enjikari

*binny - Cheers for clearing that up*
*Jimbo - What can I say? *
*Celt4Eva - Nope, they don't*
*glamdring - I guess if you finish second you need to score a few then *

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EURO 2008 QUALIFYING DRAW
(Number in brackets denote Countries official FIFA Ranking as of 17.3.06)

Group One is our group for the upcoming qualifying game. Spain will be favourites despite not having qualified for the World Cup, but if they slip up then Belgium will be ready to take the group's top spot. Again, we have been drawn with Macedonia who will battle for third spot with Slovenia, leaving us and Kazakhstan battling out for last. Honestly, I think we could finish fourth if we continue with our good form. In a strange coincidence, Kazakhstan, Slovenia and Spain were all in the same World Cup qualifying group.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Group 1 P W D L F A PTS-----------------------------------------------------------------Belgium (22) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-----------------------------------------------------------------Macedonia (89) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Kazakhstan (131) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0SAN MARINO (158) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Slovenia (63) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Spain (27) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0</pre>

We will start with a home game against Slovenia before a daunting trip to Spain. We have four away games at the start of 2007, which could cost us little. Within our group, we have never met Slovenia or Kazakhstan. I think we can pick up at least 10 points from this group and hopefully finish fourth.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
San Marino - Slovenia
Spain - San Marino
San Marino - Belgium
Kazakhstan - San Marino
FYR of Macedonia - San Marino
Slovenia - San Marino
Belgium - San Marino
San Marino - Kazakhstan
San Marino - Spain
San Marino - FYR of Macedonia <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

enjikari

Group Two is a particularly weak group with only Turkey seemingly able to win the group. However, Romania and Wales will be looking to redeem themselves after poor World Cup qualifying performances. Andorra, Azerbaijan and Georgia are likely to contest the other three places in the group.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group 2 P W D L F A PTS-----------------------------------------------------------------Andorra (155) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-----------------------------------------------------------------Azerbaijan (126) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Georgia (94) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Romania (24) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Turkey (10) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Wales (70) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0</pre>

Group 3 has seen France installed as favourites with both Finland and Serbia & Montenegro likely to fight over the play-off place. Belarus will probably finish in fourth place, leaving Liechtenstein and Luxembourg to finish in fifth and sixth.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group 3 P W D L F A PTS-----------------------------------------------------------------Belarus (84) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-----------------------------------------------------------------Finland (37) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0France (5) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Liechtenstein (137) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Luxembourg (165) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Serbia & Mont. (35) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0</pre>

Group Four has two favourites for the top two positions in Czech Republic and England. Czech Republic were undefeatd in qualifying for the World cup and England will be looking to bounce back after failing to qualify. Neither team faces much competition and Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia and Moldova will contest the other four places.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group 4 P W D L F A PTS-----------------------------------------------------------------Albania (117) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-----------------------------------------------------------------Bulgaria (32) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Czech Republic (16) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0England (20) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Estonia (80) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Moldova (20) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0</pre>

Group Five has three teams that are all capable of finishing on top of the group. Two from Portugal, Greece and Croatia will get the top and play-off spots and Slovakia will probably finish fourth. Armenia and Faroe Islands will play for the fourth and fifth spots.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group 5 P W D L F A PTS-----------------------------------------------------------------Armenia (134) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-----------------------------------------------------------------Croatia (19) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Faroe Islands (127) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Greece (52) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Portugal (28) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Slovakia (60) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0</pre>

Group Six is the first of the five-team groups and there are three of the five teams that will be able to top the group. Norway, Scotland and Sweden will be the teams aiming for the top spot leaving Bosnia and Malta to contest the other two places.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group 6 P W D L F A PTS-----------------------------------------------------------------Bosnia (85) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-----------------------------------------------------------------Malta (121) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Norway (31) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Scotland (54) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Sweden (29) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0</pre>

Despite not qualifying for the World Cup, Italy will still be favourites to top Group 7. Russia and Ukraine will have to compete with each other for the play-off place whilst Latvia and Northern Ireland will finish in the fourth and fifth positions.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group 7 P W D L F A PTS-----------------------------------------------------------------Italy (14) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-----------------------------------------------------------------Latvia (102) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0N. Ireland (99) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Russia (48) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Ukraine (46) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0</pre>

Group Eight will see Germany and Ireland as favourites to win the group and to secure the play-off spot with Poland the most likely to give either of them any competition. Iceland will finish below these three with Cyprus likely to finish bottom.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group 8 P W D L F A PTS-----------------------------------------------------------------Cyprus (96) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-----------------------------------------------------------------Germany (25) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Iceland (62) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Ireland (15) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Poland (36) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0</pre>

Denmark and Holland are easily the best two teams in the group and will finish in the top two places. Hungary, Israel and Lithuania will, therefore, compete for the un-important places in the group.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group 9 P W D L F A PTS-----------------------------------------------------------------Denmark (17) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-----------------------------------------------------------------Holland (7) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Hungary (71) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Israel (72) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Lithuania (105) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0</pre>

enjikari

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
FIFA World Rankings
These selections are taken from the official FIFA World Rankings as of 29.3.04

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">FIFA World Top Ten European Top Ten Teams Ranked 150-59------------------ ---------------- ---------------------1 - Brazil 1 - France (2) 150 - Hong Kong - 2522 - France 2 - Spain (3) = - Maldives - 2523 - Spain 3 - Holland (4) = - Palestine - 2524 - Argentina 4 - Turkey (6) = - Tanzania - 252= - Holland 5 - England (7) = - Vanuata - 2526 - Turkey 6 - Germany (9) 155 - Cape Verde- 2447 - England 7 - Italy (11) 156 - Ant & Bar - 240= - Mexico 8 - Czech.Re(12) = - SAN MARINO- 2409 - Germany 9 - Ireland (13) 158 - Dom. Rep. - 232= - United States 10- Denmark (14) 159 - Eritrea - 226</pre> <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Above is the World Rankings before the start of the WC Qualifiers. Below are the rankings at the start of the EC Qualifiers. These are before the World Cup, so are likely to change soon. As you can see, we have dropped a place over the two years and Europe in general has dropped over the two years.

FIFA World Rankings
These selections are taken from the official FIFA World Rankings as of 17.3.06

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">FIFA World Top Ten European Top Ten Teams Ranked 150-59------------------ ---------------- ---------------------1 - Brazil 1 - France (5) 150 - Aruba - 2362 - Argentina 2 - Holland (7) 151 - Palestine - 2343 - Mexico 3 - Turkey (10) 152 - St. Vinc. - 2324 - United States 4 - Italy (14) 153 - Dom. Rep. - 2285 - France 5 - Ireland (15) 154 - Hong Kong - 2286 - South Korea 6 - Czech.Re(16) 155 - Andorra - 2247 - Holland = - Denmark (16) 156 - Cape V.Is - 2238 - Colombia 8 - Croatia (19) 157 - Myanmar - 2229 - Japan 9 - England (20) = - SAN MARINO- 22210- Turkey 10- Belgium (22) 159 - Ant & Bar - 218</pre>

enjikari

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
Squad Announced For Latvia Friendly

23.3.06

Just one change has been made to the last squad for the squad that will take on Latvia in a friendly at Olimpico Stadium.

Davide Casali, who played so well against Slovakia on his debut, has been forced out of the squad for a whole year due to damaged cruciate ligaments and has, therefore, been replaced by Michele Giacobbi. Still in the squad is right-back Fabio Bollini who has just secured a move to Argentinian giants River Plate. He is being allowed to play despite River being locked in a tough league campaign.

With the groups stages for Euro 2008 having been drawn, this game is San Marino's only warm-up game before they get underway against Slovenia.

The squad is listed in full below. Numbers show caps/goals <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">M. Bollini - GK - 0/0 F. Gasperoni - GK - 24/0N. Giardi - GK - 11/0 M. Mancini - SW/D/DM C - 0/0 F. Bollini - D R - 9/0 E. Gerini - D RC - 2/0M. Giacobbi - D R - 2/0 P. Cupi - D LC - 9/0A. Della Valle - D LC - 12/0 A. Gasperoni - D LC - 10/0D. Selva - D C - 5/0 A. Francioni - DM C - 11/0A. Raschi - DM C - 0/0 N. Chiaruzzi - M LC - 11/0R. Gasperoni - M L - 0/0 D. Rapanelli - M C - 3/0S. Celli - M C - 2/0 M. Gasperoni - M C - 0/0R. Moroni - AM RLC - 11/2 M. Zanotti - AMC - 10/1D. Biordi (U21 caps) - F RC - 0/0 A. Selva - S C - 24/10D. Conti - F LC - 8/2 M. Marani - S C - 8/1</pre>

enjikari

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
San Marino And Latvia Battle Out Goalless Draw

1.4.06

San Marino 0-0 Latvia (Friendly)

San Marino held Latvia to a 0-0 draw and were unlucky not to get the win.

Daniele Conti had the best chance of the game in the second half, but blazed his shot over the bar. In the end, it was the defences from each team that came out on top.

It was, however, a good warm up for the qualifying games coming up for the San Marinese. They can now sit back and enjoy the World Cup before getting down to business in Group 1 of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">|No. | Name | |Rat|Gls||No. | Name | |Rat|Gls||-----------------------------------------------||-----------------------------------------------|| 1 | Nicola Giardi | | 7 | || 1 | Sergey Ivanov |(sub 82)| 8 | || 2 | Fabio Bollini | | 7 | || 2 | Alexandrs Roslovs |(sub 82)| 5 | | | 3 |* ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE | | 8 | || 3 | Igors Stepanovs (Bkd) | | 7 | || 4 | Paolo Cupi | | 6 | || 4 | Juris Laizans (C) | | 7 | || 5 | Davide Selva | Booked | 7 | || 5 | Alexander Baumanis |(sub 45)| 7 | || 6 | Alessandro Francioni | | 7 | || 6 | Vladimir Draguns |(sub 60)| 7 | || 7 | Raffaele Moroni (C) | | 8 | || 7 | Yury Stepanov |(sub 60)| 7 | || 8 | Mirco Zanotti | | 8 | || 8 | Janis Laizan |(sub 71)| 7 | || 9 | Nicola Chiaruzzi | | 7 | || 9 | Janis Kalnynsh |(sub 71)| 7 | ||10 | Daniele Conti | | 7 | ||10 | Eugeny Romanov |(sub 60)| 6 | ||11 | Andy Selva | | 4 | ||11 | Maris Verpakovskis | | 7 | ||-----------------------------------------------||-----------------------------------------------||12 | Andrea Raschi | | | ||12 | Yury Nikitine | (on 82)| 6 | ||14 | Davide Biordi | | | ||14 | Alexander Laizan | (on 60)| 7 | ||15 | Alex Gasperoni | | | ||15 | Alexander Igoshin | | | ||16 | Elia Gerini | | | ||16 | Eugeny Semenov | (on 71)| 7 | ||17 | Michele Bollini | | | ||17 | Sergey Kalnynsh |(sub 90)| 7 | ||18 | David Rapanelli | | | ||18 | Mikhail Idionov | (on 82)| 6 | ||19 | Michele Mancini | | | ||19 | Yury Ivanov | (on 90)| 6 | ||20 | Simone Celli | | | ||20 | Sergey Laizan | (on 60)| 6 | ||21 | Marco Gasperoni | | | ||21 | Igor Stepanov | | | ||22 | Federico Gasperoni | | | ||22 | Alexander Ivanov | (on 71)| 7 | ||23 | Alex Gasperoni | | | ||23 | Vladimir Ivanov | (on 60)| 7 | ||24 | Michele Giacobbi | | | ||24 | Alexander Kolidzei | | | |</pre>

enjikari

Welcome to Page 4

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WORLD CUP 2006 - GERMANY
Day 1 - June 7th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group ASouth Africa 2-1 U.S.A U.A.E 0-3 Croatia </pre>
Day 2 - June 8th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group B Norway 1-1 Czech Rep. Brazil 2-4 Serbia & Mont.</pre>
Day 3 - June 9th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group CSaudi Arabia 0-1 Germany Ireland 0-2 Australia Group D Romania 3-1 Mali</pre>
Day 4 - June 10th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group D Argentina 0-0 Senegal Group E Iraq 1-4 France Sweden 1-1 Colombia</pre>
Day 5 - June 11th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group F Mexico 3-2 Ghana Group H Holland 2-1 Nigeria Chile 2-2 Portugal</pre>
Day 6 - June 12th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group F Denmark 2-1 Bulgaria Group G Japan 3-0 Canada Sweden 2-0 Belgium</pre>

After one round of games
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group A - 1. Croatia Group B - 1. Serb & Mont Group C - 1. Australia 2. South Africa 2. Czech Rep. 2. Germany 3. U.S.A 3. Norway 3. Saudia Arabia 4. U.A.E 4. Brazil 4. IrelandGroup D - 1. Romania Group E - 1. France Group F - 1. Mexico 2. Argentina 2. Colombia 2. Denmark 3. Senegal 3. Sweden 3. Ghana 4. Mali 4. Iraq 4. Bulgaria Group G - 1. Japan Group H - 1. Holland 2. South Korea 2. Chile 3. Belgium 3. Portugal 4. Canada 4. Nigeria</pre>

retired_brinker317

That's not a bad draw :thup: - Fourth would be a good achievement - third even better, because I could see you suprising Slovenia...

COME ONE SAN MARINO

Really enjoying this still.

enjikari

Day 7 - June 13th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group ASouth Africa 3-1 U.A.E U.S.A 0-1 Croatia</pre>
Day 8 - June 14th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group BSerb & Mont. 1-0 NorwayCzech Repbu. 2-0 Brazil</pre>
Day 9 - June 15th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group C Germany 1-0 Ireland Australia 1-2 Saudi Arabia</pre>
Day 10 - June 17th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group D Senegal 3-2 Mali Argentina 1-1 RomaniaGroup E France 2-2 Sweden Colombia 4-1 IraqGroup H Portugal 1-0 Holland</pre>
Day 11 - June 18th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group F Bulgaria 3-0 Mexico Ghana 1-2 DenmarkGroup H Nigeria 3-1 Chile</pre>
Day 12 - June 19th 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group G Japan 3-1 South Korea Canada 2-2 Belgium</pre>

After two rounds of games
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group A - 1. Q Croatia Group B - 1. Q Serb & Mont Group C - 1. Germany 2. Q South Africa 2. Czech Rep. 2. Australia 3. U.S.A 3. Norway 3. Saudia Arabia 4. U.A.E 4. Brazil 4. IrelandGroup D - 1. Romania Group E - 1. France Group F - 1. Denmark 2. Senegal 2. Colombia 2. Bulgaria 3. Argentina 3. Sweden 3. Mexico 4. Mali 4. Iraq 4. Ghana Group G - 1. Q Japan Group H - 1. Portugal 2. South Korea 2. Nigeria 3. Belgium 3. Holland 4. Canada 4. Chile</pre>

retired_lela2424

The Belgians don't seem to be doing too well, there, are they? Maybe you could spring some surprises there too with a good amount of luck

enjikari

[i]*d_s - It isn't a bad draw at all *
*Skiddaw - maybe, just maybe*

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Day 13 - 20th June 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group A Croatia 4-0 South Africa U.A.E 0-2 U.S.AGroup B Brazil 1-0 NorwaySerb & Mont. 2-0 Czech Rep.</pre>
Day 14 - 21st June 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group C Germany 1-0 AustraliaSaudi Arabia 1-3 IrelandGroup D Mali 0-1 Argentina Romania 1-3 Senegal</pre>
Day 15 - 22nd June 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group E France 1-0 Colombia Iraq 1-4 SwedenGroup F Bulgaria 3-2 Ghana Denmark 2-0 Mexico</pre>
Day 16 - 23rd June 2006
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group G Belgium 3-2 Japan South Korea 4-1 CanadaGroup H Chile 1-2 Holland Portugal 2-1 Nigeria</pre>

After three rounds of games
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group A - 1. Q Croatia Group B - 1. Q Serb & Mont Group C - 1. Q Germany 2. Q South Africa 2. Q Czech Rep. 2. Q Australia 3. U.S.A 3. Brazil 3. Ireland 4. U.A.E 4. Norway 4. Saudi ArabiaGroup D - 1. Q Senegal Group E - 1. Q France Group F - 1. Q Denmark 2. Q Argentina 2. Q Sweden 2. Q Bulgaria 3. Romania 3. Colombia 3. Mexico 4. Mali 4. Iraq 4. Ghana Group G - 1. Q Japan Group H - 1. Q Portugal 2. Q South Korea 2. Q Holland 3. Belgium 3. Nigeria 4. Canada 4. Chile</pre>