Champions Spain start home campaign
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Article summary
Having kicked off the defence of their European crown by defeating Liechtenstein 4-0, Spain entertain joint-leaders Lithuania in their second Group I fixture.
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Article body
World and European champions Spain contest their first competitive home game since their triumphant return from South Africa against Lithuania in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group I.
Match background
• Spain's record in four matches against Lithuania reads W3 D1 L0 (W2 D0 L0 at home).
• The sides made their initial introductions in Seville on 24 February 1993 in the first of a pair of 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with Spain winning 5-0 thanks to goals from Cristóbal, José María Bakero, Aitor 'Txiki' Begiristain, Thomas Christiansen and Adolfo Aldana. Julen Guerrero then scored twice to seal a 2-0 success in the return fixture.
• The teams were pooled together again in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, but this time the encounters between them proved much closer. They drew 0-0 in Vilnius on 13 October 2004 before Spain prevailed 1-0 in Valencia on 4 June the following year, Albert Luque firing the 68th-minute winning effort.
• Lithuania have thus failed to score against Spain in four matches, during which time they have conceded eight goals.
