09/06/2003

Spain arrive in Belfast for Euro 2004 qualifier

World Cup quarter-finalists, Spain arrived in Belfast today to prepare for Wednesday's Euro 2004 qualifying fixture against Sammy McIlroy's Northern Ireland.

The Spanish will be looking to redress Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Greece, a result that has left Group Six wide open. Though the Spanish currently top the group by a single point, they can rectify the defeat when they face a Northern Ireland side which has not scored for 882 minutes.

Local supporters should not be too disheartened however. With Windsor Park at full capacity, and a fresh, vibrant, youthful team at McIlroy's disposal, Northern Ireland may be able to pull off a miracle. But it will not be easy. While the NI manager has had to call up part-time Irish league striker, Andy Smith, in an attempt to solve his side's goal scoring drought, Spain will struggle to satisfy their surfeit of available strikers, especially when they can choose from the likes of Raul, Guti, and Morientes. It's no wonder local fans are anticipating a scoreline similar to the last time these two side's met with Northern Ireland going down 3-0.

But when it comes to major upsets, no one does it quite like Northern Ireland – remember Spain in 1982, a special match close to the NI fans’ hearts.

Wednesday night's match kicks off at 8.00pm.

(MB)

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