Veteran keeper Emma Byrne looks to inflict pain on Spain

For Ireland’s veteran goalkeeper Emma Byrne to crown her career by reaching next year’s Euros, then extracting something from today’s qualifier in Spain would be most helpful.

Sue Ronan’s side are immersed in a three-way tussle with Finland and Portugal for second spot in Group Two behind the rampant Spaniards ahead of today’s meeting in Madrid (5pm, Irish time).

At the midway point of the campaign, anything gained from the top seeds would go a long way towards qualification. A runners-up finish in September would likely be sufficient to clinch a spot at next year’s expanded 16-nation finals in Holland.