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Northern Ireland's unlikely dream of qualifying for Euro 2008 is over after Spain defeated them 1-0 in Las Palmas thanks to a goal from Barcelona midfielder Xavi.
"This was a complicated game, the Irish played with a lot of men behind the ball," reflected Xavi, with the Spanish showing much more ambition despite having already qualified.
Debutante Daniel Guiza should've scored after 26 minutes but Northern Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor two-footed challenge just managed to thwart the Real Mallorca player's close range effort.
Guiza also had two other good chances to score in the first half and a header skimmed past Taylor's right post in the dying seconds before the whistle for half time.
Nevertheless, Guiza was a happy man despite his failure to find the net and being replaced by Espanyol's Raul Tamudo after 58 minutes, not least because he will be 300,000 euros richer on Thursday.
He will get the money as a bonus from his club for making his international debut.
"It is in the contract that I signed when I moved from Getafe to Mallorca in the summer. It said I'll get the bonus if I make my international debut this season," admitted Guiza before the game.
"The money will be great but I'm more interested in playing for my country," added Guiza, who spent all 90 minutes of Saturady's Spain's 3-0 win over Sweden on the bench.
Six minutes after half time Xavi was left unmarked about 25 metres out and the midfield playmaker unleashed a rasping right foot shot which took a deflection off the head of Stephen Craigan before finally finding the net.
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