Ramos relaxed as Spain start training

Sergio Ramos was not feeling the pressure as the Spain squad met up for their pre-UEFA EURO 2008™ training camp aiming to end their 44-year wait for a major title.

Not favourites
The squad have gathered in the national training centre at Las Rozas with an eye on emulating the 1964 European champions who earned Spain their sole senior international honour. With most bookmakers they are behind only Germany in the betting to do just that but Real Madrid CF defender Ramos is not letting such predictions go to his head. "To say we're favourites would be an error," the 22-year-old said. "Wherever we go we arrive with humility and in a relaxed frame of mind. We have to take things step by step and that begins with our first game."

Morale high
That is against Group D rivals Russia on 10 June in Innsbruck, following friendlies against Peru in Huelva on Saturday and the United States in Santander on 4 June. A few nerves were highlighted on arrival at the Ciudad del Fútbol when Liverpool FC's Álvaro Arbeloa accidentally left his suitcase in the taxi that took him from the airport but his defensive colleague Ramos says morale is high. "I'm really looking forward to getting started with my team-mates. Let's see if we can achieve something important," he said. "We're hopeful and we'll be trying to win."