Spain set sights on extending record run

Spain will try to keep pressing firmly on the accelerator after setting a world record of 15 successive international wins by beating South Africa 2-0 on Saturday.

"It's really, really nice. For us it was important to be part of history," striker Fernando Torres told Reuters after the European champions won their final Group A match to top the section.

"Now we want more."

Midfielder Xabi Alonso said: "It has been a massive challenge to beat this record. We are really proud but we are not going to stop now.

"Everything is looking positive, the dynamic of the squad is really good and because of that we can think of achieving more in the future," added Alonso, who was rested on Saturday ahead of this week's semi-finals.

Spain beat the previous record of 14 wins in a row held by Australia (1996-97), Brazil (1997) and France (2003-04).

Coach Vicente del Bosque's team also equalled Brazil's run of 35 games without defeat.

Spain's last defeat was against Romania in a friendly in November 2006. They began the record run by outplaying Russia 3-0 in a Euro 2008 semi-final in Austria and won the trophy with a 1-0 victory over Germany three days later.

Turkey twice came close to ending the winning streak within four days last March and April, losing 1-0 away and 2-1 at home with Liverpool midfielder Albert Riera snatching a stoppage-time winner in the away game.

Record run

(N) vs Russia 3-0; (N) vs Germany 1-0; (A) vs Denmark 3-0; (H) vs Bosnia 1-0; (H) vs Armenia 4-0; (A) vs Estonia 3-0; (A) vs Belgium 2-1; (H) vs Chile 3-0; (H) vs England 2-0; (H) vs Turkey 1-0; (A) vs Turkey 2-1; (H) vs Azerbaijan 6-0; (N) vs New Zealand 5-0; (N) vs Iraq 1-0; (N) vs South Africa 2-0.