Spain 9 Austria 0, March 27th 1999

Spain ripped through Austria to score nine goals in a victory that puts them back into group six contention.

They have two games in hand over leaders Cyprus now and only three points to make up. On this form the other teams in the section should forget about qualifying for next summer's finals.

Raul hit two goals in the first seventeen minutes to establish that Austria were in Valencia to take a real hammering. Seven goals were to follow for Jose Camacho's resurgent side.

This display by Spain is unlikely to be bettered by any international side before the end of this century and Raul proved his worth with the initial strikes. In the fifth minute he was on the end of a cross from Barajan and he produced a fine lob to beat Austrian goalkeeper Franz Wolfahrt only to run free off the post allowing thee Real star to smack it home.

Hiero scored a penalty after Urziaz had made it three with a powerful header and ther Austrian defence was now spreadeagled with still an hour of the game left. Urziaz got his second a minute before half time with a long range shot.

Austria even looked capable of conceding goals during half time and promptly shipped another to Raul who produced a neat finish and used his head to score his fourth of the night.

Raul's cross produced the eight goal of the night when Wetl slashed it into his own net after an attempted clearance went wrong. Gonzalez completed the scoring with a low drive from close range as Spain passed Asutria into the ground.