Spain cruise into Euro 2004 finals
 |
Raul put Spain ahead on 34 minutes.
Story Tools
EURO 2004 PLAYOFFS
|
Netherlands win 6-1 on aggregate
Spain win 5-1 on aggregate
Croatia win 2-1 on aggregate
Latvia win 3-2 on aggregate
Russia win 1-0 on aggregate
|
| EURO 2004 QUALIFIERS |
Portugal (hosts), France, Denmark, Czech Republic, Sweden, Germany, Greece, England, Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Spain, Latvia, Netherlands, Russia.
|
|
OSLO, Norway -- Spain cruised into the Euro 2004 finals with a stylish 3-0 victory over Norway in their playoff second leg.
Raul, who scored in Saturday's 2-1 first leg win, Valencia, was on target again after 34 minutes before second half goals from Vicente and Joseba Etxeberria secured a 5-1 aggregate win.
Spain were in a different class, as Norway struggled to contain the creative skills of Juan Carlos Valeron and failed to pose a threat to goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Valeron provided the neat through ball for Raul, who broke free from his marker Ronny Johnsen to shoot low past Norwegian goalkeeper Espen Johnsen for the first goal just after the half-hour mark.
Vicente grabbed Spain's second in the 49th minute, shooting low into the net after an error by defender Christer Basma left him with the ball in the area.
Then luckless keeper Johnsen cleared straight onto the head of Etxeberria in the 55th minute.
Etxeberria managed to steer it goalwards, hardly believing his own good fortune.
Norway had few chances. Striker Tore Andre Flo headed one ball harmlessly to Casillas and John Arne Riise managed a shot that bounced out for a corner late in the game, when many disheartened Norwegian fans had already left Oslo's Ullevaal stadium.
Raul's goal was his 37th goal in 68 games for his country.
"We were the team that really wanted to be there in Portugal," said the Real Madrid striker. "We have seven months to prepare for the tournament and we can now dream of bringing home the success that Spanish football needs."
