but he was unable to close the gap on team-mate David Villa, whose 37th-minute penalty after Albert Riera had gone to ground on the box under a soft Ismael Fuentes challenge was his 24th goal in just 41 appearances for his country.

That lifted the 26-year-old above the legendary Alfredo di Stefano and into fifth place in Spain's all-time goalscoring list, with only Emilio Butragueno (26 goals), Fernando Morientes (27), Fernando Hierro (29) and leader Raul (44) above him.

The Valencia hitman is now looking to become the first Spaniard to score in six consecutive games, saying: "I hope that I can continue scoring. At the moment I have five in succession and I hope to make it six. I must continue working hard so that Del Bosque continues to count on me."

Spain's next match is scheduled to be the friendly against England in February, which could be played on Villa's home patch at Valencia.