Guti out of Spain squad for Euro 2004 qualifiers

Real Madrid midfielder Guti will miss Spain's Euro 2004 qualifiers against Greece on Saturday and Northern Ireland on Wednesday because of a sprained ankle.

Guti suffered the injury on a run around the training pitch at the Spanish squad's base in Jerez on Tuesday and was ruled unfit on Wednesday.

"The ankle is still very swollen and I could have made things worse by playing," Guti told reporters as he made his way back to Madrid.

Spain have a four-point lead at the top of Group Six and can all but secure a place in the finals with victories in the next two games.