Euro qualifying thread

[BonnieShels]

There was no way that game could resume after what happened. There would have been red cards galore afterwards. The Albanian captain was right to refuse to go back out even if their reaction was over the top initially. Uefa need to come out and make a quick and steadfast decision about it and lead. The fear here is precedent could be formed so they have to do it right.

[DannyInvincible]

Heading towards an important 0-0 home win?

Fair dues.

Can't argue with the bit about the Albanian players' reaction in fairness; utter stupidity.

If the bit about the Albanian officials refusing to play under any of the circumstances offered is true, the match could well be forfeit in Serbia's favour.

You'd nearly think the Serbians were blameless for what transpired though. There was disorder, a pitch invasion and flares/missiles being thrown. Even notorious Serbian hooligan, Ivan Bogdanov, had made it not only into the stadium but on to the pitch amidst the chaotic breakdown in security: http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/oct/16/serbia-albania-riot-ivan-bogdanov

[pineapple stu]

There was no way that game could resume after what happened. There would have been red cards galore afterwards.
The statement says they were offered the chance to play the following day, maybe behind closed doors (it's not clear if the behind closed doors in the statement was only for a restart on the Tuesday or the whole thing on the Wednesday). They could surely have done that? If there were to be red cards galore, so what? Only concern is player safety, I'd have said.

Agree the Serbians are by no means faultless here of course.

[BonnieShels]

You're right to say that "so what" re red cards. But honestly the tensions were so high and even over night that there was no reasonable way that a game between the teams could have reasonably occurred on Wednesday.

The best thing that could have happened, happened.

To play it at a later date is the right solution.

[ArdeeBhoy]

And behind closed doors.

[Stuttgart88]

Slightly relevant: my French mate was telling me it all kicked of at Nice v Bastia last night. Bastia won 1-0 at Nice and a Bastia player (goalkeeper?) started waving a Corsican flag in front of the Nice fans after the game. The Nice fans took exception and all hell broke lose. I wasn't aware that Corsica was a hotbed of nationalism too. No doubt AB can fill me in :)

It seems like nationalism, ethic identity and arbitrary borders are all in the spotlight again. Rather than a gunman in Sarajevo, will football be the catalyst again, or is it instrumental in keeping everything together? Many attribute the start of the war in Yugoslavia to the Zabreb v RS Belgrade game when Boban karate kicked a copper!

[ArdeeBhoy]

Well Corsica's probably got more right to a team probably than at least 4-5 of the participants in these Euros...

Anyway, Stutts, fill your boots here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsican_nationalism

[pineapple stu]

Serbia given a 3-0 win over Albania, and then have those three points docked. Unusual, but I can see where UEFA are coming from.

Have to play their next two home games behind closed doors as well.

Linky (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/serbia-awarded-win-but-deducted-three-points-for-pitch-brawl-following-drone-stunt-30689522.html)

[BonnieShels]

That'll help the goal difference anyway

[DeLorean]

The rematch in Tirana will be interesting, that's not until next October though. A great result for Portugal, Denmark & Armenia, although Portugal might be slightly peeved that their opponents get to play Serbia behind closed door. I don't suspect it will matter too much.

[Charlie Darwin]

The three docked points could be important if Serbia finish third.

[DeLorean]

Oh yeah, it's could be a massive blow to Serbia. I just meant Denmark/Armenia getting to play them behind closed door probably won't matter too much to Portugal, at the end of the campaign.

[Charlie Darwin]

Sorry, I meant if we finish third, those three docked points could have a bearing on whether we are the top-ranked team that automatically qualify.

[geysir]

Not qualification contenders but a stunning result tonight from the Faroes (population 342) in Greece to win 1 nil against the European cup champions from yesteryear.
Their goal was scored by a handy Faroe league player cum plumber/postman/carpenter/fisherman called Edmundsson.
http://www.goalsaim.com/greece-vs-faroe-islands-0-1-highlights-2014-euro-qf/

[Charlie Darwin]

Not qualification contenders but a stunning result tonight from the Faroes (population 342) in Greece to win 1 nil against the European cup champions from yesteryear.
Their goal was scored by a handy Faroe league player cum plumber/postman/carpenter/fisherman called Edmundsson.
http://www.goalsaim.com/greece-vs-faroe-islands-0-1-highlights-2014-euro-qf/
It's not that many, is it?

[irishultra]

Ranieri is getting sacked in the morning! Their population is a mere 49,000. Good to see our Northern Atlantic Island brethren get a win. Stunning stuff.

[geysir]

It's not that many, is it?
The question I ask is, why can't we play like the Faroese?
We have never ever beaten a first seed away from home. Tonight we should envy the football talent of the Faroes.

But I do expect a 2 page dossier/post from Edmundo about how the Faroes are not really a top class team and will have little or no chance of progressing from their caste.

[Charlie Darwin]

The question I ask is, why can't we play like the Faroese?
We have never ever beaten a first seed away from home. Tonight we should envy the football talent of the Faroes.

But I do expect a 2 page dossier/post from Edmundo about how the Faroes are not really a top class team and will have little or no chance of progressing from their caste.
You're really fishing tonight, geysir, presumably in tribute to the Faroese industry. We could easily play possession football and pull off the odd victory every two or three years.

[bennocelt]

Must be all that whale meat they gobble down

[Cymro]

Should be a good blow to the argument that we need pre-qualifying. I've always been opposed to the idea and no-one can claim that the 'minnows' are not at least capable of the occasional major shock.

Is this the first time a top seed has ever lost to a bottom seed when the group contained the maximum possible number of teams? (i.e. including at least one 'minnow')

[geysir]

Should be a good blow to the argument that we need pre-qualifying. I've always been opposed to the idea and no-one can claim that the 'minnows' are not at least capable of the occasional major shock.

Is this the first time a top seed has ever lost to a bottom seed when the group contained the maximum possible number of teams? (i.e. including at least one 'minnow')
No it isn't the first time a top seed has lost to a bottom 6th seeded team.
How quickly you suppress the memory of the magnificent 6th seeded iceland's 2 nil win against 1st seeded Norway in Sept 2012.
One could speculate that the difference between Wales and 6th seed is Bale.

[osarusan]

Well done to the Faroe Islands, an incredible result.

I am delighted to see Greece finally starting to look like the very ordinary team they are.

[geysir]

I'd say the single biggest factor with Greece's slow demise is with the natural decline of Karagounis who IMO was one of the most talented and influential midfielders in the international game in Europe over a period of 10 or 12 years.

[pineapple stu]

Liechtenstein's turn now - 1-0 away win against Moldova. Not on the same level as last night, but still a great result for them.

[Charlie Darwin]

San Marino got their first ever point following a draw with Estonia too.

[geysir]

Liechtenstein's away win qualifies as a bona fide expression of uppity minnow power, even if Moldova are no great shakes in world football.

[Cymro]

No it isn't the first time a top seed has lost to a bottom 6th seeded team.
How quickly you suppress the memory of the magnificent 6th seeded iceland's 2 nil win against 1st seeded Norway in Sept 2012.
One could speculate that the difference between Wales and 6th seed is Bale.

One could point to the win against 4th seeded Scotland and draw against second seeds Belgium in the last group, both achieved without Bale. Although we were actually 6th seeds for that campaign, however it was a freakish anomaly due to the draw being carried out midway through the 2012 campaign when we happened to be below the Faroe Islands in FIFA ranking, which was used for that draw. Had it been done with co-efficients, we'd have been fourth seeds, which is where we've been for the last couple of decades or so.

The idea that we'd be a 6th seed without Bale is rather fanciful, I think.

[geysir]

One could point to the win against 4th seeded Scotland and draw against second seeds Belgium in the last group, both achieved without Bale. Although we were actually 6th seeds for that campaign, however it was a freakish anomaly due to the draw being carried out midway through the 2012 campaign when we happened to be below the Faroe Islands in FIFA ranking, which was used for that draw. Had it been done with co-efficients, we'd have been fourth seeds, which is where we've been for the last couple of decades or so.

The idea that we'd be a 6th seed without Bale is rather fanciful, I think.
Read the lines.
I said one could speculate that the difference between Wales and a 6th seed was Bale, Andorra are 6th seeds and wasn't Bale the difference that mattered?
I´m sure that any relationship that Wales actually have with the 6th seeded pot, is purely accidental.

[geysir]

Minnows like Wales and Malta continued to prosper this evening with some good results. Reformed minnows Iceland lost out in Pils' country, it was far from their best game but i suppose there was a complement of sorts from the Czechs that when they finally took the lead with about 20mins to go, they decided that they should focus on holding on, shutting up shop and celebrated as if they had beaten...... Germany at the final whistle.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Don't forget Malta too, a draw in Bulgaria...

[geysir]

Don't forget Malta too, a draw in Bulgaria...
eh? was mentioned in my first sentence.
Although Bulgaria had most of the possession as you'd expect and a minnow inquisition can happen anywhere/time, but Bulgaria are in one hell of a slump. There were just a 1,000 spectators at that game.
Post match depression with the Iceland players who were really dissatisfied with their performance, apart from a 40 pass sequence of possession in the first half they just couldn't get the better of the Czechs and were forced back time and time again by the incredible work rate of the hosts.
I have to say the Czechs really impressed me, a very well coached, energetic, fit as a fiddle outfit, with a great spirit. Rosicky is their great inspirational character even at his ripe old football age of 34.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Heh, hardly. They've been whipping boys for even longer than the whaleworriers and all these 'johnny-come-latelys'...

Anyway, the fact that loads of dross can qualify has awoken many countries from their slumbers. Albeit, not ourselves...

[geysir]

Heh, hardly. They've been whipping boys for even longer than the whaleworriers and all these 'johnny-come-latelys'...

Anyway, the fact that loads of dross can qualify has awoken many countries from their slumbers. Albeit, not ourselves...
Maybe you are confusing Bulgaria with some other team. They have been slipping since after they failed in our group for the 2010 WC.
For that 2010 WC draw they were 2nd seeds, that's hardly the stuff of whipping boys and in that 2010 WC squad were some good players.

[ArdeeBhoy]

I meant Malta FFS...

[geysir]

I meant Malta FFS...
Why the FFS?
Oft times, clarity is absent from your posts AB and one has to make a wild guess as to what you're on about.
Best guess was that you were saying 'hardly (are Bulgaria in a slump), they've been whipping boys for ages.
No other guess qualified.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Oh FFS...
:rolleyes:

[Charlie Darwin]

FFS geysir...
:confused:

[Charlie Darwin]

Watching geysir's Iceland in Kazakhstan. They look very good, 2-0 up from the first half and happy to let the Kazakhs keep the ball. Should be 2-1 thought after the Kazakhs hit the post with a free header a couple of yards out.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Wales winning 2-0 against ten men in Israel. Qualification is looking like a distinct possibility for them now.

Northern Ireland well placed to qualify if they get a result tomorrow against a patchy Finland team.

If we don't win tomorrow, there is a possibility we could be the only home nation not in Euro 2016.

What a depressing thought.

[bennocelt]

Wales winning 2-0 against ten men in Israel. Qualification is looking like a distinct possibility for them now.

Northern Ireland well placed to qualify if they get a result tomorrow against a patchy Finland team.

If we don't win tomorrow, there is a possibility we could be the only home nation not in Euro 2016.

What a depressing thought.

Pardon?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Northern Ireland beating Finland 2-0 at Windsor after a Bergkamp-esque goal and a laser header from Kyle Lafferty. They also had a perfectly good goal ruled out before that.

They had Healy to do the business against the top seeded teams and now they have Lafferty doing it against the top seeded teams when it matters.

Hopefully one of our lads can do the business tonight...

[geysir]

The most incredible story in football since Uruguay beat Brazil to win the Jules Rimet (Gerard Depardieu) in 1930, is now a happening event in Group A.
This evening it was the Icelanders against the mighty Czech Rep.
The Czechs went ahead courtesy of a magnificent strike, after a barca-esque move. The stadium was stunned into silence but awed a the same time, as if to say 'that's what it took to beat us', 'an unworldly goal', the best seen since Eusebio etc.
But comes the need, comes the man and Gylfi stepped up, time after time, went one against 4, one against 5, got his shot in a couple of times and win the corners which he took himself, the crowd were chanting "Gylfi is coming" "Gylfi is coming" with the menace of 'Here's Johnny". The equaliser followed soon after. I even thought, that's good let's hold out. but not Lagerback, he replaced one of the 5 midfielders with a striker and went for the throat and the 2nd goal (the winner) came courtesy of interplay between the 2 frontmen. Apart from one header by the Koller lookalike and a one on one, the czechs did not threaten. They were a well beaten team, beaten physically, mentally and technically by a superior team on the night, as if to say, this is our weight.
The ref was a scot, George Callum, and fortunately for Iceland, he was genetically inclined to favour the team in blue. As the tackles flew in and the Czechs were rolling around in apparent agony, our George was unmoved by such pithy. If it was a 50/50, George favoured blue.

[TheBoss]

I'm not surprised that Iceland are topping that group even with Holland in it. They have shown over the last 3/4 years that they actually have good players playing at a decent level and have been very competitive in their matches. The U21s a few years ago were really impressive and it looks like they have stepped up to the senior team without too much trouble.

[geysir]

Yeah I thinks there's about 8 or 9 from that u21 team playing for the senior team and one (surplus to requirements) is playing for the USA.
The goalie is the achilles heel, always has been, usually occupied by a barely competent local league standard player.
And by far the best goalie playing in the local league, is the Faroe's reserve goalkeeper.

If Shay was icelandic, he'd be first choice for another 10 years.

[osarusan]

Faroes 2 up on Greece with 10 mins to go - they could do the qualification stage double over them!

[Real ale Madrid]

Faroes 2 up on Greece with 10 mins to go - they could do the qualification stage double over them!

They move into 4th ahead of Finland! If Norn Iron beat them in the next game they are guaranteed at least a play-off.

[geysir]

That's a big if.
The Faroes are waiting for this game and traditionally Ni don't do too well when they have to travel towards the north pole.

But NI should get the 3rd spot regardless.

[geysir]

Even the Iceland result was relegated into 2nd place by the efforts of their little brother, the Faroe islands.
The languages are so similar, old scandinavian, unblemished.

Faroes v Greece highlights (http://kvf.fo/netvarp/sv/2015/06/13/maliniweb)

It all goes to demonstrate what can happen to the technical ability of a nation's football in the space of 10 years with mandatory educated coaching,down to toddler level and all done through the community/league clubs.
At senior intl level, the transformation can be seen in the different way (with technical ability) they play the game now, as compared to then.
And I don't think they have built their indoor pitches yet, they have about 20 full sized synthetic pitches. And that stadium looks brilliant.

[Real ale Madrid]

That's a big if.
The Faroes are waiting for this game and traditionally Ni don't do too well when they have to travel towards the north pole.


How on earth are the Faroes waiting for this game ? Waiting for what ? NI have won in Athens (although thats not saying much) and Budapest - they will be a warm order to beat the Faroes.

[geysir]

How on earth are the Faroes waiting for this game ? Waiting for what ? NI have won in Athens (although thats not saying much) and Budapest - they will be a warm order to beat the Faroes.
You don't know much about football outside of the pale, do you? NI have already been there and didn't exactly set the place on fire and the Faroes have a much better team now.
The Faroes will be targeting this game against NI, that's their raison d'etre in international football. This is a serious game for them. Why do do you think they go through all the angst of competing in qualifiers? There are there because they want to compete on an international level and they know they can compete with the likes of NI. They know they can play football just as good as NI, and they have every chance of beating them. They will be putting in an all out effort to win this game.