Fabregas is in line to start Sunday's final after setting up two of Spain's goals in the 3-0 win over Russia. The Arsenal midfielder came on for the injured David Villa and Aragones praised him.

"A player like Cesc, who is 21, has acquired the experience of someone who is 28 or 29," he said.

Aragones noted how well it suited Spain to have five midfielders after the departure of Villa. "When we started to have a lot of touches on the ball," he said, "we reached the stage where we were complete in defence and attack."

A relaxed Aragones also cited Gary Linekers's remark about football being a game in which 11 men play 11 and the Germans win in the end. The coach, though, is not fatalistic.

"Our people have learned to compete and we also believe in ourselves," he said.