Guardiola: 'We must improve'

Jose Guardiola: Playing down Spain's chances

Barcelona midfielder Jose Guardiola has played down Spain's chances of winning Euro 2000 despite their impressive qualifying campaign.

Guardiola, who is preparing for his first European championship finals following his surprise omission from Javier Clemente's squad for Euro 96, played a key part in Spain's march through qualifying.

The Barcelona skipper admits he is determined to enjoy a competition which Spain are among the favourites to win but he refuses to countenance talk of his side taking the title for the second time.

Guardiola said: "We're being called favourites because of our run in qualifying but to win the title we'll have to make a major improvement on our form in historical terms.

Lower rung

"As far as I'm concerned we're on a lower rung than champion teams.

"Germany, France, Italy and Holland have demonstrated their ability at this level again and again. We haven't done anything in Europe."

If you look at Germany, they're far more reliable than we are. We're the mysterious side of Euro 2000

Jose Guardiola

Spain's only success in a major competition was back in 1964, when they hosted the European championship from the semi-final stage and beat the Soviet Union in the final in Madrid.

Since then Spain have dominated the qualifying campaigns only to fall to a disappointing exit in the final stages.

"If you look at Germany, they're far more reliable than we are. We're the mysterious side of Euro 2000," said Guardiola.

Spain's hopes for the competition have also been buoyed by the success of Spanish clubs in the Champions League this season, with the country boasting both finalists.

Critics

But Guardiola disagrees with the critics who claim the increased workload for the players in Jose Antonio Camacho's squad involved in European competition will leave half the side exhausted.

He said: "For Spain, tiredness will not be a factor. For us, the problem has always been a mental one rather than a physical one. In terms of fitness everyone is fine.

"As far as I'm concerned it's an honour and a privilege to be here.

"I probably won't get another chance to experience a tournament like this and I'm determined to enjoy it," added the 29-year-old Catalan.

The Spanish start their campaign with a match against Norway in Rotterdam on Tuesday.