By Paul Brown

Richard Dunne says there's no anxiety ahead of Ireland's crunch game with Spain on Thursday, just excitement at pitting wits against the defending champions.

Dunne admits he's looking forward to the challenge of keeping the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and Andres Iniesta quiet.

If Ireland lose to the pass masters in Gdansk, their first trip to a major tournament in a decade will be over with a game still to play, the clash with Italy remaining.

But Dunne is not thinking about that fact, he's simply looking for the right result to reignite the tournament campaign.

He said: "We have to get points out of both games and we have to win one of them. It's imperative that we do, and we will do what we can to pressure them and push them.

"We are playing the best team in the world and that in itself is an exciting game and something to look forward to.

"There's the fact that we know that we can't afford to lose and have to get something out of it as well.

"We are pleased that we have qualified for the championship, but we want to come here and make a statement.

"We are in one the hardest groups possible, but regardless of what happens, we are going to give it everything so we can look back when it's over and know we've given it our best shot.

"They obviously played with no strikers in the first game but that's not an issue. It's very hard no matter how they play.

"They will have a lot of possession, so whether they have strikers or not, they will have players around the area and it is just about us pressing them.

"We have got to go and enjoy it and make sure we get a result."

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