BBC Sport Online assesses how Spain breezed through qualifying to book their place at the World Cup finals.
Spain might not always have done themselves justice in World Cups, but they certainly know how to qualify for them.
UEFA's qualifying group seven was a weak one but José Antonio Camacho's side topped the table with 20 points, five more than nearest challenger Austria.
The Spanish were unconvincing as they began their campaign in Sarajevo but goals either side of half-time by Gerard Lopez Segu and Joseba Etxeberria at least made it a winning start.
Camacho's team moved on to home soil in October with a 2-0 win over Israel in Madrid but four days later Spain lost their 100 per cent record as Austria held them to a 1-1 draw in Vienna.
Ruben Baraja - who had made his debut as a substitute against Israel - scored on his full debut.
Qualifying resumed in March with a 5-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein and there was another big win in June as Bosnia were put to the sword 4-1.
Hierro opened the scoring which was his 27th for the national team.
Despite being a defender this meant the Real Madrid man had broken Emilio Butragueño's scoring record for Spain.
The second - and final - time that Camacho's men were denied a win in their group came four days later as Israel held them 1-1 in Tel Aviv.
That meant victory over Austria in September would qualify Spain for the World Cup and they did it in style - Morientes inspiring a 4-0 victory in Valencia.
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