Spain World Cup profile: Guide to squad list, past record, manager, path to final, latest odds, star man and team news

FOUR years ago defending champions Spain crashed out of the 2014 World Cup at the group stages.

After a faultless qualifying campaign, they arrive in Russia with a fresh influx of hungry and talented young players seemingly in every position.

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Here's all you need to know about the Group B contenders.

In a nutshell: Perennial underachievers turned world beaters (but not quite as good as they used to be).

Flag: La Rojigualda, consists of three horizontal stripes, two red and one yellow.

It’s topped off with the national coat of arms, which is all dragons, castles and Game of Thrones nonsense.

Population: 46.56 million

Nickname: La Furia (The Fury) or La Roja (The Red). Or, and this is clever, La Furia Roja (The Red Fury).

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Manager: With Julen Lopetegui sacked just two days before Spain's opener against Portugal after announcing he was taking over at Real Madrid, who knows?

Current money is on a combination of former Los Blancos and Bolton defender Fernando Hierro and U21s boss Albert Celades.

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Captain: The Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos.

Star Men: Barcelona’s midfield maestro Andres Iniesta and Manchester City’s David Silva. They may be getting on a bit but they’re still the
beating heart of the Spanish team.

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Rising Star: Marco Asensio.

The 21 year-old Real Madrid midfielder has already won eight caps and caught the eye in this season’s Spanish Super Cup when he scored in both legs against Barcelona with two exceptional long-range strikes.

Most caps: Iker Casillas (167).

All-time top scorer: David Villa (59).

Nice kit? Red with gold stripes on the shoulders and a strange zig-zag pattern running the length of the shirt on the right-hand side that looks like someone had an accident doing the decorating.

Most offensive haircut? We’re still not exactly sure why David Silva took a lawnmower to his head. Anyone?

Any names we can laugh at like kids? Altogether now: ‘Let’s all have an Isco! Let’s all have an Isco! Na-na na na, na-na na na…’

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Rivals? It’s the noisy neighbours next door, Portugal, who, as luck would have it, are also in Group B.

National anthem: La Marcha Real (‘The Royal March’) is one of the few anthems in the world with no official lyrics. It would have been ideal for Gary Neville.

Sample lyric: Er…

WAG Watch! It’s Mrs. Gerard Pique, otherwise known as Colombian pop sensation, Shakira.

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National dish: You may think it’s paella but Spain has many regional dishes that could stake a claim here, including Cocido Montanes (from Cantabira), Caldo Gallego (Galicia) and Fabada Asturiana (Asturias), all of whom sound like strikers that Harry Redknapp once took an unsuccessful punt on.

National drink: It’s a toss-up between sherry and Sangria, neither of which you’d ever order on a night out.

Appearances in the Finals: Fourteen from 19 attempts. They also pulled out in 1938.

World Cup Finals Record: P 59 W 29 D 12 L 18 F 92 A 66

World Cup Win Ratio: 49%

World Cup Wins: One, in South Africa in 2010.

FIFA World Ranking: 6

Squad: Kepa, De Gea, Reina, Alba, Azpilicueta, Carvajal, Nacho, Monreal, Odriozola, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Isco, Thiago Alcantara, Busquets, David Silva, Iniesta, Saul, Koke, Asensio, Apsas, Diego Costa, Rodrigo, Lucas Vazquez

Path to final: Spain will hope that their talented squad is able to see off Portugal and secure top spot in Group B. If they can do that, they are likely to face Mo Salah's Egypt in the second round, followed by a mouthwatering final against Lionel Messi and Argentina and a rekindling of their recent rivalry with Germany in the semis.