Spain awaits World Cup steam bath in Brazil

WASHINGTON (AP) Striker Pedro Rodriguez of Spain is well aware of how draining the heat can be in Brazil, but he's confident the World Cup champions can quickly adapt.

The Spanish team got a taste of the swelter last year when it played in the Confederation Cup.

''It is very hot weather; it is difficult,'' Pedro said at a news conference Thursday. ''There were matches that, because of the time and the heat, it was difficult to acclimate to. We will find the same thing again.

''We hope to adapt as quickly as possible and to be in good shape to face this weather. These unfavorable conditions can hurt us.''

The Barcelona star said his teammates are ''working very hard'' in practice and ''the feelings are good.''

Spain plays its Group B opener against the Netherlands on June 13 in Salvador, then takes on Chile and Australia. Spain beat the Dutch in the 1010 final.

''I think the goal of the group is to be at 100 percent for that first game, which we know will be very hard,'' defender Cesar Azpilicueta said.

The Spaniards arrived in Washington on Monday and face El Salvador on Saturday in their last tuneup game before heading to Brazil.

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