Del Bosque delighted ahead of final

The 62-year-old, speaking to the media before Sunday's eagerly anticipated match between next year's World Cup hosts and the reigning world champions, broke into a rare smile and laughed when he said football was not just his passion, but also "his secret vice."

"I have been privileged to have been a player and football is my passion and its my vice, if I confess it," Del Bosque said. "I am very much enjoying this moment, I have had marvellous moments as a player in great teams, and right now, I am coaching a team which is in one of its best-ever phases.

"So I am enjoying it, even if I am not showing it that obviously," he laughed.

"I am highly satisfied, and for all of us this is something very beautiful. We are playing Brazil, the kings of football who have lived through marvellous moments in their football history, and to play in Maracana is something very special.

"I am delighted we are playing the final here and perhaps we can come back and play the World Cup final here as well in 2014."

Although he would not name his starting lineup, he said the team would be "similar" to the one that beat Italy 7-6 in a penalty shootout after the teams ended goalless after 120 energy-draining minutes in the heat and humidity of Fortaleza in their semi-final.

He brushed aside a question about the fitness of Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Ramos and Sergio Busquets, merely saying his players were in "good shape".

Earlier on Saturday, Fabregas said he was fine and that his coming off in the second half of the final group match against Nigeria, which kept him out of the semi-final, was just a precautionary move.

"It was just a scare," Fabregas told the AS newspaper.

"I was worried because I have a bad history of injuries in the hamstring area, although the past two years have been very positive.

"I didn't force it against Nigeria and the tests showed nothing more than a bit of tension which was affecting me in the sprints. But I am already feeling better and am fit to play."