Emmet Malone gets the views of some of Jose Camacho's players aboutSunday morning's clash

Ireland's reputation at these World Cup finals may have been enhanced by the team's performances in their three group matches, but even Mick McCarthy concedes that the mention of the Germans, with their fearsome record in the international game, is more likely to intimidate opposing players as they prepare to take the field.

Yesterday McCarthy suggested that the Spanish are probably feeling a little relieved to have avoided Rudi Voller's side in the second round, and evidence that he is right was promptly supplied by Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes.

Raul's striking partner feels that by winning their group he and his team-mates have probably made matters at least a little less difficult for themselves in the first of their knock-out games.

"We were happy to avoid Germany in the second round," said the 26 -year-old, "they are a very strong and physical team, we are well aware of that. We were worried that we might be up against them but, by winning our group, we ensured that we are up against Ireland who we must be confident we can defeat to reach the quarter-finals."

Morientes is far from dismissive of the Republic's chances, but nevertheless he dispensed with the pretence

that his side will go into

Sunday's game as anything other than favourites. Roy Keane's absence is a factor, he observed, as is the form shown by his own side during the past couple of weeks, but, he cautioned, "We have respect for everyone and they have eliminated big sides in qualifying for the tournament, and again, now that they are here so, clearly, they are a side with capabilities."

Iker Casillas, the Madrid goalkeeper, who is expected to be another of Jose Camacho's starting 11 on Sunday, agreed with his team-mate that "we will be the favourites, but it will not be an easy game.

"We are," he said, "at the World Cup, so you cannot expect to achieve anything without working hard. Playing Ireland is going to be complicated for us. They were not expected to qualify for this game, Germany and Cameroon were favourites, but they did qualify so they must be treated seriously."

Keane, he added, is irrelevant to the current equation, with the rest of the Irish players demonstrating in those opening two group matches that they can test some of the bigger names at this tournament even without their star midfielder.

"What we must deal with is the team who have played well to get this far. They have not lost, so that must show that it will not be easy for us to defeat them either."

Albert Luque, the Real Mallorca striker, openly admitted to being surprised by Ireland's continued involvement at this stage of the competition.

"For Ireland to be in the last 16 after the group they had is a big, big achievement," he said. "I think they had a more difficult group than we did.

"They are an international side who must be respected a lot, but then Ireland must respect Spain as well because we won all nine points in our group. I hope that we continue to play to the same standard as we have this far in the competition. I think that, if we do that, Ireland will find it very, very hard to beat us."

Asked about the players the Spanish feel might cause them problems in Suwon, Luque mentioned Robbie Keane who he described as "a very good player, with excellent technique.

"He has already done well at this level which says something," continued the 24-year-old who got his first taste of action at these finals on Wednesday when he replaced Morientes towards the end of the South Africa game.

"But I believe," he concluded, "that Ireland are more dangerous as a team rather than singling out individuals."