Iberian wrangle

European Championship hosts Portugal will be knocked out at the first hurdle on Sunday unless they break with tradition and beat neighbours Spain for the first time in a competitive international. The likelihood of at least one of the Iberian pair going out of the tournament has added extra spice to the fixture.

	MATCH FACTS
			Venue: Jose Alvalade Stadium, Lisbon Kickoff time: 00:15 hrs SPAIN Coach: Inaki Saez World ranking: 3 Average age of squad: 26 Most capped player: Raul (74) Leading scorer in squad: Raul (38) PORTUGAL Coach: Luis Felipe Scolari World ranking: 22 Average age of squad: 27 Most capped player: Fernando Couto (108) Leading scorer in squad: Luis Figo (31) Story continues below this ad LAST MEETING (Friendly) Sept 6 2003, Guimares, Portugal RESULT Portugal 0 Spain 3 ((Joseba Etxeberria 12, Joaquin 60, Diego Tristan 75) HEAD TO HEAD PLAYED: 31 Spain: 15; Portugal: 4; Draws: 12

Although Spain have won three of the five competitive meetings and the other two have been drawn, Portugal’s Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is not bothered: ‘‘There’s always a first time,’’ he said.

Portugal last beat Spain in a friendly in Porto 23 years ago and they crashed to a 3-0 home defeat as recently as September. ‘‘But this game will be different and we hope the outcome will be the opposite,’’ said goalkeeper Ricardo. ‘‘That match serves as a reference point to show the players we can beat them,’’ insists Spanish coach Inaki Saez.

Much will depend on whether Spanish forwards Raul and Fernando Morientes finally click. Raul has been so out of form despite a record 38 goals for his country that there is serious talk he may be dropped.

Raul is thinking only of the match even though the Spaniards have Fernando Torres bursting to be thrown into the fray in his place. ‘‘I think it will be us and the Greeks in the last eight,’’ said the Spanish captain, who wants to celebrate his 27th birthday on June 27.

(Agencies)