retired_deljo

29th March 2011

Match Previews

Group Three - Scotland vs Spain

An absolute must-win for both sides. Scotland will be looking for a win to take them clear of Ukraine, whilst Spain need the points to claw their way back into contention. Scotland's 3-0 win in Spain on the opening day of qualifying will give them the psychological edge, but Spain will go into the clash at Hampden in high spirits after thrashing Estonia 7-1. The game will have two main men as it's focus. Scotland's Stephen McPhee may be having a mixed season in Italy with Varese, but has shone for national coach David Körner. Two goals in Spain started his campaign on the right note, and since then he's added three more. Scotland will look to their most potent goal threat to see them through. Spain's golden boy is Fernando Torres. His recall lead to the seven goal victory on Saturday, and if Scotland can close off his threat then Spain will have a problem. Saying that, it's easy to forget that Betis start Guayre will come into the game off the back of a four goal haul. What is certain is that the match will be action packed, a great exhibition of football, and a must-win for both Scotland and Spain.

Group Six - Holland vs Ireland

Failure of the home side to secure anything but three points will all but see the end of the World Champions in Group Six. Ruud Gullit's side are currently five points behind Mick McCarthy's table topping Irish, and a five or eight point margin to make up in just three remaining games after this would be too much. Ireland's 1-0 win over the Oranje at Lansdowne Road back in September has given them a great chance of qualification, but they will also need to put in a winning performance to stave off the Finnish threat. McCarthy looks set to name an unchanged side from the side which beat Serbia & Montenegro at the weekend, with no injury or suspension worries. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar could start after picking up an injury at the weekend, but once again star man Rafael van der Vaart misses out with an injury. Zenden is set to cover the Man Utd man in a game that is imperative to win for Gullit's Holland. Failure, and the consequences may be dire.

Group Seven - Slovenia vs Germany

The winners of tomorrow's meeting in Ljubljana will top Group Seven and take pole position in the race for Norway. Slovenia currently sit proudly at the summit, thanks in no small part to a 2-0 in in Munich back at the start of qualifying. Since then they've proven it was no fluke by remaining unbeaten and staying top. Germany have recovered and started to impress, as the quality at their disposal should. As far as team news goes, Slovenia left back Igor Lazic serves a one match suspension, so experienced Ziga Staric will provide adequate cover. Rudi Völler will have a full strength party to choose from, which includes the dangerous Berlin striker Kai Brand. Their only previous meeting was the clash back in September. Slovenia will be hoping for a similar outcome tomorrow evening.

retired_brinker317

That wasn't Michel 'legend' Kuipers called into the Dutch squad (last page) was it? :cool:

Enjoying this

retired_deljo

Unfortunately not - Ed Kuipers IIRC

retired_deljo

30th March 2011

Hampden stalemate does little for either side

Scotland and Spain shared an entertaining but ultimately disappointing draw in Glasgow which doesn't help either side all that much. Spain will take more from the game as they remain just about in touch with the Group leaders, but would have preferred a win. Scotland's failure to win keeps them top but they declined the opportunity to extend the lead over the Ukraine, who now have a game in hand. The match itself was quite enjoyable. Miguel Ã�ngel Lotina's visiting side took the lead after a quarter of an hour through Guayre. EtxeberrÃ*a beat Paterson and delivered a nice cross to which Guayre placed his head to reach ten international goals. They had the goal they came for and, in unusual style for Spain, sat on what they had. It invited Scotland forward, but Iker Casillas dealt with whatever they could muster. That was until the 23rd minute. Jamie McCunnie clipped a ball across the face of goal but nobody met it. Arriving at the back post was Jim Paterson, who composed himself before clinically driving in his first international goal. Scotland then went ahead nine minutes later. Another cross, this time courtesy of Darren Fletcher, was met by Stephen McPhee, who netted for the third international running. Spain abandoned their defensive approach, desperate for a goal. Stephen Caldwell was doing a good job containing Fernando Torres, but the Celtic man escaped the shackles on half time only to waste the glorious chance presented for him. Midway through the second half the visitors did find an equaliser. Fernando Torres created some room to weigh up his options. A ball was put into the six yard box, onto which captain José Antonio Reyes pounced. It was just his fifth goal at this level, which for a man of such quality and experience is a poor tally. However, his goal gave Spain a valuable point, but they still have it all to do.


Scotland 2 (Paterson 23, mcPhee 32)
Spain 2 (Guayre 16, Reyes 67)
Attendance - 49,959
Referee - Kazimir Znaidinskiy (Russia)

Scotland - Gallacher, Paterson, McCunnie, McNaughton, Naysmith (McGuire 52), Fletcher, Kerr, Caldwell, McPhee, Parker, Ferguson(c) (Hughes 59, Miller 84)

Spain - Casillas, Gabri, EspÃ*n, José, Pavón, Fernando Sales (Trashorras 71), Reyes(c), Capi (Vicente 59), Fernando Torres, Guayre, EtxeberrÃ*a

retired_deljo

Luck escapes the Irish in Amsterdam

The much-used phrase 'luck of the Irish' is certainly inaccurate in context to tonight's clash in Amsterdam. A last gasp equaliser from Holland's Andy van der Meyde rescued an unlikely point for the home side, who would have been dead and buried if they had have lost. Ruud Gullit's side came into the game knowing a defeat had to be avoided at all costs of qualification might have been almost mathematically impossible. They started having clearly taken this on board. Dirk Kuijt missed a glaring header in the fourth minute when anything on target would have beaten Synnott. Yet with their first meaningful advance of the game, Ireland took the lead. David Mendes da Silva lost possession to Ciarán Keane, and he set Gary Doherty on his way. His shot beat Bosman and found the corner via the post to silence the capacity ArenA crowd. Trying to atone for his error, Mendes da Silva planted a header for what he thought was a goal until Synnott made an outstanding leap to tip the ball away. The Dutch really put the pressure on in the second half, but Ireland stood firm. Zenden drilled a shot wide from the edge of the area, and Kuijt put another header wide. Irish fans were celebrating a win which would have put them eight points ahead of Holland with just three games left (and therefore almost certain of a place in Norway) until Andy van der Meyde popped up in the 94th minute. Andy O'Brien felled Dirk Kuijt twenty five yards from goal. The Real Madrid man van der Meyde curled the kick into the top corner to sink the Irish and take an important point for Holland. They're still in a poor position, but now have a better chance thanks to that injury time free kick.


Holland 1 (van der Meyde 90)
Ireland 1 (Doherty 21)
Attendance - 51,321
Referee - David McGarvey (Scotland)

Holland - Bosman (Stekelenburg 63), Oude Kamphuis, de Cler, Hofland(c), H.Seedorf, Janssen, van der Meyde, Mendes da Silva, van Nistelrooy (de Jong 51), Kuijt, Zenden

Ireland - Synnott, Murphy (Reid 91), Harte, O'Shea, O'Brien, Foley Sheridan (M.Keane 75), Duff, C.Keane, Doherty(c), R.Keane (Hefferman 81), Partridge

retired_deljo

German tactics lead to bore draw in Slovenia

Rudi Völler's negative tactics in Ljubljana saw to the game finishing 0-0 in Slovenia and thus maintain a competent position in the group. Germany sat and refused to attack, instead preferring to let Slovenia take the game to them and attempted to hit on the counter attack. As a result the game as a spectacle suffered when it really should have been a match to decide the eventual group winners. The best chance of the first half ironically fell to Germany. Markus Feulner drove in a high cross that Jermaine Jones headed onto the top of the crossbar. Dejan Robnik's similar attempt in first half injury time was Slovenia's most positive advance of the opening period. Germany suffered a blow on the hour when hitman Kai Brand was taken off with a foot injury, which meant their severe counter attacking style would take a major setback. Timo Hildebrand became more busy in the German goal, making a good double stop twenty minutes from time. Marko Vorbeck almost stole an undeserved win in stoppage time but was stopped in dramatic fashion by Tomaz Murko. The draw keeps Slovenia top, but the situation is a lot tighter with Belgium coming very much into the picture. Völler refused to comment about his negativity, but a spokesman for the German FA spoke on his behalf: "Mr Völler feels he does not have to discuss his tactical decisions with anyone, as it suited the situation entirely. No more questions shall be answered on the subject." Negative it may have been, but Germany got the point they came for.


Slovenia 0
Germany 0
Attendance - 8,999
Referee - John McDermott (Scotland)

Slovenia - Murko, Komljenovic, Staric, Cesar, Kapic(c), Sukalo, Filekovic, Acimovic (Mejac 73), Pekic (Zlogar 59), Robnik, Golob

Germany - Hildebrand, Feulner, Rau, Metzelder(c), Friedrich, Hansen, Rahn, Walz (Bopp 64), Jones (Timm 59), Brand (Vorbeck 59), Reich

retired_deljo

Round Up

Slovakia blew Group One wide open with a 1-0 victory over Croatia in Tehelne Pole. Robert Vittek struck a first half winner to continue his good form and lift Slovakia into second place and gives Denmark the chance to take top spot next time out. Wales are also still in the picture after battling through to a 1-0 win in Lithuania. Jason Koumas scored the crucial winner to put Mark Hughes' side within three points of top spot, and they are fully capable of reaching it.

France and Bulgaria both went a step closer to securing playoff places in Group Two as they each won 2-0. Georgia fell in the Stade de France to Jérome Rothen's first international goal, which followed Willy Sagnol's spot kick. Christian Rivière was the star on the night, putting in a faultless performance. Bulgaria stay level on fifteen points with their French foes with a comfortable win over Hungary. Two late goals from Berbatov and Gargorov saw them home after they threatened to ruin all their work with a failure to win. Latvia look most likely to threaten either France or Bulgaria by moving into third with a 2-1 win in San Marino.

With the focus in Group Three firmly on Scotland's 2-2 draw with Spain, Israel quietly got on with their own business with a win in Estonia. Yossi Benayoun's early opener was added to before half time by Oren Shum to give the final result of 2-0. Israel are still on Spain's toes, but have a long way to go to prove anything. The round was best for Ukraine, who look in a much stronger position without even playing.

Italy are three points clear at the top of Group Four as they beat a talented Belarus side 3-0 in Rome. A rare goal from Giuseppe Colucci got them moving early, and Andrea Pirlo continued his fantastic goalscoring season by doubling the lead after half an hour. Belarus were dealt a blow not only on the night but for the rest of qualification when influential midfielder Vitaly Bulyga was dismissed early in the second half for a wreckless lunge on Bau. It was Bau who converted a 64th minute penalty to seal the win for Guidolin's Azzurri. An exciting match in Stockholm between the two sides looking to challenge for what appears to be second spot saw Sweden triumph 1-0 over a Greece side starting to fall. It was the first time the visitors had failed to score in fourteen games, which meant Kennedy Bakircioglu's strike five minutes before half time was enough to put Sweden three points ahead of their opponents. In the battle of the also-rans Faroe Islands beat Luxembourg 1-0 with Allan Petersen's goal.

In Group Five England are all but mathematically guaranteed at least a playoff spot after a battling 2-0 win in Austria. Again, Emile Heskey upset the critics with another goal after five minutes to get them off to a flier. Michael Owen doubled that lead late on after Heskey had gone off injured, but nothing is serious. England are also yet to concede in their campaign, and look set to qualify with a win over Romania in June - should they complete that task. Armenia's first points of the qualification process arrived in the form of a 2-1 win at home to Macedonia. All the goals came in four minutes at the start of the second half, the winner coming from centre back Pa Musa Junaedi.

Finland failed to take a chance to go clear at the top of Group Six by being disappointingly held 1-1 in Helsinki by Albania. With Ireland drawing in Holland, a Finnish win would have put them two clear points ahead. Mikael Forssell's goal seemed to have set them on track to get there, but Montpellier teenager Serge Le Roux scored a first goal for Albania midway through the second half to keep things level at the top of the Group.

Group Seven is starting to become very interesting. Slovenia and Germany shared a drab goalless draw in Ljubljana, which meant Belgium moved further into the qualification picture with a point in Bosnia. Tom Soetaers' first half effort was cancelled out by Bosnian forward Armin Sistek. Bosnia are still very much in contention, just a point back from Belgium. Azerbaijan victored 2-0 over Malta with goals from King Wing Granados and Shaun Innui.

Portugal became the first side to guarantee themselves a minimum of a playoff place with a 3-0 win over Russia in Group Eight. After his heroics at the weekend, Edgar struck again in Lisbon, but a little earlier this time. Hélder Postiga added two goals before half time to sink a rather poor Russian side who have not lived up to any expectations. Turkey can still catch Portugal for automatic qualification, but it's surely a matter of time before Alain Giresse's side make sure of their place in Norway. Northern Ireland and Moldova shared a 2-2 draw at Windsor Park. Highly rated centre back Romeo Lapac gave the visitors a lead which was equalised by Andy Kirk. Stefan Lungu restored the advantage short of the hour but Damien Johnson bit back immediately to keep the Northern Irish off the bottom.

Iceland are back top of Group Nine after completing a crushing 4-0 win in Cyprus. Kristján Ólafsson got things off to a great start with a thumping header before ten minutes had passed, and Heidar Helguson doubled that ten minutes later. Ediur Gudjohnsen scored on his return to the squad to make it 3-0, and Joey Gudjonsson scored a 22nd Iceland goal to wrap things up. The Czech cause was dealt a huge blow as they fell to a 1-0 defeat in Switzerland, who may have out themselves into the picture for a playoff spot. David Lombardo's first goal for his country was enough to sink the second placed Czechs.

retired_deljo

The tables after this round show more of a structure, and perhaps predictions can now be more clear as to who will be on the road to Norway.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * European Championship Qualifying - March 30th********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2011 Tables============================================ ================================================== ==Group 1Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Croatia 5 1 1 0 4 2 2 0 1 3 2 10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Slovakia 5 2 0 1 4 3 1 0 1 1 2 9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Denmark 4 0 1 1 3 4 2 0 0 4 0 7 4th Wales 5 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 5 7 5th Lithuania 5 0 0 3 0 3 0 1 1 2 3 1 Group 2Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st France 6 4 0 0 15 1 1 0 1 2 2 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Bulgaria 6 2 0 1 4 1 3 0 0 6 1 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Latvia 6 1 1 1 4 5 2 0 1 3 6 10 4th Georgia 6 1 0 1 2 3 1 1 2 2 4 7 5th San Marino 6 1 0 3 2 5 0 0 2 1 5 3 6th Hungary 6 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 3 3 9 3 Group 3Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Scotland 5 1 2 0 6 4 2 0 0 7 0 11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Ukraine 4 2 0 0 6 2 1 1 0 3 2 10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Spain 5 1 0 1 2 4 1 1 1 11 6 7 4th Israel 5 1 0 1 2 2 1 0 2 4 5 6 5th Estonia 5 0 0 3 1 13 0 0 2 0 4 0 Group 4Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Italy 6 4 0 0 13 2 1 1 0 2 1 16 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Sweden 6 2 0 1 4 1 2 1 0 7 2 13------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Greece 6 1 1 0 6 2 2 0 2 7 6 104th Belarus 6 0 1 1 2 3 2 0 2 9 7 7 5th Faroe Islands 6 1 0 3 3 9 1 0 1 6 4 6 6th Luxembourg 6 0 0 3 1 15 0 0 3 1 9 0 Group 5Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st England 5 2 0 0 6 0 3 0 0 8 0 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Romania 4 1 0 1 3 2 2 0 0 3 1 9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Austria 5 1 0 2 3 3 1 0 1 1 2 6 4th FYROM 5 1 0 1 4 2 0 0 3 1 9 3 5th Armenia 5 1 0 2 2 6 0 0 2 0 6 3 Group 6Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Ireland 5 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 0 4 1 10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Finland 5 1 1 1 4 5 2 0 0 4 1 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Holland 5 1 2 0 3 2 0 0 2 2 4 5 4th Serbia & Montengro 4 0 0 2 0 2 1 1 0 3 1 4 5th Albania 5 0 0 2 1 5 1 1 1 2 2 4 Group 7Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Slovenia 6 2 2 0 9 4 1 1 0 3 1 12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Germany 6 0 1 1 1 3 3 1 0 11 1 11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Belgium 6 2 1 0 8 2 0 3 0 5 5 10 4th Bosnia 6 1 2 1 7 6 1 1 0 4 2 9 5th Azerbaijan 6 1 0 2 2 6 1 0 2 1 4 6 6th Malta 6 0 0 2 0 5 0 0 4 2 14 0 Group 8Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Pl Portugal 5 3 0 0 9 1 2 0 0 3 0 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Turkey 4 2 0 0 4 0 1 0 1 5 5 9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Russia 5 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2 1 6 4 4th N.Ireland 5 0 2 1 3 5 0 1 1 2 4 3 5th Moldova 5 0 1 1 3 6 0 1 2 2 6 2 Group 9Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Iceland 5 2 0 0 3 1 2 0 1 6 2 12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Czech Republic 5 2 0 0 3 0 1 0 2 3 3 9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Poland 4 2 0 0 4 1 0 1 1 2 3 7 4th Switzerland 5 1 1 1 3 4 0 1 1 0 1 5 5th Cyprus 5 0 1 2 0 7 0 0 2 2 4 1 Second Placed TeamsPos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Sweden 4 2 0 1 4 1 0 1 0 1 1 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Ukraine 3 1 0 0 3 2 1 1 0 3 2 7 3rd Bulgaria 3 1 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 3 1 6 4th Turkey 3 2 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 1 4 6 5th Finland 3 1 0 1 3 4 1 0 0 1 0 6 6th Romania 3 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 3 1 6 7th Czech Republic 4 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 3 6 8th Slovakia 4 2 0 1 4 3 0 0 1 0 2 6 9th Germany 4 0 1 1 1 3 1 1 0 3 1 5 </pre>

retired_deljo

27th April 2011

A round up of the latest international friendlies:

Germany and England shared a 1-1 draw in Dortmund in the biggest game of the round. It would never be a 'friendly' between the two, and it turned out to be a highly aggressive game. Eddie Johnson gave England the lead against the country in which he plys his trade, but Markus Feulner hit back from the penalty spot. After months and months of clamour, Cherno Samba finally received a second international cap, and didn't disgrace himself. Spain came through 1-0 winners over Holland as the noose is prepared for Ruud Gullit. A goal five minutes from time from Güiza will increase the chances that should Holland fail to win their next game in June, Gullit will be out. France also fell to a single goal defeat, to Italy. Alberto Gilardino scored the all important winner. Scotland crushed Hungary 3-0 in Budapest, whilst Belgium crashed 2-0 in Ghana. Two more goals from Hélder Postiga gave Portugal an easy 2-0 win over Serbia & Montenegro, and Sweden came out on top in Scandinavia with a 3-1 win over rivals Denmark.

retired_deljo

25th May 2011

Smith omission baffles all
The decision taken by Steve McLaren to once again overlook prolific hitman Alan Smith in his latest squad has confused and surprised everyone involved in football. The Celtic man, scorer of 47 international goals and third on the all-time list, was a first choice for a number of years whilst flourishing at Hertha Berlin. However, since making the £17m move to Glasgow he hasn't figured in a single squad named by England chief McLaren. Celtic boss Rickard Magnusson can't understand the decision: "I can't see why so many Celtic players aren't named in their national squads. Firstly Fernando Torres and Raul are inexplicably overlooked by Spain, and now Smith can't get into England's squad. We've just won the European Cup, but still no recognition." He has a point. For Smith to be left out is a huge gamble on the part of McLaren, especially as those chosen ahead of him, namely Heskey and Johnson, are considerably less of a goal threat. There is still, however, Michael Owen, and the prodigious talent of Cherno Samba. Elsewhere in the squad, left sided Arsenal youngster Simon Lake earns a first call-up as the only new face in what is becoming a familiar and stable party.

Squad
Gk: Tony Fuller (Ipswich), Chris Kirkland (Liverpool), Paul Robinson (Leeds)
Def: John Curtis (Man Utd), Jonathan Woodgate (Millwall), Gary Cartwright (Fulham), Jamie McCombe (Portsmouth), Stuart Richards (Birmingham), Owen Hargreaves (Barcelona), Phil Neville (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Barcelona, capt), John Terry (Bayern Munich), Chris Riggott (Arsenal), Simon Lake (Arsenal), Ashley Cole (Rangers)
Mid: Paul Ifill (Ispwich), Richie Wellens (Newcastle), Jason Patterson (Chelsea), Matthew Etherington (Arsenal), Joe Cole (Milan), David Dunn (Sunderland)
Fwd: Michael Owen (Liverpool), Cherno Samba (Chelsea), Eddie Johnson (Wolfsburg), Emile Heskey (Liverpool), Marcus Bent (Leverkusen), Matt Piper (Roma)