| International Matches | |
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Luxembourg 0 - Spain 1 By our international correspondent Borja Pantzov Another disappointing warm up match for the forthcoming Euro 2000 championships, as Spain struggled to beat lowly Luxembourg. However manager José Antonio Camacho put little importance on the result, arguing that his players were currently undergoing an intensive training program in order to be ready for the first match in six days time against Norway. With Raúl nursing a leg muscle injury, Camacho left him and five others back at their base in Tegelen, giving some of his reserve players a chance to make a place for themselves in the starting line up. Cañizares started in goal, with Mendieta and Munitis starting a game for Spain for the first time, and Alfonso returning up front. There was an unfamiliar back four of Velasco, Helguera, Abelardo and Sergi, and youngsters Casillas and Gerard both came on in the second half for the second match in a row. Mendieta and Alfonso are the men most likely to figure in Camacho's plans, and both came out of this game favourably, although Alfonso would have done himself more good if his header in the fifteenth minute had gone in rather than ricochet off the cross bar. Spain looked as if they were going to win by a mile when Mendieta struck his free kick past Besic in the third minute following a foul on Alfonso on the edge of the area. However they were unable to capitalize on the many chances they created, and the match ended without any further goals. If nothing else, the match served to bring the Spanish team down off their cloud for the upcoming competition, where they are being touted as one of the main favourites. Camacho (who celebrated his 45th birthday in secret the day after the match) now has a week to ruminate before it all begins in earnest. His main worry must be Raúl, who has not been able to shake off hisinjury, and Michel Salgado also picked up an injury in training which could mean he misses the first match. Mendieta may have won himself a place, although it would be on the unfamiliar left side if Fran is left out. Molina is expected to start in goal, and the striker position will be between Urzaiz and Alfonso. Teams were as follows: Luxembourg: Besic; Deville, Schauls, Saibene, Ferron, Vanek, Strasser, Holtz (Peters 87'), Cardoni, Schneider, Cristophe (Zarinski 70'). Spain: Cañizares (Casillas 60'); Velasco, Iván Helguera, Abelardo, Sergi (Aranzábal 77'); Mendieta (Etxeberria 60'), Engonga, Valerón (Hierro 60'), Fran (Gerard 60'); Munitis, Alfonso. Goals: |
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