We are almost the perfect side

YEAR WE GO AT LAST ... Alonso celebrates winning Euro 2008 - Spain's first trophy for 44 years

XABI ALONSO is under no illusions Spain are the team they all want to beat.

The midfielder accepts the defending European and world champions are being ruthlessly pursued by their rivals.

But Spain are in no mood to surrender the title they won four years ago — to clinch their first major trophy in 44 years.

The former Liverpool star said: “We have developed into a near perfect team.

“We have a great sense of pride and responsibility to live up to the expectations.

“The danger for Spain was if we had gone into this tournament with a sense of destiny and complacency.

“If we think we don’t have to work hard or put in too much effort to win then the danger is evident.

“But that’s not the case with Spain. We are responsible, committed and driven — three of the main reasons why we our in this position.

“The challenge is to win our third successive title and create history.

“But we are under absolutely no illusions, we are the team everyone wants to beat.

“People don’t want us to win, they expect us to win.

“We are not complacent, we don’t underestimate our rivals and collectively we are pulling in the same direction.

“It’s the foundation for past success and, we hope, the foundation for future success.”

Alonso, 30, is well qualified to talk about England’s successive flops in the face of huge expectations.

The man who played at Anfield for five years, said: “Until Euro 2008, when everything came together, we went into tournaments like England — tipped for success and with massive pressure.

“If I could hand out any advice to England it would be to ignore the hype and work as a team.

“There are no superstars in the Spanish side. There is just complete unity and belief. We win together and we lose together.

“I have lived and played in England and I know what football means to the supporters. It’s more than a sport.

“The English fans would give anything to be in our position but there was a time when our own fans felt the same about other nations.

“I feel for England because I know what the burden of unrealistic expectations can do to you.

“The pressure is insane, it never subsides. It just builds to breaking point and when things go wrong it’s the players that suffer.”

Not that Alonso feels England will have it any easier this time.

He added: “Injuries and a change of manager are not the best way to prepare.

“People will say expectations have decreased but supporters don’t care for excuses, they just want to see their side win.

“They have an extremely tough opener against a French side that have gone on an incredible unbeaten run.

“The French will look at England with a great deal of confidence.

“England are one of the historical powers of world football but history counts for nothing.

“Even with our success we go into this tournament on a level playing field.

“You earn the right to win, talking about it counts for nothing.”