EURO 2008 qualifiers

[ulsterman88]

Northern Ireland pulled another excemment performance out of the hat and got an away draw with the danes. Even better news Scotland beat the french!!!

 

[willemvanoranje]

Then again, the Republic lost 5-2 against Cyprus.

 

[Dell19]

And Wales lost 5-1 at home to Slovakia.

 

[steviejay]

Just a round up of the results

Armenia 0-0 Finland (HT 0-0)

Bulgaria 1-1 Holland (HT 1-0)
M Petrov 12, R Van Persie 62

Croatia 7-0 Andorra (HT 2-0)
M Petric 12, M Petric 37, M Petric 48, M Petric 50, I Klasnic 58, B Balaban 62, L Modric 83

Cyprus 5-2 Rep of Ireland (HT 2-2)
S Ireland 8, M Konstantinou 10,A Garpozis 16, R Dunne 44, M Konstantinou (pen) 50,C Charalambidis 60,C Charalambidis 75.

Czech Republic 7-0 San Marino (HT 4-0)
M Kulic 15, J Polak 22, M Baros 28, J Koller 43, D Jarolim 49, J Koller 52, M Baros 68

Denmark 0-0 Northern Ireland (HT 0-0)

England 0-0 FYR Macedonia (HT 0-0)

Faroe Islands 0-1 Hearts (HT 0-0)
A Skerla 89

Greece 1-0 Norway (HT 1-0)
K Katsouranis 33

Hungary 0-1 Turkey (HT 0-1)
T Sanli 41

Italy 2-0 Ukraine (HT 0-0)
M Oddo (pen) 71, L Toni 79

Kazakhstan 0-1 Poland (HT 0-0)
E Smolarek 52

Latvia 4-0 Iceland (HT 3-0)
G Karlsons 14, M Verpakovskis 15, M Verpakovskis 25, A Visnjakovs 52

Moldova 2-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina (HT 2-0)
S Rogachiov 13, S Rogachiov (pen) 32, Z Misimovic 62, I Grlic 68

Portugal 3-0 Azerbaijan (HT 2-0)
c. Ronaldo 25, AS Ricardo Carvalho 31, C. Ronaldo 63

Romania 3-1 Belarus (HT 2-1)
A Mutu 7, C Marica 10, S Kornilenko 20, D Goian 76.

Russia 1-1 Israel (HT 1-0)
A Arshavin 5, A Ben Shushan 84

Scotland 1-0 France (HT 0-0)
G Caldwell 67

Serbia 1-0 Belgium (HT 0-0)

Slovenia 2-0 Luxembourg (HT 2-0)
M Novakovic 30, R Koren 44

Sweden 2-0 Spain (HT 1-0)
J Elmander 10, M Allback 82

Wales 1-5 Slovakia (HT 1-3)
D Svento 14, M Mintal 32, G Bale 37, M Mintal 38, M Karhan 51, R Vittek 59

 

[jeriko one]

Tuncay`s goal was a total fluke. The match against Moldova will be very hard.

 

[Urederra]

Well, at least Alonso has the Formula 1 world championship in his pocket.

And Barcelona pwned Philadelphia 76ers, Pau Gasol is not the only gold class basket player in Spain.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Faroe Islands 0-1 Hearts (HT 0-0)
A Skerla 89

I didn't post on Saturday because there didn't seem much to add to Stevie and Kan's posts, but it was a great result for Scotland, and probably as good a performance as the current team can manage.

I can't help but regret how long the SFA put up with the disasterous reign of Vogts, now that we can see what can be done by a reasonable manager, with a decent degree of tactical acumen and an an awareness of the capabilities and limitiations of the players. I hope Berti is watching. (Do I still sound bitter...?)

 

[Verbose]

The Swedish 2-0 against Spain is the biggest scalp they've bagged in the last decade.

Sweden can often make an even game even with football superpowers, but rarely win. This was the third victory over what must be considered a major team in that time-frame, and the other two were England and Turkey. I rate Spain well above both.

There's a bit of confusion in Sweden over the national team. The discipline problems don't seem over, but things have changed. Ex-captain Mellberg can sit beside the coach at press-conferences while being all venom about him.

The coach keeps bringing up what a Great Match the team made against Trinidad&Tobago in the WC when talking to the press.

Kim Källstrom, bristling with self-confidence after his move to Toulouse, got bumped from the team against Spain, and in an historic first, the coach gave him his reasons in private. Still VERY disappointed. Instead of Källström the thought over-the-hill Anders Svensson walked on and did great.

Johan Elmander finally played as it has been hoped/expected he would in the end.

How long will Markus Allbäck, 33, last?

Ibrahimovic is still boycotting the national team. Though Mellberg and Wilhelmsson have turned up, doing well. Mellberg clearly happier when looking out for Nr One, not having to worry about the bloody team. And Wilhelmsson looked better than he has in ages.

Of the four midfielders against Spain, three will be missing against Iceland next (Ljungberg injured, Linderoth on leave for personal reasons — first baby on the way, Svensson 2nd yellow card exclusion).

Quoting the leftwing defender Erik Edman: "I'm happy we're rid of that glamour sh!t!"

Finally the Swedish team did play as a team. Got a bit lucky too in the end. Trick now will be to win against the teams weaker on paper (six games) and at least tie the three remaining games with Denmark and Spain.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Now we know why France lost...

France coach Domenech took a verbal swipe at the Hampden ball boys when he said: "I know what the Scottish fans and the team are like, it is a country that believes in fair play.

"However, I am disappointed with the attitude of the ball boys who slowed down the game and stopped the flow of the game.

"It is regrettable in a country like Scotland which is known for its fair play."

 

[MCdread]

Some surprising results have been recorded in this qualification campaign! The results of Northern Ireland in particular have been impressive.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

The results of Northern Ireland in particular have been impressive.

Especially losing 3-0 at home to Iceland....

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

Now we know why France lost...

France coach Domenech took a verbal swipe at the Hampden ball boys when he said: "I know what the Scottish fans and the team are like, it is a country that believes in fair play.

"However, I am disappointed with the attitude of the ball boys who slowed down the game and stopped the flow of the game.

"It is regrettable in a country like Scotland which is known for its fair play."

I just read about that today. Along with other brilliant quotes such as "because they won" when asked why France lost.

Edit: If I were the British press, I'd run with the story. Full Headline: "France boss admits his team were beaten by 13 years old Scottish boyboys"

 

[thetrooper]

Go Scotland! I had quite a few glasses of Bowmore (12 yo) to celebrate your victory.

Norway played poorly though.

 

[classical_hero]

So if scotland somehow makes it through, that means that two nations from the WC will not be at the EC.

 

[Marshy]

5-2 against Cyprus. I've never in my whole life seen a worse performance from an Irish team. And Czech Republic on Wednesday. I am fearful!
I just don't know what to say. We were second best to Cyprus in every part of the pitch, something I'd never thought possible.

 

[Dell19]

Cyprus have beaten Spain in the past, although that was 3-2.

 

[Daimon]

So if scotland somehow makes it through, that means that two nations from the WC will not be at the EC.

I have a feeling that Italy may not make it as they currently have (IIRC) 4 points. Wheras France have 6 and Scotland have 9! On the other hand only 3 games have played out of 12 and a lot could happen in 9 games!

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

So if scotland somehow makes it through, that means that two nations from the WC will not be at the EC.

IIRC the top two teams of the group qualify for the final rounds.

 

[MCdread]

Cyprus have beaten Spain in the past, although that was 3-2.

Cyprus is one of those teams that's not as bad as it looks, and they have a good striker in Konstantinou. Normally they should lose to teams that are fighting for qualification, but if the opponent doesn't acknowledge that Cyprus isn't like Malta or Luxembourg, they're in for a surprise. Maybe Ireland (despite the mandatory statements of respect towards the opponent and that it's gonna be a tough game, etc.), didn't really think there was any danger in this fixture...

 

[Lambert Simnel]

IIRC the top two teams of the group qualify for the final rounds.

Yes, but as well as Italy and France, we have the WC quarter-finalists Ukraine in our group. So at least one of the three won't make it through, and c_h is quite right to suggest that if Scotland qualifies, then two of WC qualifiers won't make it to Euro 2008.