The win in Lens proved insufficient to earn Spain a place in the second round. Spain coach Javier Clemente paid a warm tribute to Zubizarreta, who won his 126th cap in last evening's match, almost 14 years on from his debut.After the match Clemente said, ``I want to bid a special farewell to the greatest goalkeeper in the world. He has been a proud figure for Spain.''

The relationship between Zubizarreta, playing his fourth World Cup here, and Clemente go back a long way. It was Clemente who brought the fellow Basque to Athletic Bilbao in 1982, where he made his league debut, before moving on to Barcelona and Valencia.

Under Johan Cruyff at Barcelona he achieved his greatest success,winning six league titles, the European Cup and the Cup Winners Cup. Zubizarreta, who has made a record 600 appearances in the Spanish Liga, modelled himself on Northern Ireland legend Pat Jennings and his devotion to the Spanish cause won his Clemente's loyalty despite his Nigerian nightmare.