Spain coach Vicente del Bosque is determined to keep his side's feet firmly on the ground amid increasing expectations of their chances at next year's World Cup.

Spain continued their remarkable record over the last two years with a 5-1 friendly mauling of Austria in Vienna last night, and that result, combined with Saturday's 2-1 win over Argentina, will only have further enhanced their already impressive credentials for South Africa.

For many, the European champions will be the team to beat in the finals even though no Spanish team has ever finished better than fourth in the tournament, but Del Bosque is keen not to get swept up by the euphoria.

"We need to be cautious because our opponents are also very strong and we must be humble," said Del Bosque, who has been victorious in 21 of his 22 games in charge of Spain since replacing Luis Aragones following Euro 2008.

"I don't want to say that we are favourites for the World Cup but we are among the contenders. Then the competition will put us in our place."

Not everyone has installed Spain as favourites for global domination, though, with England manager Fabio Capello believing Brazil are a bigger threat than Del Bosque's men.

Italian Capello - like Del Bosque, a former coach at Real Madrid - feels Spain are over-reliant on striker Fernando Torres and are not as good at defending as they are going forward.

Predictably, Del Bosque does not agree with Capello's view of his side - who were without the injured Torres for both last night's match and the victory over Argentina - saying in AS: "I don't share the opinion of Capello about Spain but I respect it. There's no need to give it too great an importance because his word is not dogma."

While Del Bosque is trying to temper expectations about his side's World Cup chances, striker David Villa believes it is understandable they have been installed as favourites.

Since the start of 2007, Spain have recorded 41 wins - including two after extra-time - in 44 fixtures, with their only defeat coming against the United States in the semi-finals of this summer's Confederations Cup.

Villa, who netted twice against Austria to take his international tally to 35 goals, said in AS of his side's chances of being crowned world champions: "We need to be aware that Spain are at a spectacular level, but this is up to today.

"Tomorrow is not going to give us anything. Even so, if we are realistic then we are favourites."

Looking ahead, Villa added: "There is going to be a bit of time without seeing us, because there are no games until March, but there is always motivation to play for the national team, to win games and continue doing well, as we've done here (in Vienna)."