Spain skipper Iker Casillas has admitted the team has been suffering from nerves at the World Cup.

The European champions face the Netherlands in Sunday´s final, despite not always being at their brilliant best in South Africa.

“We´ve felt a bit anxious all the way through the tournament, even the early matches,” said the Real Madrid keeper.

“This is a very important match – the most important of our careers – and we do feel nervous.”

Spain went into the tournament as favourites to win their first ever World Cup, but lost to Switzerland in their opening group game, before recovering to qualify for the knockout stages as Group H winners.

However, they have still to find their top form and each of their wins against Portugal, Paraguay and Germany have come by a single goal.

Spain and Barcelona playmaker Xavi also revealed that the side are aware that things have not quite clicked from an attacking point of view.

Liverpool forward Fernando Torres, who scored the winning goal for Spain at Euro 2008, has endured a difficult World Cup and was dropped for the semi-final win over Germany in favour of Pedro.

“It is clear we have not scored many goals,” said the 30-year-old Xavi. “But we are feeling very comfortable with the way we are playing, and we are creating plenty of opportunities. Usually when you do that, you tend to get goals.

“But we are not converting the chances to our normal percentage. Let´s see if we can lift that because it will be particularly important.”

But Xavi believes that his side are ready to end the country´s long wait to become world champions against the Dutch, who have lost both of their previous final appearances.

“Football around the world is very even at the moment, very balanced. It´s the minor details that can be decisive,” he said

“If there is a change in the world order I hope it´s in favour of Spain. It´s time for Spain to take its place at the top and I think this generation of players fully deserves that.

“We are just anxious to kick off and show the best possible side of Spain. We are filled with enthusiasm and motivated. It´s an historic game for us and we want to enjoy the moment.”

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque refused to divulge whether Torres would return to the starting line-up for the final, but hinted they were not afraid to change their tactics in such an important match.

“We´ve got a team filled with many possibilities – Plan A, plan B and other distinct solutions,” said the former Real Madrid coach, who added that he did not have any specific solution for stopping Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder, who has scored five goals from midfield.

“An anti-Sneijder plan? No. Teams nearly always have a player like this that drifts between the lines and that is difficult to mark. We have midfield players who are used to marking these types of players.”

via BBC Sport – Football – World Cup 2010: Casillas says nerves have hit Spain.