England’s superstars will line up against a motley collection of part-timers when they face Andorra in today’s opening World Cup qualifier.
While David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, John Terry and company are global icons, their opponents, ranked 186th in the world, would struggle to raise a flicker of recognition even in their own tiny principality on the Spanish border.
Andorra’s population of just 70,000 means they will never be able to compete on an equal footing with superpowers like England, but that won’t stop the underdogs trying to leave a lasting impression on Fabio Capello’s team in Barcelona’s Olympic stadium.
That impression might be made in stud-marks judging by Andorra’s woeful disciplinary record.
Their Spanish coach David Rodrigo has fashioned a side who refuse to show the slightest respect for their opponents, an attitude that led Andorra to rack up more red and yellow cards during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers than any other team.
Toni Lima, 37, is the technical director of Spanish third division club Eivissa, but he still turns out for Andorra in defense and recalls with relish how England were ruffled during their last meeting back in March last year.
Lima’s lasting memory of that night is the angry reaction of England’s players at half-time after some hard tackles from the hosts.
“We have developed a game that sometimes pushes us to the limit of the rules,” Lima told the Times. “The gap between us and a team like England means we have to play defensively and hard.”
“I remember they weren’t so happy when they went into the dressing-room at half-time that night,” Lima said. “You could see that not just from the players but the coaching staff and the rest.”
“They are physically fitter and superior. But you never know, if they don’t score early, maybe they will get a bit nervous again,” he said.
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