SOCCER CONFEDERATIONS CUP SEMI-FINAL: Spain v USA: HAVING SET the world record for the most successive wins in international football at 15, Spain will look to reach another milestone when they take on the USA in tonight's Confederations Cup semi-final in Bloemfontein.

The 2-0 win over hosts South Africa in their final group game on Saturday surpassed the previous record for consecutive victories jointly held by Australia (1996-97), France (2003-04) and Brazil (1997), but tonight the European champions could also eclipse the latter’s 35-match unbeaten record set between December 1993 and January 1996.

Few would bet against Vicente del Bosque’s side reaching such a landmark against the USA who, after being beaten by Italy and Brazil, squeezed into the knockout stages by virtue of a surprise 3-0 win over Egypt and Brazil’s demolition of the world champions by the same scoreline.

Del Bosque has yet to preside over anything but a Spain win during his 13-game tenure as manager, though tonight’s record of 36 without defeat, if achieved, will owe just as much to his predecessor Luis Aragones.

Spain last tasted defeated in a November 2006 friendly against Romania, coming off the back of Euro 2008 qualifying defeats to Sweden and Northern Ireland – the latter courtesy of a David Healy hat-trick at Windsor Park.

Since then, they have won 32 of their 35 games and drawn three, beating teams like France, Italy, England (twice), Germany and tonight’s opponents on the way. One of the draws came against Italy in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals, after which Spain went through 4-2 on penalties. It was the last game they failed to win to date.

Tonight’s game is unlikely to see them come unstuck in their quest to win the Confederations Cup, though they are likely to face Brazil in the final. Victory over the grand masters of world football would be a 17th win on the trot in a 37-match unbeaten run that would surely merit a mention among the best sides ever.