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SENNA: WE'LL LEARN FROM SLOW START
Senna - hopes Spain can impress.
Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna is confident Spain can avoid the same problems that blighted the start of their Euro 2008 qualifiers when they begin their World Cup push over the next week.
It may seem hard to believe now following this summer's European Championships success, but less than two years ago the Iberian nation were in turmoil and coach Luis Aragones under intense pressure following a dismal start to qualifying.
Spain started Group F well enough with a 4-0 win over minnows Liechtenstein, but defeats in their next two matches against Northern Ireland and Sweden created huge problems and even led Aragones to tender his resignation.
However, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) rejected that and the team gradually got back on track before embarking on an unbeaten run that now stands at 23 matches following last month's friendly win over Denmark, and also saw them sweep all aside at the European Championship finals.
Spain, now under the guidance of Vicente del Bosque, will hope to have a smoother start to life in their World Cup qualifying campaign, which begins on Saturday against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Murcia.
After that match Spain host Armenia four days later, and they will be confident of boasting a six-point tally by the time they travel to Estonia and Belgium in October.
Senna said: "Last year gave us experience of games like those that we are now going to play. The coach has spoken with us and has prepared us very well for these two games. This year will be different from the start."
The Yellow Submarine midfielder believes it is important for the nation to now look ahead rather than dwell on the Euro 2008 success.
"We want to give our best and change our mindset because while the European Championships were very nice, they are already gone and we need to concentrate on the present," he said on Wednesday.
Spain will be without two key players for this weekend's clash with Fernando Torres and David Silva both being sidelined through injury.
Torres' absence could see Barcelona teenager Bojan Krkic rewarded with his first international cap while the loss of left-sided midfielder Silva, who withdrew on Tuesday, could open the door for Diego Capel.
The 20-year-old Sevilla winger made his debut in the 3-0 win over Denmark, having a hand in two of Spain's goals, and he said on Wednesday: "I really feel for Silva, (but) if I have the chance to play I will try to take advantage of it.
"For me it is an honour to be here. I am trying to learn and enjoy everything that I can and I hope to continue in the squad."
