Spain's national soccer team goalkeeper Iker Casillas smiles during a soccer training session in Potchefstroom July 4, 2010. [Agencies]

Revenge talk

The 59-year-old Del Bosque said he did not think the German players would be motivated by a desire to revenge the Euro 2008 defeat, in which striker Fernando Torres, who has yet to find the net in South Africa, scored the only goal.

"Talk of revenge in the great national teams doesn't exist," he said.

"They want to win to get to the final and so do we. Athletes always look to the future."

Asked whether Torres, who returned from knee surgery shortly before the World Cup, would be in the starting 11 to face Germany, Del Bosque said he believed he would.

"He continues to be an important player for us and one that the other squad members are used to," he added.

"All strikers go through good and bad runs but he brings his work rate and his personality to the team and he is still our forward.

"You should not necessarily take my words to mean that he is definitely going to be starting (the Germany match) but we have full confidence in him."