Del Bosque unveiled as new Spain boss

Vicente del Bosque set the bar high here on Thursday at his unveiling as the new coach of Spain saying it was his job to maintain the sparkling standard which led La Furia Roja to be crowned champions of Europe.

Del Bosque replaces Luis Aragones and the 57-year-old former Real Madrid boss will take charge of his first match on August 20 when the Euro 2008 winners take on Austria.

He made it plain to a press conference that having finally ended their 44 year title famine Spain naturally held high hopes for the 2010 World Cup.

“Spain has reached the summit of its play and the objective is to maintain this style,” said Del Bosque who won two Spanish league titles and two Champions League titles with Real.

Aragones' reign was marked by his decision to snub top Spanish striker Raul and asked if he would be calling up the Real Madrid star del Bosque would only say that “every player has the same opportunities”.

He stressed the need to maintain the unity that was such a feature of Spain's brilliant run through Euro 2008 to lifting the trophy with a 1-0 win over Germany in last month's final in Vienna.

Del Bosque, whose first competitive game will be a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Bosnia in Murcia on September 6, has signed a two year contract leading up to the World Cup in South Africa.

He let it be known that he has high ambitions for 2010, saying his team can now “aspire to the maximum”.