EURO 2004 Qualifiers

[Håkon]

A new round of international football - a new week of demise for Norway The guys have to win against Bosnia to finish second, and hope that Romania and Denmark draw in order for us to win the group.

Fixtures:
6 September 2003
Group Home Team KOff(Local Time) Away Team
5 Scotland 15:00 Faroe Islands
4 Sweden 16:00 San Marino
8 Andorra 16:00 Croatia
10 Republic of Ireland 16:00 Russia
5 Iceland 17:30 Germany
8 Bulgaria 18:00 Estonia
3 Belarus 18:30 Czech Republic
7 F.Y.R. Macedonia 18:30 England
9 Azerbaijan 19:00 Finland
6 Ukraine 19:15 Northern Ireland
2 Romania 19:30 Luxembourg
10 Georgia 20:00 Albania
7 Liechtenstein 20:00 Turkey
1 Slovenia 20:15 Israel
2 Bosnia-Herzegovina 20:15 Norway
3 Netherlands 20:30 Austria
4 Latvia 20:30 Poland
1 France 20:45 Cyprus
9 Italy 20:45 Wales
6 Armenia 21:00 Greece

10 September
1 Israel 18:00 Malta
1 Slovenia 20:45 France
2 Luxembourg 20:00 Bosnia-Herzegovina
2 Denmark 19:15 Romania
3 Czech Republic 20:15 Netherlands
3 Moldova 19:00 Belarus
4 Poland 20:15 Sweden
4 Latvia 21:00 Hungary
5 Germany 20:45 Scotland
5 Faroe Islands 18:30 Lithuania
6 Northern Ireland 20:00 Armenia
6 Spain 21:45 Ukraine
7 England 20:00 Liechtenstein
7 Slovakia 20:15 F.Y.R. Macedonia
8 Belgium 20:15 Croatia
8 Andorra 17:30 Bulgaria
9 Wales 19:45 Finland
9 Serbia and Montenegro 20:45 Italy
10 Russia 20:00 Switzerland
10 Albania 20:00 Georgia

Something related to discuss, UEFA has announced that next year's World Cup qualifying groups will have 7 or 8 teams. This is in order to reduce the number of unimportant friendlies which merely puts an extra strain on the players. What do you think about this proposal?

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by Håkon
Something related to discuss, UEFA has announced that next year's World Cup qualifying groups will have 7 or 8 teams. This is in order to reduce the number of unimportant friendlies which merely puts an extra strain on the players. What do you think about this proposal?

Generally I don't think much of friendly games, because they usually don't produce any decent football. While in former times players played well in them for the reason of playing for their country alone, today it seems to be necessary to have something bigger to win.
In that sense I'm in favour of such a proposal, but Germany won't participate in that anyway, which means there'll be alot of unimportant friendlies.

As for this week, group 5 will be very interesting with Germany playing both Iceland and Scotland and with all teams being relatively close so far.

 

[zenga]

Originally posted by Hitro


As for this week, group 5 will be very interesting with Germany playing both Iceland and Scotland and with all teams being relatively close so far.

Scotland have a tricky tie v the Faroes before facing Germany. We all know what happened last time we played them! Home advantage may just swing it!

I'm hoping for a draw in the Iceland/Germany game tomorrow and a lucky draw for Scotland in Germany. An Iceland win would make things too close for comfort and would probably mean us missing out on the play-off.

@Hitro: AFAIK there will be around 10k Scottish fans in Dortmund for the game and the match tickets we have are for the home support. Will there be any problems with this or should I swap my kilt for lederhosen?

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by zenga
@Hitro: AFAIK there will be around 10k Scottish fans in Dortmund for the game and the match tickets we have are for the home support. Will there be any problems with this or should I swap my kilt for lederhosen?

Didn't know you're Scottish.

For that reason I will look over the lederhosen thing - this time.

As for your question, the Tartan Army isn't really known for inciting riots and the German fans in general have no problem with the Scots, you're not English after all.
So go for the kilt.

 

[zenga]

Originally posted by Hitro


As for your question, the Tartan Army isn't really known for inciting riots and the German fans in general have no problem with the Scots, you're not English after all.
So go for the kilt.

Cheers, that's the sweat off then. Looking forward to sampling some beers now.

 

[willemvanoranje]

a win against Austria would mean at least play-offs for the Netherlands Then again, a loss a few days later against the Chez Republic would mean no direct qualification... It's the moment of truth in a lot of groups...

 

[Dell19]

Well we are playing the minnows so we will might just fluke a victory or two if we are lucky Should be interesting to see whether Rooney plays considering that Vassell does have the better track record at international games.

 

[Hitro]

A few results:

Iceland - Germany 0-0 (But Völler's interview was fun )
Macedonia - England 1-2 (mediocre as ever)
Netherlands - Austria 3-1
Scotland - Faroe Islands 3-1 (saw it, was ugly)
Ireland - Russia 1-1 (it's over for Russia...)
Liechtenstein - Turkey 0-3 (is gonna be a funny match vs. England)
Belorus - Czech Republic 1-3 (is gonna be a funny match vs. Netherlands)
Latvia - Poland 0-2 (great group, four team can still make it)
France - Cyprus 5-0 (France is therefore qualified, I think)

Italy - Wales 4-0 at the moment.

etc.

 

[Inter4]

ITALIA 4 - WALES 0

 

[Seb on the road]

In Grp-1, France isn't already qualified (even with 6 wins in 6 games...!) :
Slovenia could win its 3 lasts games and pass.
The final is planified for next week, in Slovenia...

 

[Dell19]

At least England got the result that was neccessary and their goal only came because of a complete farce in defence. Anyway I can still cling to my arguement that we play better against big teams because we can hit them on the break more or something. Oh and Rooney scored

Iceland drawing with Germany and Scotland winning does mean that all three teams now could qualify depending on Scotland's next game with Germany.

Got to feel sorry for Wales as now they have to overcome two defeats and gain a point at home to Finland to get into the playoffs.

 

[willemvanoranje]

woohoo, Van der Vaart scored his first international goal and Holland played a new record: 17 consecutive games without losing (last loss was september 1st 2001...). Of those 17 games, 13 were won and 4 ended in a draw (Belgium, Portugal, Chez Republic and ?, first three in 1-1). On top of that, Holland is sure of at least a play-off spot.

 

[Dell19]

That was something odd, apparently England have won 7 games in a row but I don't see how when we drew with Macedonia and have only played 6 group games, and they can't be including friendlies as we lost to Australia...

 

[willemvanoranje]

who said it was 7 then?

 

[Dell19]

One of the commentators...

 

[Mega Tsunami]

7 straight wins in competitive games equals our post war record.

And that’s after playing c**p football. What will we be like if we actually start to play?

Based on our first half performance, we would have lost 4-0 to Italy as well (as Wales).

 

[willemvanoranje]

hmm, I saw the game....didn't look very good. I guess Holland isn't the only team having trouble: Germany and England joined us.

 

[Mega Tsunami]

I said :
7 straight wins in competitive games equals our post war record.

Thinking about it, it cannot be true - we drew 2-2 with the maccas not long ago. Don't know what the commentator was on about.

 

[Suppersalmon]

6th September 2003 FYR Macedonia 1 v England 2 Euro 2004 Qualifier

20th August 2003 England 3 v Croatia 1 Friendly

11th June 2003 England 2 v Slovakia 1 Euro 2004 Qualifier

3rd June 2003 England 2 v Serbia & Montenegro 1 Friendly

22nd May 2003 South Africa 1 v England 2 Friendly

2nd April 2003 England 2 v Turkey 0 Euro 2004 Qualifier

29th March 2003 Liechtenstein 0 v England 2 Euro 2004 Qualifier

it is 7 wins in a row see if frendlies are included

 

[willemvanoranje]

yeah, Dell mentioned that....:S He must've missed that one...and the loss against Australia.