Torres urges Spanish caution

Slow start
"On paper, Spain might appear to be stronger but all the teams we could have faced are good sides," he said. "In one sense we can feel happy, because at the beginning of the week it seemed we could be drawn against a team of the stature of England or France. We started the group badly but we are still alive in the competition and looking forward to these games with the hope of qualifying for the finals."

Hardest tie
The first leg will be played at Torres's home ground, Club Atlético de Madrid's Vicente Calderón stadium, on 12 November, with the return taking place four days later in Bratislava. Spain coach Luis Aragonés said that was a venue he did not want to have to visit.

'True battlers'
"We knew all the teams left in the draw were going to be tough," he said. "Perhaps Switzerland are the most gifted in terms of pure football but Slovakia, for personal reasons, are the last of the three teams I wanted to meet. But the draw is done and there is nothing we can do but accept it and look ahead to the matches. Slovakia play a solid game. I spoke to a Portuguese friend whose side played them and we came to the same conclusion - they have good movement off the ball and are true battlers.

Bratislava backing
"But I believe Spain are superior technically and that is where we must make it count. What least pleases me is that we must decide the tie away from home - they will have noisy fans backing them in Bratislava and that is going to give them confidence."

Galis cautious
Slovakia coach Dušan Galis, once a player in Spain with Cádiz CF, sees his side as outsiders. "It was the toughest of the three possibilities, but we must accept it," he said. "Spain had their problems in qualifying with Serbia and Montenegro and other opponents, but this is history. We hope for the same as them - to pick up as much information as possible."

Previous result
The last meeting of the countries was a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier when goals from Kiko Narváez and Guillermo Amor clinched a Spanish victory. Galis's assistant Ladislav Petráš said he always felt a rematch was likely. "Spain was my hot tip before the draw - ask the players," he said. "In my opinion, a single goal can decide who qualifies. For us, it means a draw in Madrid and a tense win at home."

Counterattack key
Defender Martin Škrtel added: "None of the three options were easy. Maybe Turkey would have been better, but that's just hypothetical. Chances are even before any game, and it is good to play away first. It will not be easy to overcome Spain given their outstanding technique, team play and pressing. We will try to do our best on the break and score at least once in Madrid."