Spain midfielder Xavi admits the tag of favourites for next year's World Cup sits uncomfortably with him.

Although no Spanish side has ever reached a World Cup final, with their best performance being a fourth-placed finish back in 1950, expectations are high for the current crop following a remarkable run of form over the last two years.

Since the start of 2007, Spain have recorded 40 victories - including two after extra-time - and suffered just one defeat in their 43 fixtures, during which time they were also crowned European champions.

It has been a hugely successful period for the Iberian nation, with their only setback being the shock 2-0 defeat to the United States in the semi-finals of this summer's Confederations Cup, and for many they are going to be the team beat in South Africa next year.

However, while he acknowledges that his side have a chance of winning Spain their first world title, Barcelona ace Xavi is uneasy about being billed as favourites amongst so many proven rivals at that level.

"This World Cup arrives at a good time for our generation. But we must go there with both humility and the need to work hard," he said.

"People must remember the Confederations Cup where the United States knocked us out. I don't like at all this tag of favourites that some are freely hanging on us. We are champions of Europe, we are playing good football, but we still don't have this something 'extra' of teams such as Argentina, Germany, Italy or Brazil, this winner gene.

"We need to be among the best four in the world a couple of times to be like them. But this doesn't mean that we don't think we can go far and be champions."

Asked who his favourites for the World Cup title were, Xavi told El Mundo Deportivo: "I see a World Cup with many surprises and along with the teams that I have mentioned before, I think that the Ivory Coast are the dark horses."

Xavi was speaking ahead of tomorrow's friendly against Austria in Vienna, where Spain return to the scene of their Euro 2008 final victory over Germany.

A win in Austria would be a 21st victory in 22 games for Spain coach Vicente del Bosque since he took over from Luis Aragones following that win over the Germans.

Del Bosque's Austrian counterpart Didi Constantini, meanwhile, has been preparing for the match at the Ernst-Happel Stadion whilst trying to ignore the rumpus caused by his decision to exclude Martin Stranzl and Andreas Ivanschitz from his plans.

Veteran Stranzl and the German Bundesliga's current second-highest goalscorer Ivanschitz both no longer have a place in the national team under Constantini, who prefers to blood new talent tomorrow night.

Their exclusion prompted defender Gyorgy Garics to level criticism at the coach, saying Ivanschitz in particular should be one of the first names in Constantini's squad.

"I think he belongs in the team, with the quality he has. You don't score so many goals in Germany that easily," said the 25-year-old, who feels Stranzl "should also be included".

Constantini preferred to focus on tomorrow's clash with the European champions though, admitting his side face a tough task.

"Spain are a world class team and, in my opinion, the best national team in the world together with Argentina and Brazil," he said.

"We will have to see if we can hold our own against them and do as well as we possibly can."