Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni has said his team must show belief against Spain as the Irish fight to keep their Euro 2012 dreams alive.

Having suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Croatia in their opening Group C game on Sunday, Ireland are looking at an almost certain early exit unless they can get something from their game in Gdansk tonight.

The Irish are making only their second appearance at a European Championship and Trapattoni says his team must concentrate and show belief if they are to avoid exiting after the group stages.

“We have another 90 minutes coming. We have to believe. Every game in this Euro could be a surprise. We have to believe this,” he said.

It has been a decade since the 2002 World Cup, the last time an Irish team appeared at a major finals but Trapattoni’s team now have their work cut out as they face Spain, followed by Italy.

Having taken charge of Ireland in 2008, the 73-year-old Trapattoni has acquired cult status in Ireland. Certainly an Irish win over Spain would be little less than miraculous.

Trapattoni is coming under pressure from the Irish media to blood in-form Sunderland wing James McClean who only made his debut in May’s friendly win against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Meanwhile, having played a 4-3-3 formation against Italy with Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas up front, Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque must decide whether to give striker Fernando Torres another chance after he impressed from the bench against Italy.

“I am not happy about everything that happened against Italy – there are things we must improve,” said Del Bosque.

“But I am not unhappy with the options we have, we had four options – the three everyone was aware of (strikers Alvaro Negredo, Fernando Torres or Fernando Llorente) and then that of Cesc.”

Del Bosque said if it came to it he would do without a classic centre-forward again.

“The only thing that interests us is what is in the interest of the team. The opinions of others surely have interests distinct from our own.”

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