Sanchez vows to galvanise team

Lawrie Sanchez gets back down to business today determined to raise morale in the Northern Ireland camp.

The squad go into the Euro 2008 qualifier against Spain on Wednesday still stunned by events at the weekend.

While the players knew the opening game against Iceland was not going to be a walk in the park there was a mood of cautious optimism in the group.

Instead Northern Ireland suffered a 3-0 defeat in front of their own fans.

Sanchez, however, insists there is no room for self-pity.

He said: “I will get back on the training field and try to get 11 players motivated against Spain. That is what I am paid to do. That is the manager’s job. Look what we did after losing to Poland, although this is a bigger task.”

Sanchez was referring to the World Cup qualifiers when Northern Ireland bounced back following that defeat to draw against Wales.

Since then they have risen to 72 in the world rankings – 34 places above Iceland. You would never have believed that statistic, however, when they locked horns.

Iceland wrapped the game up with goals from Gunnar Thorvaldsson, Hermann Hreidarsson and the irrepressible Eidur Gudjohnsen before half time.

Following that shock defeat, Sanchez drafted in Manchester United’s 18-year-old central defender Jonny Evans.

He could win a place in the team as there are doubts not only about the fitness of skipper Aaron Hughes but the form of Stephen Craigan and Tony Capaldi.

Hughes had six stitches in a gash above his eye and there are concerns his ability to head the ball might be affected.

Evans has been tipped for a bright future for club and country and has been loaned to Belgian club Royal Antwerp in a bid to help his development.

Evans was part of the United squad that travelled to South Africa in pre-season.

He then went on to score against Celtic in a friendly and manager Alex Ferguson claimed he could win a place in the Northern Ireland side this season.

Sanchez was furious at the way Iceland got their goals and said: “We were guilty of basic errors. We started well but once they scored the doubts crept in. We froze and did not do the job required. Now we have got to lift ourselves again.”