Spain's only moment of glory came when they beat the Soviet Union to win the European Championship in 1964.
Since the group stage was introduced at the finals in 1980, they have only once managed to win their opening game, against Denmark in 1988, and the players are anxious to shrug off their reputation as slow starters.
"The first game is always the most difficult," fullback Carles Puyol said from the team's base in northern Portugal, close to the Spanish border. "We need to do well this time."
Spain certainly cannot afford a repeat of Euro 2000, when they lost their opening game against Norway and were lucky to sneak through with wins over Slovenia and Yugoslavia.
After taking on Russia, Spain face tricky games against Greece, who beat them during qualifying for the tournament, and Portugal.
The last thing the players want is to go into the Portuguese game in Lisbon with a place in the quarter-finals still in doubt.
"That would be very difficult," striker Fernando Morientes warned. "It's not just because of their quality but also because as the host nation they have every incentive to win.
"It would be better to resolve matters in the first two matches."
The return to form of Morientes since his loan move to Monaco should lift a Spanish side otherwise short of firepower.
Top scorer Raul has had a terrible season at Real Madrid, while the 20-year-old Fernando Torres, exciting prospect though he is, has yet to look convincing at this level.
Spain have at least remained free of serious injuries since Michel Salgado was forced to pull out, with just slight niggles for David Albelda and Ivan Helguera.
Russia, who as the Soviet Union won the first European Championship in 1960 and reached three more finals, have more to worry about after injury accounted for first-choice central defenders Viktor Onopko and Sergei Ignashevich.
Left back Dmitry Sennikov has a pulled thigh muscle but is expected to start, while playmaker Dmitry Loskov is nursing a leg injury.
Russia will also be without Yegor Titov who failed a drugs test after the first leg of the playoff against Wales and coach Georgy Yartsev is aware of the task his patched-up side face.
"We're facing a very confident and powerful team," Yartsev said. "Raul and Morientes are known worldwide and their midfielders are very good with the ball.
"We only have a chance if we play disciplined and highly organised football."
Probable teams:
Spain: 23-Iker Casillas; 5-Carles Puyol, 3-Carlos Marchena, 6-Ivan Helguera, 15-Raul Bravo; 17-Joseba Etxeberria, 4-David Albelda, 8-Ruben Baraja, 14-Vicente; 10-Fernando Morientes, 7-Raul.
Russia: 1-Sergei Ovchinnikov; 16-Vadim Yevseyev, 4-Alexei Smertin, 13-Roman Sharonov, 17-Dmitry Sennikov; 22-Yevgeny Aldonin, 15-Dmitry Alenichev, 10-Alexander Mostovoi, 7-Marat Izmailov or 5-Andrei Karyaka; 3-Dmitry Sychev, 9-Dmitry Bulykin.
