Gibraltar last night earned a creditable 0-0 draw against Slovakia in the tiny British territory's first football match as a member of Uefa.
The British colony, with a population of just 32,000, was accepted by European football's governing body in May, becoming its 54th and smallest member.
Prior to joining Uefa, Gibraltar played against the likes of Greenland and the Isle of Wight, with their biggest victory a 19-0 win against Sark of the Channel Islands.
But now, Gibraltar are in the the big time and can now attempt to qualify for major tournaments.
Slovakia hit the bar but Gibraltar held on for the hugely credible result.
A few hundred fans attended the game at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal - a 30,000 capacity stadium that could hold the entire population of Gibraltar.
The stadium will be Gibraltar's home for Euro 2016 qualifying games, which get under way next year, because their own ground in Gibraltar, the Victoria Stadium, does not meet Uefa requirements to be able to hold competitibe fixtures.
The tiny British rock is five times smaller than the British seaside resort of Blackpool.
SLOVAKIA 0-0 GIBRALTAR
BBC Sport
20 November 2013
Gibraltar marked their historic debut as a Uefa member by holding Slovakia to a goalless draw in Portugal.
The British colony was accepted by European football's governing body in May, becoming its 54th and smallest member.
Slovakia hit the bar but Gibraltar held on for the hugely credible result.
A few hundred fans attended the game at the Estadio Algarve - a 30,000 capacity stadium that could hold the entire population of Gibraltar.
The stadium will be Gibraltar's home for Euro 2016 qualifying games, which get under way next year, because their own ground in Gibraltar, the Victoria Stadium, does not meet Uefa requirements to be able to hold competitive fixtures. They can play friendlies in Gibraltar, but opted to play in Portugal as preparation for the qualifiers.
Much of their squad, managed by Gibraltarian Allen Bula, is made up of amateurs from Gibraltar's domestic league, but featured a handful of professional and semi-professional players.
Those included Barnsley's Scott Wiseman and former Manchester United defender Danny Higginbotham, who now plays for non-league Chester and was making his international debut at the age of 34.
Prior to joining Uefa, Gibraltar played against the likes of Greenland and the Isle of Wight, with their biggest victory a 19-0 win against Sark of the Channel Islands.
Gibraltar's players celebrate their creditable 0-0 draw against Slovakia in Portugal last night, their first match as a Uefa member
Gibraltar fans celebrate at the end of the match
Proud: Some Gibraltar supporters made the trip to Portual to cheer on their team and thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the result
Time to text: Prime Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo gets on his phone to spread the news that his country held Slovakia to a goalless draw
Consequently, Slovakia - despite missing several first-team players - provided a sterner test. They are ranked 27th in Europe and recently won 2-0 in Poland.
Gibraltar rarely threatened throughout, with Adam Priestley, a striker who plays for non-league Farsley Celtic in England, having their best effort with a deflected cross that flew into the hands of Slovakia goalkeeper Tomas Kosicky.
Slovakia, meanwhile, found themselves repeatedly frustrated by the Gibraltar defence - led by man-of-the-match Higginbotham - and their best chance came in stoppage time when a corner hit the bar.
The draw for the Euro 2016 qualifiers will be held in February and Gibraltar plan to continue their preparations by hosting friendlies against the Faroe Islands and Estonia in March at the Victoria Stadium.
"It was very emotional before and after the game," said Higginbotham. "It's been a long way to get here and I don't think too many people thought we would get the result but we deserved it.
"It was backs against the wall for most of the game but we expected that. In the end we were unfortunate because we had a few good chances at the end."
The Gibraltar players pose for a photo before their first ever Uefa match last night
Close but no goals: David Depetris of Slovakia did his best to find a way past Gibraltar who defended for the majority of the game
Man in charge: Gibraltar's head coach Allen Bula gestures to supporters after his side held Slovakia to a goalless draw
I'll drink to that: Gibraltar's supporters fully enjoyed watching their team hold Slovakia to a draw on their UEFA debut in Portugal
Five times smaller than Blackpool
Gibraltar has been a British Overseas Territory since 1713, when it was ceded to Britain for eternity by the Treaty of Utrecht
It is just 2.6 square miles in size, making it five times smaller than Blackpool
Its population is estimated to be around 30,000, making it the smallest member nation of Uefa. (San Marino has 32,000)
Gibraltar's most famous landmark is the Rock - a huge tourist attraction that is home to more than 200 macaque monkeys
Gibraltar will play 'home' European qualifiers at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal because their home stadium does not meet Uefa requirements
With a capacity of 30,002, the Estadio Algarve could hold the entire population of Gibraltar
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24961656
The British colony, with a population of just 32,000, was accepted by European football's governing body in May, becoming its 54th and smallest member.
Prior to joining Uefa, Gibraltar played against the likes of Greenland and the Isle of Wight, with their biggest victory a 19-0 win against Sark of the Channel Islands.
But now, Gibraltar are in the the big time and can now attempt to qualify for major tournaments.
Slovakia hit the bar but Gibraltar held on for the hugely credible result.
A few hundred fans attended the game at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal - a 30,000 capacity stadium that could hold the entire population of Gibraltar.
The stadium will be Gibraltar's home for Euro 2016 qualifying games, which get under way next year, because their own ground in Gibraltar, the Victoria Stadium, does not meet Uefa requirements to be able to hold competitibe fixtures.
The tiny British rock is five times smaller than the British seaside resort of Blackpool.
SLOVAKIA 0-0 GIBRALTAR
BBC Sport
20 November 2013
Gibraltar marked their historic debut as a Uefa member by holding Slovakia to a goalless draw in Portugal.
The British colony was accepted by European football's governing body in May, becoming its 54th and smallest member.
Slovakia hit the bar but Gibraltar held on for the hugely credible result.
A few hundred fans attended the game at the Estadio Algarve - a 30,000 capacity stadium that could hold the entire population of Gibraltar.
The stadium will be Gibraltar's home for Euro 2016 qualifying games, which get under way next year, because their own ground in Gibraltar, the Victoria Stadium, does not meet Uefa requirements to be able to hold competitive fixtures. They can play friendlies in Gibraltar, but opted to play in Portugal as preparation for the qualifiers.
Much of their squad, managed by Gibraltarian Allen Bula, is made up of amateurs from Gibraltar's domestic league, but featured a handful of professional and semi-professional players.
Those included Barnsley's Scott Wiseman and former Manchester United defender Danny Higginbotham, who now plays for non-league Chester and was making his international debut at the age of 34.
Prior to joining Uefa, Gibraltar played against the likes of Greenland and the Isle of Wight, with their biggest victory a 19-0 win against Sark of the Channel Islands.
Gibraltar's players celebrate their creditable 0-0 draw against Slovakia in Portugal last night, their first match as a Uefa member
Gibraltar fans celebrate at the end of the match
Proud: Some Gibraltar supporters made the trip to Portual to cheer on their team and thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the result
Time to text: Prime Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo gets on his phone to spread the news that his country held Slovakia to a goalless draw
Consequently, Slovakia - despite missing several first-team players - provided a sterner test. They are ranked 27th in Europe and recently won 2-0 in Poland.
Gibraltar rarely threatened throughout, with Adam Priestley, a striker who plays for non-league Farsley Celtic in England, having their best effort with a deflected cross that flew into the hands of Slovakia goalkeeper Tomas Kosicky.
Slovakia, meanwhile, found themselves repeatedly frustrated by the Gibraltar defence - led by man-of-the-match Higginbotham - and their best chance came in stoppage time when a corner hit the bar.
The draw for the Euro 2016 qualifiers will be held in February and Gibraltar plan to continue their preparations by hosting friendlies against the Faroe Islands and Estonia in March at the Victoria Stadium.
"It was very emotional before and after the game," said Higginbotham. "It's been a long way to get here and I don't think too many people thought we would get the result but we deserved it.
"It was backs against the wall for most of the game but we expected that. In the end we were unfortunate because we had a few good chances at the end."
The Gibraltar players pose for a photo before their first ever Uefa match last night
Close but no goals: David Depetris of Slovakia did his best to find a way past Gibraltar who defended for the majority of the game
Man in charge: Gibraltar's head coach Allen Bula gestures to supporters after his side held Slovakia to a goalless draw
I'll drink to that: Gibraltar's supporters fully enjoyed watching their team hold Slovakia to a draw on their UEFA debut in Portugal
Five times smaller than Blackpool
Gibraltar has been a British Overseas Territory since 1713, when it was ceded to Britain for eternity by the Treaty of Utrecht
It is just 2.6 square miles in size, making it five times smaller than Blackpool
Its population is estimated to be around 30,000, making it the smallest member nation of Uefa. (San Marino has 32,000)
Gibraltar's most famous landmark is the Rock - a huge tourist attraction that is home to more than 200 macaque monkeys
Gibraltar will play 'home' European qualifiers at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal because their home stadium does not meet Uefa requirements
With a capacity of 30,002, the Estadio Algarve could hold the entire population of Gibraltar
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24961656
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