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But it took the combined forces of a somewhat fortunate Hernandez Xavi strike coupled with Sweden's defeat of Latvia to get the better of our heroes in green.

Xavi grabbed the match winner eight minutes into the second half from distance via a wicked deflection off Stephen Craigan.

Indeed, Xavi was behind the first of Spain's many scoring opportunities when, after just two minutes, he sent an effort wide of Maik Taylor's post.

At the other end David Healy cracked a 17th minute shot over the bar after creating an opening for himself when little looked on but the hosts responded four minutes later through a Sergio Ramos drive into the side-netting.

As might have been expected given the heat and conditions Spain had the lions' share of possession with Daniel Guiza bringing out another save from Maik Taylor followed a minute later by a Sergio Ramos shot which Sammy Clingan managed to clear off the line.

The pressure continued through Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and another Guiza effort.

But the longer the game wore on the more we dared to dream.

Sweden had went ahead in the opening seconds of their game only for Latvia to level midway from the first half and with our own game scoreless it was a case of maybe, just maybe ........

However, Xavi's 53rd minute 25-yard effort - which Taylor looked to have covered - took the cruellest of deflections off the unaware Craigan into the opposite corner of the goal.

And with Sweden regaining the advantage four minutes later in their game it was clear that it just wasn't going to be our night.

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