POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa (AP) — Injured midfielder Andres Iniesta remained in doubt for Spain’s opening World Cup match after training alone yesterday during the European champion’s first practice in South Africa.

Iniesta ran individual drills with one of the team’s physiotherapists at the North West University sports complex, where the team is based for the tournament.

The Barcelona playmaker hurt his right thigh muscle during Tuesday’s 6-0 win over Poland. Spain open Group H against Switzerland on Wednesday before facing Honduras and Chile.

Spain were the last of the 32 teams to arrive and were welcomed with a warm reception from locals, who closed the 60-minute evening session with chants of “Ole”.

Coach Vicente del Bosque put the rest of his 23-man squad through an up-

tempo session following their overnight flight. Fernando Torres took part with his right knee heavily bandaged as he recovers from surgery.

Earlier, local dancers and teenage children welcomed the team to the North West Province town of around 200,000 with dancing and a 20-minute concert featuring

tribal rhythms. Yellow and red Spanish flags lined most streets.

“We’re happy Spain is with us,” mayor Andrew John Maphetle said. “Many days we’ve awaited your arrival. The kids, the youngest ones, don’t stop asking about when Torres, (Carles) Puyol and Iniesta would arrive.”

Midfielder Cecs Fabregas also trained normally as he also continues his recovery from a fractured right leg.