AARHUS, Denmark, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Spain beat Denmark 3-1

with some clinical finishing in their Euro 2008 Group F

qualifier on Saturday, severely jeopardising the Danes' chances

of making it to next year's finals.

The win meant Spain joined Sweden, who have a game in hand,

on 22 points at the top of the group, with Denmark languishing

in fourth on 14 points behind Northern Ireland on 16.

Raul Tamudo opened the scoring for Spain in the 14th minute

when he calmly headed a cross from Andres Iniesta over

goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

Sergio Ramos made it 2-0 in the 40th minute when he was

sprung free in the box after a one-two with Xavi and lifted the

ball over a diving Sorensen.

The Spaniards converted their first two chances, putting

aside any worries about their attack even as their top scorer in

the qualifiers with seven goals, Valencia striker David Villa,

and Liverpool's Fernando Torres were absent through injury.

'I came here to do my job,' said Tamudo, who returned to the

national squad after a two-year absence and now has five goals

in 10 appearances. 'What's important is the result we obtained

in a very difficult match.'

PROFLIGATE DENMARK

The Danes were as profligate with their chances as the

Spaniards were efficient at taking theirs.

In turn, Dennis Rommedahl, Daniel Jensen, Jesper Gronkjaer

and Thomas Helveg missed the net from close range or were

thwarted by Spian keeper Iker Casillas.

'We are disappointed and frustrated after the match,' said

Denmark coach Morten Olsen. 'We had a lot of chances against the

Spanish team but we didn't exploit them.'

After substitute Nicklas Bendtner hit the post with a long

shot in the 74th minute, Jon Dahl Tomasson finally cut the

deficit when he stabbed in from close range in the 88th minute.

But it was too little too late for the home side and Spain

substitute Albert Riera made it 3-1 a minute later with a shot

from outside the box after Christian Poulsen lost the ball, to

put the visitors closer to qualifying for next year's finals.

'We made some errors and didn't have luck on our side,'

Tomasson said. 'The chances of making the (finals) are very far

away.'

Spain coach Luis Aragones praised his team's first-half

performance although he was less pleased with the second period.

'I am satisfied with the first half,' he said. 'In the

second half we gave away possession and it was more difficult,

but we were fortunate. We won a match that we had to win.'