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| Euro 2008 Qualifying | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 22 2007, 08:27 AM (1,993 Views) | |
| Sledge | Nov 19 2007, 12:04 PM Post #136 |
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It will be cruel, cruel irony for England to qualify and Scotland not, after the achievements of Scotland. You have to say though that irrespective of their achievements aginst France etc they blew it against Georgia recently, I watched all that game on TV and they were awful |
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| Martin | Nov 20 2007, 12:01 AM Post #137 |
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What I find amazing is this is the first time Poland has ever qualified for the European Championships. Here is a nation who twice were World Cup semifinalists (1974 & 1982), qualified four straight times for the World Cup between 1974-1986 and also made the last two World Cups yet until now they've never made it to a European Championship! And the guy who scored their goals this past weekend Ebi Smolarek is the son of Wlodzimierz Smolarek, a striker on their 1982 team. The other interesting qualifier is Romania, back in a major championship after they had a downturn following the 2000 retirements of Hagi, Popescu, Dumitrescu, Petrescu, et al. |
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| Yogi | Nov 20 2007, 08:35 AM Post #138 |
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That is strange considering Poland's World Cup history that they've never before qualified for a European tournament. I suppose something similar applies although in reverse about the Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia. Other than their 1962 appearance in the World Cup Final they've only made scattered and unsuccessful appearances in the World Cup but are regular participants in the European championships including winning a title (1976) and being runnerup and beaten semifinalists in the last decade or so. |
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| Simon | Nov 20 2007, 03:23 PM Post #139 |
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One last roll of the dice... Group A http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/stan...group=2630.html 16:00 Armenia (pld 11, 9 pts) v Kazakhstan (pld 12, 7 pts) 18:00 Azerbaijan (pld 11, 5 pts) v Belgium (pld 13, 15 pts) 20:45 Serbia (pld 12, 20 pts) v Poland (pld 13, 27 pts) 20:45 Portugal (pld 13, 26 pts) v Finland (pld 13, 23 pts) Serbia v Kazakhstan (Saturday) With Poland already through, Portugal need only a draw at home to Finland to book their place in Austria/Switzerland. Finland drew 1-1 at home to Portugal, which means that if they win tomorrow they move level on points and eliminate the Portuguese on head-to-head record. It seems unlikely but then so have some of the other points dropped by Portugal this campaign, most notably their 1-1 draw with lowly Armenia in August. Serbia are the fly in the ointment. Should Finland win in Lisbon, Serbia can still qualify with wins against Poland and in their rearranged game with Kazakhstan on Saturday. Group B http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/stan...group=2631.html 16:30 Georgia (pld 11, 10 pts) v Lithuania (pld 11, 13 pts) 20:30 Italy (pld 11, 26 pts) v Faroe Islands (pld 11, 0 pts) 20:30 Ukraine (pld 11, 16 pts) v France (pld 11, 25 pts) Italy and France both through, but in a manner that apparently still leaves both with plenty to prove to their respective publics. The jury still seems to be out on Roberto Donadoni, but the poor bloke had a thankless task. After you've just won the World Cup the only way is down, and yet his team seems likely to win the toughest group, against World Cup runners-up France, quarter-finalists Ukraine and a rejuvenated Scotland. Yes, they've not been great but they've been having to find a new direction. France have come in for criticism from their press for 'qualifying by default'. Maybe there's some truth in that as they have underwhelmed, but Domenech says they will silence their critics by putting on a show in Kiev. Group C http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/stan...group=2632.html 20:00 Turkey (pld 11, 21 pts) v Bosnia-Herzegovina (pld 11, 13 pts) 20:00 Malta (pld 11, 5 pts) v Norway (pld 11, 20 pts) 20:15 Hungary (pld 11, 12 pts) v Greece (pld 11, 28 pts) Superb result for Turkey on Saturday, winning in Oslo to turn Group C around. However, they still have important work to do. They can assume that Norway will beat Malta and finish on 20 points, which means they have to beat Bosnia. Going by Turkey's results against modest opposition in recent times, that is no foregone conclusion. Draws with Moldova and Malta, as well as prior defeat to Bosnia, means that the Turks are still sweating on qualification. Greece travel to Hungary with over twice as many points as their opponents. We tried speculating earlier in this thread on why Hungary are so weak having previously produced such great teams. I don't think we really came up with an answer, and the question remains - how can Greece come from nowhere to become European champions while Hungary stagger from one disaster to another? Group D http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/stan...group=2633.html 17:30 Cyprus (pld 11, 14 pts) v Czech Republic (pld 11, 26 pts) 20:30 Germany (pld 11, 26 pts) v Wales (pld 11, 14 pts) 20:30 San Marino (pld 11, 0 pts) v Slovakia (pld 11, 13 pts) To the extent that it matters who wins the group and who doesn't, Germany still have a chance. They should surely beat Wales at home while there are easier games out there than away in Cyprus. In saying that, I doubt anyone will be exactly busting a gut in this group. Group E http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/stan...group=2634.html 18:00 Israel (pld 11, 12 pts) v F.Y.R. Macedonia (pld 11, 14 pts) 21:00 Andorra (pld 11, 0 pts) v Russia (pld 11, 21 pts) 21:00 England (pld 11, 23 pts) v Croatia (pld 11, 26 pts) I think it's some measure of my lack of confidence in Steve McClaren's England that I'm still so nervous about this. That and the fact that we're missing various important players and Croatia are a good side who would love to come to Wembley and win. England's record has traditionally been excellent in these vital games, in recent years we've gone away to Italy, home to Greece (with the famous Beckham free-kick), play-offs against Scotland and away in Turkey and got the required result in each game. Hopefully tomorrow will be the same. A 2-0 win and we win the group. Group F http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/stan...group=2635.html 20:00 Spain (pld 11, 25 pts) v Northern Ireland (pld 11, 20 pts) 20:00 Denmark (pld 11, 17 pts) v Iceland (pld 11, 8 pts) 20:00 Sweden (pld 11, 23 pts) v Latvia (pld 11, 12 pts) Spain could yet finish second in the group if they lose to Northern Ireland, though it's hard to imagine that happening. No Gerry Armstrong about these days! But David Healy's brilliant goal on Saturday was his 13th of these qualifiers, and that apparently constitutes an all-time record. Nevertheless, it would take an extraordinary pair of results for the Irish to make it. Group G http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/stan...group=2636.html 17:00 Romania (pld 11, 26 pts) v Albania (pld 11, 11 pts) 18:00 Slovenia (pld 11, 11 pts) v Bulgaria (pld 11, 22 pts) 18:00 Belarus (pld 11, 10 pts) v Netherlands (pld 11, 26 pts) I joked on the last of these posts I did that Holland were having such a terrible time in front of goal that they'd probably only win 1-0 even against Luxembourg. Incredibly, that's actually what happened, and only a great Van Der Sar save at the end prevented an upset. Their tally of 14 goals is the lowest that anyone's ever qualified with, and interestingly it's about half the number of goals they scored in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers when they failed to qualify. Perhaps they can score a truckload of goals at Belarus to make their final tally look respectable. Or perhaps not. Either way they should finish second as Romania need only beat Albania at home to win the group. |
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| shelsoccer | Nov 21 2007, 12:43 AM Post #140 |
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Solo-Scurry revisited? By all reports, McLaren will go with Carson in goal tonight, benching Robinson. It's not a direct comparison to Ryan's gamble in the Women's World Cup. At least, Carson has played recently (Friday vs. Austria), but nevertheless a bold move. It's also being reported that Wright-Phillips will start with Beckham on the bench. Crouch will be alone up top. Unless Carson lets in a howler and/or England's make-shift back four falls apart, I'm not sure any of these decisions will be crucial. It seems to me the main question is whether or not already-qualified Croatia decides to play. My guess is that Croatia goes through the motions, England will lack any kind of punch up front and we see a 0-0 draw. That, of course, sends England through. |
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| shelsoccer | Nov 21 2007, 02:14 PM Post #141 |
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Result implied ... Didn't see the match , but I guess I couldn't have been more wrong. Croatia apparently came to play, and England did have some punch, fighting back from 2-0 down. The one thing I thought possible was a Carson gaffe, which apparently came to pass and put England on its heels from early on. So, who's the next England manager? |
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| jtgulls | Nov 21 2007, 02:58 PM Post #142 |
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Shel you were so right! Early howler and the defense certainly looked make-shift. Wow! Time to clean house. If England's FA doesn't make every attempt to hire "The Special One", they shouldn't even bother with WC Qualifying. |
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| Simon | Nov 21 2007, 03:30 PM Post #143 |
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Wow, I'd hardly know what to say about the England game. I said on this thread yesterday that I was still very nervous about our prospects, and it seems I was right to be. This time last week I was quite prepared to accept that England were not in Euro 2008. Since then, it feels like we've been in and out about 3 times! Israel did us a massive favour on Saturday, which made it likely that we'd qualify. Then just 14 minutes into tonight's match we were 2-0 down and going out. Next, we fought back to 2-2 and were going through, and just when you thought the rollercoaster ride was over, Croatia score again and we are out after all. England actually started brightly in the first 5 mins, and then Krancjar picked the ball up a long way out and swung a shot on target that Carson completely misjudged and let bounce through him. 1-0, and I thought it knocked the stuffing out of England. Minutes later, the simplest of passes bypassed 6 England players and the terrible position taken up by Bridge allowed Olic to slip through onside and make it 2-0. The rest of the 1st half we were dreadful. Okay, the team wasn't well balanced and was missing important players, fine, we knew that. What got me was the lack of urgency, Croatia were able to just stroll about the midfield with no hassle. Why weren't we snapping into tackles and cracking shots at their goal? Second half, thank God, we changed it. I did wonder about bringing Beckham on and losing the pace of SWP, but at least a second striker was brought on to partner Crouch who was the one player who'd done himself justice. I would personally have brought Bent on instead of Defoe, but then I'd have started EITHER Gerrard or Lampard with Barry sitting behind. Gerrard and Lampard can't play effectively together, but then you know that, I know that, we all f-----g well know that apart from McClaren (and Eriksson before him). At least we got a penalty which Lampard took very well. At that point, I honestly felt we could go on and win the game and was confirmed in that view by Crouch's exceptionally taken goal shortly afterwards. Maybe if we'd been obliged to win we would have, but what happened? We sat back, happy with what we'd got, and allowed the shellshocked Croats to come back into the game. Inevitably, one of them took advantage of all the time and space they were being given to smash a shot past Carson. It must have been McClaren who directed them to let Croatia off the hook and retreat behind the ball. The man is a bloody idiot. One crumb of comfort, if we'd gone out in the manner that was expected i.e. Russia beat Israel and tonight's game was a dead one (maybe that England won) then McClaren might have kept his job. At least this way, with England handed a lifeline only for McClaren to play a young inexperienced keeper, shove Gerrard and Lampard together again, play Crouch on his own up front and then back off the Croats just after we'd scored twice and had them rattled, it seems clear that McClaren must go. Arse up after arse up from someone totally unqualified to do the job in the first place. Ultimately, it's one of football's great truisms that league tables do not lie. England finished precisely where they derserved to finish. |
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| enganche | Nov 21 2007, 10:05 PM Post #144 |
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What a rollercoaster of emotions for you England fans. Playing an inexperienced keeper in such circumstances, however, seems inexcusable. And then sitting on a tie at home when an opposition goal would have finished you off also seems inexplicable. I think Simon is taking this the right way, viewing it as a golden opportunity to get rid of McLaren. Is he the worst England manager since Graham Taylor? It couldn't have been too easy for Russia fans either. A narrow 1-0 win versus Andorra with Russia finishing with 10 men! The drama that was missing elsewhere in Euro qualifying was certainly there in this group. |
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| Pepe | Nov 22 2007, 06:41 AM Post #145 |
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There has to be a lot of happy Russians thankful that Croatia, unlike Germany and Holland, still came out and gave a great effort despite already being qualified. McLaren's player decisions are baffling though, it was like he was preparing his team to go down to defeat. How do you justify playing a green goalkeeper in such an important game? Turkey and Russia are the two qualifiers who looked out of it but somehow found their way to the fnals. Russia with the help from Croatia we described Turkey by doing it the hard way, beating their direct rival, Norway, on the road. Now it is time to await the draw and see what fate is ahead for these 16 teams. Euro 2008 seedings for draw on Dec. 2 in Vienna: Pot 1: Switzerland (hosts), Austria (hosts), Greece (holders), Netherlands Pot 2: Croatia, Italy, Czech Republic, Sweden Pot 3: Germany, Romania, Portugal, Spain Pot 4: Poland, France, Turkey, Russia Whichever teams gets Netherlands as their top seed is the likely Group of Death. There is the possibility of a group with Netherlands, Italy, Germany or Spain, and France! As a Spain fan I'll be hoping that won't happen to us. |
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| shelsoccer | Nov 22 2007, 08:59 AM Post #146 |
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I'm sure there will be 12 teams hoping to be drawn into Austria's group. |
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| Merengue | Nov 22 2007, 12:22 PM Post #147 |
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How true but Switzerland aren't tearing up the world either. Still homefield advantage does mean something in international tournaments. When was the last time a home country failed to advance out of the group stage at a World Cup, European championshp or Copa America? I know no home team has failed to do that in a World Cup but I don't know about the two major continental national team competitions. |
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| Winslow | Nov 22 2007, 04:24 PM Post #148 |
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I don't know about the Copa, but Euro 2000 co-hosts Belgium didn't get out of the group stage. Today is the traditional day when Americans give thanks. It's a good thing that the UK doesn't share Thanksgiving with us; I can't imagine any England fans being thankful right now. |
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| siralfred | Nov 23 2007, 05:05 AM Post #149 |
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Forza Zlatan!
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Two groups I'd like to see drawn are: 1. Austria, Sweden, Romania and Poland. Just so Sweden can be assured of advancement. 2. Netherlands, Italy, Germany and France. Group of death! Seriously, though, UEFA needs to overhaul its seeding process. I know t's based on statistics which should be fair and honest, but HOW does France end up in the bottom pot??? And however much I dream and hope for Sweden to win the tournament, I predict the next European champion will be somebody else from pot 2. |
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| jtgulls | Nov 23 2007, 02:14 PM Post #150 |
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On TalkSport, I heard many glad (if not downright thankful) that McClaren was gone. |
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