ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, June 12 (Reuters) - Group C favourites Spain begin their Euro 2000 campaign against Norway beset by injury and weighed down by the failures of their past.

Classy goalscorer Raul and defender Michel Salgado carry injuries into Tuesday's game in Rotterdam while captain Fernando Hierro has played just 90 minutes of football since March.

Jose Antonio Camacho's talented squad are wary of being numbered among the title favourites after their 42-goal romp through qualifying, but they are determined to earn themselves a little international respect.

"It's true there are some butterfiles in the stomach at the moment," said Barcelona defender Sergi Barjuan. "There's a desire to get things started. We're not nervous - just anxious to show what we can do."

Sixteen long years have passed since Spain last did themselves justice in a major tournament, when they were beaten in the 1984 European Championship final by hosts France.

Camacho knows all about Spain's chequered history, having played in four major championships including the hugely disappointing World Cup in Spain in 1982. The former Real Madrid defender now wants fans to keep a sense of proportion whatever Tuesday's result.

"If we win against Norway it'll be a case of euphoria and if we lose it'll be a disaster," Camacho sighed. "If we lose the first game we can still go through. We could also win on Tuesday, then lose our next two games and be back home."

After a bout of paranoia last week that led to non-Spanish journalists being locked out of the squad's news conferences, Camacho is being extremely guarded about his line-up.

If the way the squad has lined up in recent practice matches is anything to go by, Jose Francisco Molina appears set to be in goal ahead of Santiago Canizares, while towering Basque striker Ismael Urzaiz should form the forward partnership with Raul.

Norwegian coach Nils Johan Semb has also had an injury scare, over Henning Berg. The Manchester United defender missed training on Friday and Saturday but is expected to be fit enough to face the Spaniards.

Spain will be more disappointed to see the name of another United man on the team sheet, after both Raul and Pep Guardiola picked out Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a dangerman.

Solskjaer is back in the Norwegian camp after being in Manchester to witness the birth of his son, Noah. "He can now concentrate on playing the games and not be worried," said Semb, who has guided Norway to the European Championship Finals for the first time in their history.

He is likely to field Solskjaer alongside Valencia-bound John Carew in his favoured rotational system, just behind Chelsea striker Tore Andre Flo.