Iker Casillas has revealed he and his Spain team-mates do not see themselves as favourites ahead of their Euro 2012 final against Italy.
The Real Madrid and Spain captain, 31, lavished praise on their opponents as they warm up to face a team they have yet to beat in normal play in competitive internationals.
"We do not think we're the favourites, quite the contrary. Both teams have an equal chance," Casillas said.
"Italy have a great team. For us it was no surprise that they joined us here in the final, they showed their quality and reached the final with a great performance (against Germany)."
Spain met Italy in the quarter-final phase of Euro 2008, winning in a penalty shoot-out on their way to their second European Championship title.
The two teams also met in the group stage of Euro 2012 with the game finishing 1-1.
Another prominent Spanish figure, former Real Madrid general manager Jorge Valdano, says Italy striker Antonio Cassano did not respond adequately to the challenge posed by playing for a team like Real when he joined them in 2006.
Cassano was bought from Roma, where he had enjoyed a successful five-year spell on the pitch, after his relationship with head coach Luciano Spalletti had deteriorated over the renewal of his contract.
He only remained in Madrid for one season, during which he made 19 appearances, scoring only twice amid a rift with the Real coach at the time Fabio Capello.
In an interview with Marca, Valdano acknowledged the Italian's quality but questioned his attitude.
"Cassano did not respond with professionalism to the challenge posed by playing for Real Madrid," the Argentine said.
"In this club, the competition is so great you only get an opportunity to prove yourself for one season. In the second it is too late for everything because they give you the passport."
Cassano was notably fined for gaining too much weight in his first few months in Madrid, while he depicted in his autobiography the hectic lifestyle he led while in Spain.
Still, Valdano acknowledged the Italian could prove as useful on the pitch as he can be problematic off it.
"Pirlo is the substance of the Italian football team, while Cassano is the imagination. He is a player who at any time of the game has solutions that neither the coach nor the other players can give," Valdano said.