Euro 2012 Qualifiers

[Keystone Phil]

And so what could have been a 5-0 win for Italy ends 1-0. One win away from qualification.

[GMantis]

Congratulations to Germany for being the first country (apart from the hosts) to qualify for the European championship.

[Franzl]

And now it's 6:2 Germany ...

Pity you didn't place a bet on Austria

[Landslide Lyndon]

And so what could have been a 5-0 win for Italy ends 1-0. One win away from qualification.

As always.

Wales just handed the ticket to Poland/Ukraine to England.

[Keystone Phil]

And so what could have been a 5-0 win for Italy ends 1-0. One win away from qualification.

As always.

Wales just handed the ticket to Poland/Ukraine to England.

So true but I can't help but think that if Serie A wasn't striking, they would have nailed a few more of those opportunities. Cassano proved once again that he is easily one of the most overrated players. He could have had another goal late in the game but just stopped running in the box. Disgusting. I really don't like him.

Some fairytales seem to have come to an end today: Montenegro (though they still could advance during the playoff round), Northern Ireland, Belgium and Belarus.

[Lief 🗽]

Belgium will be a strong team in 2014 and on. Their team is young but very talented, and another few years should be good for them.

Glad to see Germany as the first team to qualify though. It was especially nice to see Götze and Schürle score goals after coming on.

[Gustaf]

A win there and the chances of getting best runner-up and qualify automatically would be very, very good.

Sorry to break the bad news but they aren't doing that anymore for the Euros. The group runners up now plays in a two legged playoff round like in World Cup qualifying.

Except for the best one. There's 9 groups and 14 places, what can they do?

Right 

Lewis is correct - I was referring to Sweden's chances of being the BEST runner-up and thus qualify automatically.

Sadly, given the disaster yesterday that now looks very unlikely. We really need to find a good left-back.

[Gustaf]

Phil, on your previous post about Sweden, I'm not worried about Hungary. As long as we beat Finland and San Marino (teams that we beat by 5-0 and 6-0 respectively in the last games) we're automatically ahead of Hungary regardless of how the rest goes (if they win all their other games and we lose the last game against Holland we would, given that, be tied on points and be ahead based on better head-to-head record).

So, to my mind this isn't really about the second place. I'm almost counting on Sweden not screwing that up. It was about being the best runner-up - a win against Hungary would have made it likely, but now the dream is more or less over, I'm afraid. And I don't trust Sweden in a play-off against anyone, really.

At least I'll be happy if the Norwegians get that best 2nd place spot.

[minionofmidas]

Turkey re-ignites some of that excitement from Euro 2008 with that last minute goal. And ESPN says the goal came in the seventh minute of stoppage time. I smell some controversy with that one...

There were a red card for Turkey and two yellows for Kazakhstan during the preceding six minutes of stoppage time... I suppose that had something to do with it.

[Keystone Phil]

Phil, on your previous post about Sweden, I'm not worried about Hungary. As long as we beat Finland and San Marino (teams that we beat by 5-0 and 6-0 respectively in the last games) we're automatically ahead of Hungary regardless of how the rest goes (if they win all their other games and we lose the last game against Holland we would, given that, be tied on points and be ahead based on better head-to-head record).

Yeah, I didn't realize you guys beat them by two goals in the first game. You still have to beat Finland in Helsinki though. I imagine that won't be another 5-0 rout. That being said, Hungary still have to play them again, too, but they'll have the benefit of home field advantage in the last game.

[Insula Dei]

Belgium will be a strong team in 2014 and on. Their team is young but very talented, and another few years should be good for them.

True, we have some real talent walking around, the problem is forging them into a team. I think we now have more potential future top players than ever before: Eden Hazard (Lille), Witsel (Benfica), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea), Courtois (Chelsea),... all have the potential to play a worldcup.

[Keystone Phil]

Spain, The Netherlands and Italy should join Germany, Poland and Ukraine as qualified teams today. Spain will surely steam roll Liechtenstein while The Netherlands shouldn't have much of a problem with Finland. Italy will have the toughest task but I think we'll get the job done at home. We'll have even more of a psychological edge since we're playing in Florence (where Prandelli reigned as coach of Fiorentina). Unfortunately, I think our clean sheet run will finally come to an end but we'll still come away with maximum points in a 2-1 win.

Fun fact that I just noticed: Group E (The Netherlands' group) is the only group in the tournament in which no team has recorded a draw in 2012 qualifying.

[Tender Branson]

Austria is playing Turkey in Vienna today.

I'd say 2:1 or 2:0 for Turkey.

[Gustaf]

Sweden's group is quite boring tonight. I guess Moldavia stealing a draw from Hungary is not impossible, but beyond that the games look pretty set.

Lots of exciting matches elsewhere though. I hope Northern Ireland can beat Estonia and keep themselves alive in their group. And I hope Austria manages an upset against Turkey.

Of course I'm also at least semi-hoping for Denmark to upset Norway and allow Sweden a new shot at that best runner-up. In a similar vein I'm cheering for Israel against Croatia as well.

[GMantis]

Of course I'm also at least semi-hoping for Denmark to upset Norway and allow Sweden a new shot at that best runner-up. In a similar vein I'm cheering for Israel against Croatia as well.

Turkey not defeating Austria would also help

[republicanism]

Still 0:0 in Moscow. Go Ireland!

[Tender Branson]

And I hope Austria manages an upset against Turkey.

Turkey not defeating Austria would also help

Well, the Kronen Zeitung today wrote that Austria needs a new Jan Sobieski today ...

(unfortunately, we don't have any players of Polish origin in the team, but maybe Kalwejt can do a cheerleader job for us ...)

[republicanism]

And its over.

Now its Russia 17, Ireland 15, Slovakia 14.
Slovakia has one more game left, but they still have to go to Russia, while Russia and Ireland are allowed to beat Andorra once again.

Pretty nice position for Ireland now. It is in there own hands to ensure place two, and place one is not impossible at all.

[minionofmidas]

Slovakia's one more game is tonight, against Armenia. Now... an Armenian away win... that'd make things seriously interesting at 17-15-14-14.
Armenia still play Ireland, after all.

[republicanism]

Best result for Ireland would be a draw of course.

In group E, Netherlands can technically qualify now if they beat Finland.
And Hungary plays Moldova half an hour from now. I guess I'll cross my fingers for Moldova, since I'd like to see Sweden in the Euros.

[Gustaf]

Best result for Ireland would be a draw of course.

In group E, Netherlands can technically qualify now if they beat Finland.
And Hungary plays Moldova half an hour from now. I guess I'll cross my fingers for Moldova, since I'd like to see Sweden in the Euros.

Appreciated.

GMantis, while I am, as noted, cheering on Austria in that game anyway, I'm not too worried about the Turks being best runner-up. They've already at 2 losses, 1 draw with a game against Germany still left. Sweden's at 2 losses, with a game against Holland left. I'm more worried about Croatia and Norway.

[Keystone Phil]

Slovakia has one more game left, but they still have to go to Russia

Slovakia's remaining game against Russia is in Slovakia.

Going to Moscow and walking away with a draw is decent for the visiting team. However, there are problems ahead. The way I look at it, I think all three top teams will end with 21 points. I think that is going to hurt Ireland when it comes to the head-to-head record.

[Gustaf]

Slovakia has one more game left, but they still have to go to Russia

Slovakia's remaining game against Russia is in Slovakia.

Going to Moscow and walking away with a draw is decent for the visiting team. However, there are problems ahead. The way I look at it, I think all three top teams will end with 21 points. I think that is going to hurt Ireland when it comes to the head-to-head record.

Yeah, I agree that is worrying for the Irish. Slovakia hasn't looked that strong though. They lost against Armenia so it's hardly out of the question for them to lose points in their remaining games (outside of Russia).

[Lief 🗽]

There are a handful of friendlies today as well, including Belgium-USA and Poland-Germany, both of which should be good.

[Keystone Phil]

The Dutch are just ten minutes away from qualifying. They're only up 1-0 though so let's see if Finland can at least equalize (despite being down a man).