Germany held on for a nervy win over Austria in Euro 2012 qualification while France were held to a draw by Belarus. Liechtenstein earned their first win since October 2007 as they beat Lithuania 2-0.
Group A
Germany edged Austria 2-1 in a much-anticipated Northern European classic in Vienna. Mario Gomez opened the scoring in the 44th minute, only to see the lead cancelled out when Arne Friedrich put through his own net. Gomez completed an impressive night with a winner to stun the home crowd in the 90th minute. The Austrians remain in fourth place while Belgium and Turkey are in second and third respectively following their 1-1 draw. Kazakhstan earned their first points of the campaign by beating fellow bottom-feeders Azerbaijan 2-1. Read more... (494 words, 2 images, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)
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Germany Wins While French Struggles Continue In Euro 2012
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by David on March 30, 2011
After another round of qualifying for Euro’s 2012 it is no surprise to see holders and world champions Spain on maximum points along with Germany and the Netherlands. Italy and Greece remain unbeaten after five games while Slovakia are flying high as they bid to reach their first European Championship.
Group A
Germany’s 4-0 home win against Kazakhstan last Saturday was their fifth of the campaign and featured Miroslav Klose’s seventh and eighth goals so far. Back-to-back victories for Belgium in Austria and at home to Azerbaijan have taken them second in the section, while third-placed Turkey’s 2-0 home success over the Austrians on Tuesday ended a run of two defeats and boosted their qualification hopes. Read more... (669 words, 2 images, estimated 2:41 mins reading time)
by David on March 26, 2011
Germany maintained their perfect record and England got back to winning ways, while Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland capitalised on a slip by Russia in Saturday’s Euro 2012 qualifying action.
Runners-up in 2008, Germany have been perfect so far in their campaign and continued their good form with a 4-0 home victory against Kazakhstan. Joachim Löw’s side now lead Group A by eight points.
England joined Montenegro on top of Group G after two goals in the first 15 minutes helped them triumph in Wales and Greece also went top of their pool with a last-minute winner away to Malta after Georgia secured a 1-0 home success against Croatia. Read more... (175 words, 2 images, estimated 42 secs reading time)
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England And Germany Get Big Wins In Euro 2012 Qualifiers
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by David on March 25, 2011
Holders Spain and Holland both maintained their perfect starts to Euro 2012 qualifying while Italy, France, Belgium and Serbia also won as qualification resumed for the new year.
Spain won all three of their Group I games in the fall but with 21 minutes left trailed the Czech Republic in Granada. David Villa levelled the scores, moving him one ahead of Raúl’s record of 44 goals for Spain. Villa then converted a penalty to leave the world and European champions six points clear of the Czechs with four games each left. Read more... (223 words, 1 image, estimated 54 secs reading time)
by David on February 1, 2011
Qualification for Euro 2012 begins again next month next month and I thought it was a good time to review what has happened so far in qualifying.
It is no surprise to see holders and world champions Spain on maximum points along with Germany and the Netherlands. Russia and Norway, revived by Egil Olsen, have also made a perfect start, while Montenegro have been hugely impressive in their debut campaign. Read more... (845 words, 2 images, estimated 3:23 mins reading time)
by David on September 9, 2010
In a move that surprised no one Portugal have fired coach Carlos Queiroz. Queiroz has recently been handed a six-month ban for allegedly insulting anti-doping agents before this year’s World Cup.
A Portuguese Football federation statement read:
“Given the recent events, and after reviewing the current situation concerning the national coach, the directorate of the FPF decided unanimously [to end] the contract… with the national coach, Carlos Queiroz, with immediate effect.”
Let be clear here. Queiroz is not being fired because he swore at anti-doping agents. He was fired because of Portugal’s nightmare start to Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. Last week Portugal could only manage a 4-4 draw with Cyprus before they lost 1-0 to Norway. Read more... (162 words, 2 images, estimated 39 secs reading time)
Well you at least have to credit their timing to lose.
Spain lost for the first time since the World Cup ended in humiliating fashion to a hungrier Argentina squad. The final score of the match was 4-1 in favor of Maradona’s former side and La Furia Roja experienced their first loss since that shocking 1-0 defeat to Switzerland in their debut match of the World Cup. The 4-1 defeat would be the Spanish side’s worst loss since losing to Germany in a friendly match played in 2000. Read more... (433 words, 1 image, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)
League action takes a short break for the upcoming international friendlies, Euro 2012 qualifiers and Africa Nations Cup 2012 qualifiers. Most leagues across Europe have only just begun and this untimely break could be a blessing in disguise for some teams or a breaking point for others.
Across Europe’s major leagues, this could provide coaches and teams who did not have the best of starts to the season with some much needed space to analyse their campaigns for the season before things get really out of hand and it could also cut the momentum gained by some teams. Read more... (501 words, 1 image, estimated 2:00 mins reading time)
photo credit: Bari D
Nobody told me they moved to Spain…
It’s official–Real Madrid is the New York Yankees of international Soccer. It didn’t take long after their loss in the Round of 16 in the Champion’s League for “vote of confidence” to come out and not much longer for the rumors about a new manager.
Apparently, Arsene Wenger is the first–of a probable many–manager who will have to tell Real “Thanks, but not thanks”. He even said: Read more... (328 words, 2 images, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)
by David on February 22, 2010
UEFA has announced the 12 dates that have been reserved for group matches in qualifying. Those dates are:
- 3/4 and 7 September 2010
- 8/9 and 12 October 2010
- 25/26 and 29 March 2011
- 3/4 and 7 June 2011
- 2/3 and 6 September 2011
- 7/8 and 11 October 2011
The following dates are reserved for the play-off matches between the remaining eight runners-up:
- 11/12 November 2011
- 15 November 2011
Euro 2012 Fixtures
03 September 2010
Sweden v Hungary
San Marino v Netherlands
France v Belarus
Belgium v Germany
Slovenia v Northern Ireland
Estonia v Italy
Lithuania v Scotland
Liechtenstein v Spain
England v Bulgaria
Portugal v Cyprus Read more... (194 words, estimated 47 secs reading time)
