Raul lambasts Spanish prophets of doom

Real Madrid striker Raul has hit out at the critics who claim Spain will once again underachieve at the World Cup. "If everyone believes that, it is better that we do not bother going," he declared.

The Spanish media have turned on Jose Antonio Camacho's team ahead of their game with Austria on Saturday. But victory in Valencia should see the side through and Raul insists the pessimism has been overdone.

"I understand that in recent years the national team has not succeeded in the finals of major championships," the striker explained. "But we are striving to change that and will be fighting all the way to prove the critics wrong.

"My dream is to win a trophy with Spain and that is why I play every game believing that one day I will achieve that. I am always very humbled by playing for my country and I play with a burning ambition to succeed. I always hold my head up high.

"I strongly believe that we will reach the finals, but there is still a lot of hard work to do. We have to win on Saturday for starters, because we are not yet sure of taking the top place in the group, so every game from now on is vital."

Raul, though, was keen to play down hopes of a repeat of the 9-0 drubbing of Austria two years ago. "That was definitely a unique game," he continued. "This Saturday will not be anything like that.

"Austria will play very differently and will gamble everything to get a result against us. But I believe that if we win, that will see us clear to automatic qualification."

Spain lead Group 7 by three points but have played a game more than Austria.