Even David Healy can't save Irish from pain in Spain

Needing victory, and for Latvia to win in Sweden, Nigel Worthington's side finally ran out of steam, outclassed but not out-fought by an impressive Spain side who claimed victory only thanks to a deflected effort from Xavi.

For once, goalkeeper Maik Taylor was wrong-footed when the Barcelona midfielder's 25-yard effort bounced off Stephen Craigan to give Spain a 52nd-minute lead, signalling an anti-climatic end.

But after such an impressive qualification adventure, Northern Ireland will rightly draw credit for the way they came so close to making their first major Finals for 22 years.

Fulham striker Healy never got close to adding to his record-breaking 13 goals and a repeat of the Gerry Armstronginspired World Cup win on Spanish soil in 1982 was never on the cards but Worthington was philosophical.

"I've enjoyed it," he said. "We worked hard and had fun. I can't fault the players. But 1-0 is no disgrace coming here. The players were absolutely magnificent as they always are."

The side were never under any illusions they faced a daunting task but had drawn hope after seeing England benefit from an unexpected sequence of results at the weekend. But before they could even start to think about the possibility of a Latvia win, the Northern Irish knew they would have to reverse the trend of their awful away record in competitive matches — and in Spain of all places.

Their success in pushing their bigger rivals all the way in this campaign was built on a formidable home record. Although the four points collected at Denmark and Sweden revived the dream of qualification, Worthington and his players know only too well that the pivotal moments in the campaign were the backto- back single-goal defeats in Latvia and Iceland in September, both of which came courtesy of agonising own goals.

In the Irish's favour was the fact that Spain's victory over Sweden on Saturday assured Luis Aragones's side a place in Austria and Switzerland. But with the pressure off, it quickly became clear Spain intended to enjoy their first trip to Gran Canaria for almost four decades while at the same time seeking revenge for the moralesapping 3-2 defeat they suffered in Belfast 14 months ago. Passing the ball fluently from the start, the home side teased and tormented Northern Ireland who, quickly realising they faced a long night chasing and harrying, suffered another knock to the confidence when news that Sweden had taken a second-minute lead filtered through.

Birmingham keeper Maik Taylor was forced into a steady succession of first-half saves, most notably from midfielders Andres Iniesta and Marcos Senna, and when the keeper went missing, Sammy Clingan and Gareth McAuley both denied Spanish striker David Guiza headers with goalline clearances.

While Spain ended the first half frustrated, they moved through the gears after the break and Xavi's goal sucked even more life out of Northern Ireland. But they stood firm and, while the equaliser never came and Sweden won 2-1 in Latvia, the moral victory over the campaign has been theirs.

SPAIN (4-1-4-1): Reina 6; Ramos 7, Albiol 6, Ibanez 6, Pernia 6; Senna 8; Iniesta 7, Fabregas 8 (Joaquin 46 6), Xavi 9 (Villa 67 6), Silva 8; Guiza 6 (Tamudo 57).

NORTHERN IRELAND (4-4-2): Taylor 8; McAuley 6, Hughes 8, Craigan 8, Baird 6; Sproule 6 (Paterson 72 6), Clingan 7, Davis 7, Brunt 6 (Lafferty 60 6); Healy 6, Feeney, 6 (Robinson 70 6).

Man of the match: David Silva.

Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany).