Guti cheers Spain, but Real options are limited
Spanish attacking midfielder Guti, having netted his first international goal in Saturday's 3-0 Euro 2004 qualifying rout of Northern Ireland, now has a dual mission to fulfil.
Spanish attacking midfielder Guti, having netted his first international goal in Saturday's 3-0 Euro 2004 qualifying rout of Northern Ireland, now has a dual mission to fulfil.
Star for club as well as country.
The second part of the equation is liable to prove less of a tall order than the first - thanks to the huge presence of a certain Ronaldo at Real Madrid.
Jose Maria Gutierrez, or "Guti" for short, scored in-between a Ruben Baraja brace for the Spaniards, hot tips to advance to the finals from Group 6.
And he has also been in brilliant form for Real in the opening games of the season.
He was handed - and seized upon - the chance handed him by coach Vicente Del Bosque while Ronaldo was getting match fit by netting twice in a 3-0 Champions League romp away to Roma and then netted further goals against Genk and AEK Athens.
But Real have an embarassment of attacking riches available to them, including international teammates Raul and Fernando Morientes.
Guti, 26, is just starting to establish himself in the national side having won four caps - yet the threat of spending much of his time on the periphery at club level in the coming months is a 'Real' one.
But he was full of fighting talk after his Saturday showing.
"Now my goal is to stay at this level - and to play with Real Madrid," he insisted.
Guti got his chance at the weekend after injury to Deportivo La Coruna's Juan Carlos Valeron and Spain are gradually proving their strength in depth after repeated failures in major tournaments, including their controversial World Cup quarter-finals exit at the hands of South Korea.
According to Sunday's edition of AS newspaper Guti "has seemingly been touched by the gods since being told Real Madrid were recruiting Ronaldo."
The player himself sees Ronaldo as holding most of the aces, however.
"Ronaldo has the advantage of being Real's star signing - but I think everyone will get a chance," Guti said ahead of Saturday's encounter.
"Guti turned in a fine match and scored a magnificent goal," enthused coach Inaki Saez.
"Now he has to confirm that form in coming matches and say 'here I am, and I'm here to stay'."
But with Ronaldo, Raul and Morientes to see off the competition could hardly be fiercer.