REECE Styche said Gibraltar are targeting a place in the European Championship qualifying play offs despite what he admitted was a nightmare start to their international career.

The British Overseas Territory played their first two friendlies on Gibraltarian soil last week but both matches ended in defeat.

Wanderers forward Styche played in the first of those against the Faroe Islands, which ended in a 4-1 defeat despite Gibraltar taking the lead through skipper Roy Chipolina.

By Styche’s own admission that dream start turned into a nightmare but he wouldn’t change his experience for the world.

He said: "Now that I'm back it has sunk in. It's a good experience to get that international recognition.

“It was when I was boarding the plane and getting picked up by the officials on the other side when it sunk in. I was with my old man, who was on the same flight because he came over to watch.

"It was a disappointing result and performance but it was a great experience and it was even more special that my family were there as well.”

Reflecting on his international debut, the 24-year-old said: "We'd had a chance just before the goal. I won us a corner that we scored from. When Roy headed it in I thought, 'This is a perfect start for us'.

"Silly mistakes cost us really, but that's going to be expected. It was a dream start but it turned into a nightmare.

"I haven't spoken to many of the boys here about it. They've said congratulations and the usual stuff and asked how it was, but there's been no stick.”

Gibraltar have been drawn alongside former champions Germany in their qualifying group for Euro 2016, along with Poland, Ireland, Scotland and Georgia.

Styche said: "The manager [Allen Bula] wants to get into the play off positions so we've all got to aim the same as what he wants. We'll take each game as it comes and try and get as high up as we possibly can."