Andorra bank on Lima

Defender Idelfons Lima, Andorra's leading scorer in their 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, is one of only three professional players who play for the landlocked principality.
 
Madrid midfield player
He may not be as well known as the Andorran-born Real Madrid CF midfield player Albert Celades, who could lay claim to being Andorra's most-famous son, but Celades opted to play his international football for Spain.
 
Flying the flag
In a similar fashion, Gimnastic de Tarragona full-back Marc Bernaus, who plays professional football in the Spanish second division, renounced his Andorran citizenship in favour of Spain, leaving Lima and his brother Andoni with the honour of flying the Andorran flag on the international stage.
 
Versatile performer
The 22-year-old, who can play either at centre-half or in a defensive role on the left of midfield, currently plays in Greece’s Ethniki Katigoria for Ionikos, as does his brother.
 
Productive reserve team
Lima began his career as a 16-year-old playing for FC Andorra in the Spanish third division. He spent two years with the club before being signed by RCD Espanyol, where he spent two years playing in the second division with their highly-productive reserve team.
 
Fruitless campaign
But he failed to break into the first team and opted for a move to Greece instead, where he is currently adapting to life in the Hellenic National League. Despite his age, Lima has already made 25 appearances on the international stage and scored two goals, against Cyprus and Ireland during Andorra's fruitless World Cup qualifying campaign.
 
Brotherly help
The Andorrans finished bottom of Group Two after losing all ten of their matches, scoring just five times and conceding 36. The task of qualifying for Euro 2004™ will certainly not be any easier for Andorra, but Lima will be hoping to continue furthering his professional career with more goals and a little help from his brother.