retired_amyslack

Sky Sports
Saturday November 12, 2005
Richard Keys and Andy Gray are sitting in the Sky Sports studio.

RK - So let’s see how the games all finished Andy.

AG - Ireland really struggled against Belarus and went behind in the first half. Fortunately a goal from Gary Doherty was enough to take them through.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Ireland 1 Belarus 1 (Ireland win 2-1 on aggregate)Doherty 60 Tsigalko 26</pre>

AG - There was no real problem for Denmark against Turkey and two second half goals gave them a comfortable aggregate win.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Turkey 0 Denmark 2 (Denmark win 5-0 in aggregate) Skoubo 48 Pedersen 76</pre>

AG - The most exciting game of the evening took place in Athens as Greece almost turned the game around but Russia eventually went through on the away goals rule. With 23 minutes remaining Greece were 3-0 ahead on the night and 4-3 up on aggregate. But in a frantic finish Russia scored twice in 5 minutes to go 5-4 up overall. Their keeper Nigmatullin was then sent off right at the end and the resulting penalty tied the aggregate score but there wasn’t enough time for Greece to fine the winner.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Greece 4 Russia 2 (5-5 on aggregate, Russia win on away goals)Kafes 29 Yevseev 78Lakis 34 Kerzhakov 83Vryzas 64Charisteas (pen) 89</pre>

AG - Poland gave themselves a mountain to climb when an early own goal gave Yugoslavia a 3-0 advantage, They pulled one goal back but never looked like qualifying.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Poland 1 Yugoslavia 1 (Yugoslavia win 3-1 on aggregate)Wichniarek 69 Glowacki (og) 3</pre>

AG - Finland finished comfortable winners although Uzbekistan did manage a consolation goal.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Finland 3 Uxbekistan 1 (Finland win 6-1 on aggregate)Forssell 24 Bakaev 68Nordback 39Kuqi 71</pre>

RK - OK thanks Andy. Now don’t forget that all of the best World Cup coverage next summer can be found right here on Sky Sports. See you all in the summer.

retired_amyslack

Sky Sports News
Saturday December 31, 2005
The draw for the Final stages of the 2006 World Cup in Germany took place earlier today. Here is the draw in full.

Group A
Argentina
Colombia
Denmark
South Africa


Group B
Czech Republic
Ghana
Italy
Scotland


Group C
Germany
Ivory Coast
Russia
Uraguay


Group D
Ireland
Japan
Senegal
Spain


Group E
Brazil
China
Portugal
USA


Group F
Holland
Morocco
South Korea
Yugoslavia


Group G
England
Mexico
Romania
Saudi Arabia


Group H
Costa Rica
Finland
France
Paraguay

retired_michman524

Should be easy :thup:

retired_amyslack

I'm not so sure about that Jambo

Sky Sports News
Saturday March 11, 2006
The draw for the qualifying groups for Euro 2008 took place earlier today. The qualifying campaign starts in September and here are the groups in full.

Group 1
Czech Republic
Estonia
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Sweden


Group 2
Bulgaria
Georgia
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
San Marino


Group 3
Austria
England
Moldova
Norway
Slovenia


Group 4
Belarus
Cyprus
Malta
Spain
Turkey
Ukraine


Group 5
Albania
Greece
Holland
Israel
Russia


Group 6
Armenia
Denmark
France
Poland
Slovakia


Group 7
Belgium
Bosnia
Faroe Islands
Iceland
Luxembourg
Portugal


Group 8
Finland
Germany
Hungary
Wales
Yugoslavia


Group 9
Azerbaijan
Croatia
FYROM
Ireland
Romania

retired_amyslack

Sky Sports
Saturday June 3, 2006
Richard Keys and Andy Gray are sitting in the Sky Sports studio.

RK - Good afternoon and welcome to our special World Cup 2006 preview programme. The competition kicks off in a few days time and Andy and I will be taking a look at each of the final groups. But let’s start with a look at the playing squads for Scotland, England and Ireland. Scotland first - Berti has raised a few eyebrows with his final 23.

AG - He has a knack of doing that doesn’t he. Let’s take a look at the full squad.

Goalkeepers
Neil Sullivan (36, Hibs)
Jamie Langfield (26, Motherwell)
Rab Douglas (34, Celtic)

Defenders
Martyn Corrigan (28, Coventry)
Lee Wilkie (26, Everton)
Jamie Buchan (29, Dundee)
Robbie Neilson (25, Brondby)
Stephen Crainey (24, Celtic)
Jim Paterson (26, Tottenham)
Steve Caldwell (25, Hibs)
Christian Dailly (32, Watford)
Phil McGuire (26, Aberdeen)
Michael Stewart (25, West Brom)

Midfielders
Stephen Cosgrove (25, Man City)
Barry Ferguson (28, Rangers)
Mark Kerr (24, Leeds)
Darren Fletcher (22, Man Utd)
Charlie Miller (30, Rangers)
Stephen Pearson (23, Aston Villa)

Forwards
Steven Craig (25, Motherwell)
Kenny Miller (26, Wolves)
Kiegan Parker (24, Rangers)
Steven Hampshire (26, Everton)


AG - Berti seems to have learned his lesson from Euro 2004 and he’s included three goalkeepers in the squad with Rab Douglas getting a recall to the Scotland camp. At 36 this may well be Neil Sullivan’s last hurrah and Jamie Langfield is waiting in the wings. Martyn Corrigan has been impressing at club level and he is brought in partly because of his versatility. Christian Dailly is recalled to provide cover for Michael Stewart and Steve Caldwell comes in after a couple of excellent showings in the Scotland B team. Kenny Miller is included after his good form in the last couple of friendlies.

RK - And now on to England.

AG - Well the core of Sven’s squad is very experienced with 13 of the 23 having at least 40 caps.

Goalkeepers
Richard Wright (28, Everton)
Steve Harper (31, Aston Villa)
Rhys Evans (24, Chelsea)

Defenders
Dean Richards (32, Liverpool)
Gary Neville (31, Arsenal)
Phil Neville (29, Man Utd)
Ashley Cole (25, Arsenal)
Sol Campbell (31, Arsenal)
Ugo Ehiogu (33, Liverpool)
Rio Ferdinand (27, Man Utd)
John Terry (25, Valencia)

Midfielders
Owen Hargreaves (25, Bayern Munich)
David Prutton (24, Arsenal)
Kieron Dyer (27, Newcastle)
David Beckham (31, Man Utd)
Joe Cole (24, West Ham)
Alan Thompson (32, West Ham)
Paul Scholes (31, Arsenal)

Forwards
Trevor Sinclair (33, Leeds)
Carlton Cole (22, Chelsea)
Robbie Fowler (31, Real Madrid)
Michael Owen (26, Liverpool)
Wayne Rooney (20, Leeds)

AG - Richard Wright has a lot of international experience but his two deputies don’t have a cap between them so England could be exposed if Wright gets injured. The defence is very solid and the only real surprise in midfield is the inclusion of Alan Thompson. He has forced his way into the reckoning since his transfer from Celtic midway through the season. Trevor Sinclair is a controversial inclusion as his club form has been poor.

RK - And now Ireland.

AG - Robbie Keane is the undoubted star of David O’Leary’s squad.

Goalkeepers
Shay Given (30, Man City)
Dean Kiley (35, Charlton)
Joe Murphy (24, Man City)

Defenders
Gary Breen (32, Middlesbrough)
Sean Coyle (28, Birmingham)
Kenny Cunningham (34, Liverpool)
Richard Dunne (26, Grimsby)
Gary Kelly (31, Leeds)
Paul Butler (33, Wolves)
Gary Doherty (26, Leeds)
Andy O’Brien (26, Newcastle)
John O’Shea (25, Liverpool)
Steve Finnan (30, Aston Villa)

Midfielders
Matt Holland (32, Man Utd)
Rory Delap (29, Southampton)
Sean Thornton (23, Sunderland)
Stephen McPhail (26, Middlesbrough)
Damian Duff (27, Blackburn)
Kevin Kilbane (29, Sunderland)

Forwards
Robbie Keane (25, Tottenham)
Gary Bonner (23, Middlesbrough)
David Connolly (29, Wimbledon)
Clinton Morrison (27, Birmingham)

AG - There seems to be a dearth of young talent available and Ireland still rely on their older key players. I would worry about the strength in depth of the squad. For example, they rely heavily on Keane and Morrison up front and if either of them picked up an injury then the team would struggle.

RK - Thanks Andy. We’ll take a short break and when we return Andy will have a look at each of the final groups in turn.

retired_amyslack

Sky Sports
Saturday June 3, 2006
Richard Keys and Andy Gray are sitting in the Sky Sports studio.

RK - Welcome back. So Andy, take us through the groups then.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group ATeam FIFA RankingArgentina 6Colombia 71Denmark 1South Africa 8</pre>
AG - If this group follows the ranking than we should see Denmark, the European Champions and Argentina, the Copa America, Confederations Cup winners and current World Cup holders, taking the top two places. South Africa’s ranking is a bit of a surprise considering that they only finished 3rd in the African Nations Cup. They also met Denmark in the Confederations Cup last July and the Danes won 2-1. Colombia are the dark horses of the group. They finished runners-up behind Brazil in the South American qualifying group and they reached the Confederations Cup Final where they lost 3-0 to Argentina. They also played Argentina in the group stage and lost by the same scoreline. The teams met once more in the Copa America Quarter Finals where Colombia lost 3-1. Apart from a 2-0 loss to Brazil during qualification, these were the only games that they lost last year so they may cause a few surprises.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group BTeam FIFA RankingCzech Republic 15Ghana 89Italy 3Scotland 17</pre>
AG - On paper this looks like a battle between the Czech Republic and Scotland for the second qualifying place. Italy are favourites to win the group and no one expects Ghana to be a real threat. Having said that they did reach the Quarter Finals of the African Nations Cup and they won a World Cup qualifying group that contained Tunisia, the surprise Nations Cup winners the Republic of Congo, Gambia and Guinea, all ranked well above Ghana. This is possibly the toughest group of them all in my opinion and if Scotland come through they will have done really well.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group CTeam FIFA RankingGermany 26Ivory Coast 12Russia 14Uruguay 90</pre>
AG - If anyone can explain to me how the FIFA Ranking system works I’d be extremely grateful. It beggars belief that the Ivory Coast are ranked above both Russia and Germany as far as I’m concerned. Those are the two that I see fighting out the top places no matter what the rankings say. Uruguay had to come through a playoff with Australia to get here and I can’t see them getting to the knockout stages.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group DTeam FIFA RankingIreland 5Japan 67Senegal 21Spain 7</pre>
AG - This group should be a battle between Ireland and Spain although Senegal did reach the African Nations Cup Final so they could spring a surprise.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group ETeam FIFA RankingBrazil 2China 58Portugal 9USA 36</pre>
AG - I really can’t see beyond Brazil and Portugal in this group. The USA did finish above Mexico in their qualifying group and the reached the Semi Finals of the 2003 Confederations Cup but they have an ageing team and I just can’t see them going through.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group FTeam FIFA RankingHolland 34Morocco 28South Korea 101Yugoslavia 13</pre>
AG - Holland and Yugoslavia were in the same qualifying group and the Dutch came out on top and I expect them to do the same this time. Their ranking of 34 just doesn’t reflect the talent in the team. I expect Yugoslavia to take second place.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group GTeam FIFA RankingEngland 25Mexico 37Romania 10Saudi Arabia 92</pre>
AG - England have not been in the best of form and the press are already writing off their chances. But I think that any team with Michael Owen in it has a chance. Captain David Beckham is in good form and Robbie Fowler has had a couple of great seasons at Real Madrid so I think that they’ll qualify. Romania should go through with them but if Mexico are in the mood then they can give anyone a run for their money.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group HTeam FIFA RankingCosta Rica 38Finland 11France 4Paraguay 16</pre>
AG - On paper this looks like possibly the toughest group of them all but Finland really struggled in qualification, just edging out Bulgaria on goal difference to take a playoff place and I think that they’re overrated. I can’t see anyone but France winning the group but I fancy Paraguay to take second place.

RK - Thanks for that Andy. Well the tournament kicks off on Wednesday with the opening game between holders Argentina and European Champions Denmark and that could be a cracker. Scotland start their campaign on Thursday against Ghana so please join Andy and I for the whole of that match live.

retired_bbcarr

[sings]"We're on the march with Berti's army"[/sings]

should be nae problem in getting to the second round for mr wogts

retired_amyslack

I hope you're right Terk!

Sky Sports
Thursday June 8, 2006
Richard Keys and Andy Gray are sitting in the Sky Sports studio.

RK - Good evening and welcome to Sky Sports coverage of Scotland’s first group match in the final stages of the 2006 World Cup Finals as they take on Ghana in the AOL Arena in Hamburg. The tournament got off to a terrific start yesterday Andy.

AG - It sure did. The opening game between World Cup holders Argentina and European Champions Denmark turned out to be a stormer. After a quiet opening 45 minutes the game burst into life in the second period as Ebbe Sand scored a spectacular hat trick in 14 minutes. Hernan Crespo pulled a goal back for Argentina but the game finished 3-1 to the Danes.

RK - And Colombia repeated that scoreline in the second game in Group A.

AG - Yes, they had a good 3-1 win over South Africa. So next week’s game between Colombia and Argentina will be critical - another defeat and the Argentines will be going home very early.

RK - Do you think that the Scots can get through to the knockout stages?

AG - I’d like to think so. This first game against Ghana is critical - we have to win it and win well.

RK - What team is going out against Ghana?

AG - Well here’s Berti’s lineup.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Steven Hampshire Steven Craig Kiegan Parker Charlie Miller (C) Stephen CosgroveStephen Crainey Michael Stewart Jim Paterson Lee Wilkie Steven Caldwell Neill Sullivan SubstitutesRab DouglasMartyn CorriganJamie BuchanStephen PearsonBarry Ferguson Mark KerrKenny Miller</pre>


RK - Thanks Andy. We’re going to take a short break new and we’ll return to the studio here at half time to review the action.

retired_michman524

Here we go

retired_amyslack

World Cup 2006 Group B Game 1
Half Time
Scotland 3 (Miller 17, Parker 20, Hampshire 21) Ghana 1 (Amoah 18)

RK - What an extraordinary first 20 minutes Andy.

AG - Breathtaking stuff Richard. Actually the first 15 minutes or so were fairly quiet as the teams sounded one another out but then we had 4 goals in a manic 4-minute spell. As we can see, captain Charlie Miller started the ball rolling. Michael Stewart sends in a good ball for Cosgrove and the Man City players makes a great volley that’s well saved by Nanor but Miller is quickest to the loose ball and it’s 1-0. But Ghana advance straight from the restart as Aidoo shows good control, picks out Matthew Amoah and the Vitesse player takes it past Caldwell and then Crainey before he fires home. But Scotland go back up the other end and win the corner. Paterson takes it and Kiegan Parker rises highest to head home. No sooner had the dust settled after that one and it’s Parker again, picking up a poor clearance by Nanor, he spots Hampshire and the Everton striker makes it 3-1.

RK - That wasn’t the last of the chances either.

AG - Far from it. Twice in a minute Charlie Miller had headers really well saved by Nanor and Ghana also threatened a couple of times.

RK - Well it’s a good scoreline for Scotland at present - can they keep this up in the second half.

AG - I certainly hope so Richard.

RK - OK, time for another break and we’ll see you back here at full time.