Group 6: Camacho wary of Ukraine

Spain coach José Antonio Camacho insisted Ukraine were the biggest, though not the only, obstacle barring his team's path to Portugal after Friday's draw for the EURO 2004™ qualifying campaign.

'Really competitive group'
"It is a really competitive group and we know that Ukraine will be the most difficult opponents," he said. "However, we also have to be aware that it will not be easy to beat Greece and Northern Ireland who will also provide tough opposition."

Reality check
Group 6, which also includes Armenia, provided Real Madrid CF defender Fernando Hierro with a cold dose of reality, too. "It is a difficult group," he said. "Ukraine are a good team with a lot of players from FC Dynamo Kyiv whom we already know. Northern Ireland are never easy opponents because of their long-ball game. We know all about the atmosphere in Greek stadiums, while Armenia are getting better all the time. In Ukraine we will be up against the elements, depending of course on the time of year we play there. The same goes for Northern Ireland. However, if we are talking about group favourites then I say Spain."

Learning lesson of the Dutch
Hierro's Madrid team-mate Iván Helguera added: "It doesn't look too difficult, but the Netherlands didn't appear to have a tough group and they aren't going to the [2002 FIFA] World Cup. Spain should qualify, but it won't be easy."

Icing on the cake
For Northern Ireland, the fixture list will revive memories of the country's finest hour: a 1-0 defeat of hosts Spain at the 1982 World Cup finals. However, a repeat performance looks unlikely according to national team coach Sammy McIlroy, who played in that game. "We knew beforehand it would be difficult and so it has proved," he said. "But getting Spain has put some icing on the cake given the history between the countries. We have played them 13 times and that is the only time we have beaten them. Spain have got some world-class players like Raúl [González] and [Fernando] Morientes. It is a tough group. Ukraine have got some very good players like [Serhiy] Rebrov, [Andriy] Shevchenko and [Oleg] Luzhny. Greece pushed England all the way in the qualifying for the World Cup and I know Armenia are no mugs."

No easy games
Meanwhile, BSC Young Boys midfield player Artur Petrosyan acted as spokesman for the currently managerless Armenian national side when he said: "Our group is very strong and we'll have to meet Ukraine again. We know them well, and the rivalry will continue. I think the title of favourites goes to Spain, without question." Defender Harutyun Vardanyan added: "I think this group is not bad for us. The opposition is strong, but you don't get poor teams in Europe any more."