Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets warned the title holders that they had to make a virtue of patience in their meeting with Ireland on Thursday in Gdansk.
"If the Irish choose to stay bunched in front of their goal then the key for us will be patience," said Busquets.
"But clearly we are not going to change our style one little bit. If we can get an early goal then that would be an advantage as the Irish would then have to open up."
Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni says he intends to take a leaf out of Champions League winners' Chelsea's book.
"We know the Spanish are very technically gifted but I remember Bayern Munich also dominated Chelsea (in the Champions League final). Chelsea only had one corner from which they equalised before winning on penalties.
"They ended up winning - but that's football," Trapattoni mused.
Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets speaks during a press conference in Gniewino on June 12, 2012 during the Euro 2012 football championships. AFP PHOTO/ PIERRE -PHILIPPE MARCOU