Euro 2004 --- Sept 6th [R]

[Canadian_Supporter]

Group 1
Israel at Slovenia
Cyprus at France

Group 2
Luxembourg at Romania
Norway at Bosnia-Herzegovina

Group 3
Czech Republic at Belarus
Austria at Netherland

Group 4
San Marino at Sweden
Poland at Latvia

Group 5
Faroe Islands at Scotland
Germany at Iceland

Group 6
Greece at Armenia
Northern Ireland at Ukraine

Group 7
England at Macedonia
Turkey at Liechtenstein

Group 8
Croatia at Andorra
Estonia at Bulgaria

Group 9
Finland at Azerbaijan
Wales at Italy

Group 10
Albania at Georgia
Russia at Ireland

[kevbrunton]

Group 1
Israel at Slovenia
Cyprus at France

France clinches advancing to the finals with a win and an Israel win or draw.

Slovenia and Israel will likely determine the 2nd place team in this match. Each still plays France. Slovenia has the advantage of playing France at home, but Israel has the advantage of playing France after they've likely already clinched 1st.

Group 2
Luxembourg at Romania
Norway at Bosnia-Herzegovina

Two contenders play two bottom dwellers. Romania and Norway need wins to continue as contenders. Norway is likely in with a win with only pointless Luxenburg left. Romania must still play top team Denmark in Denmark.

Group 3
Czech Republic at Belarus
Austria at Netherland

Netherlands can eliminate Austria with a win or draw but will likely need a win to keep pace with Czech Replublic. Wednesday's match between Czech Replublic and Netherlands will determine the group winner putting the loser in 2nd for a playoff.

Group 4
San Marino at Sweden
Poland at Latvia

This one still has 4 teams alive, but Poland needs a win at Latvia to stay alive. The top teams still have several games amongst themselves.

Group 5
Faroe Islands at Scotland
Germany at Iceland

A win for Iceland guarantees either 2nd or a 3 way tie for first. I don't know how the tiebreakers work out, but they'd have 15 points. Germany and Scotland could both win up on 15 with a draw against each other or one of them could wind up on 17 but both can't pass Iceland on points.

Group 6
Greece at Armenia
Northern Ireland at Ukraine

Nothing likely to be determined here. Spain v. Ukraine on Wednesday will likely be the game to start shaping this group.

Group 7
England at Macedonia
Turkey at Liechtenstein

England and Turkey have already clinched top 2, so they're playing for automatic passage vs. playoffs. Both should win here (although England have injury worries and Macedonia aren't easy) and England should handle Liechtenstein on Wednesday to take top of the group. The final game in Turkey will determine the group winner.

Group 8
Croatia at Andorra
Estonia at Bulgaria

Estonia is eliminated with a loss. Wins by Croatia and Bulgaria put them in the drivers seat over Belgium for the final 2. However, Croatia must still play both Belgium and Bulgaria.

Group 9
Finland at Azerbaijan
Wales at Italy

A win or draw by Wales all but clinches top spot for them (they still have to play Finland & Serbia at home). A win by Wales could actually draw Serbia back into the mix where they could threaten Italy's spot by beating Italy on Wednesday.

Group 10
Albania at Georgia
Russia at Ireland

A win by Ireland put Russia in serious jeopardy and all but clinches a top 2 finish for Ireland. A draw by Ireland leaves them needing help to stay ahead of Russia who has a game in hand.

[Canadian_Supporter]

Thanks for the review... I was too lazy to do it... ;)

[Juanele]

Originally posted by kevbrunton
Group 6
Greece at Armenia
Northern Ireland at Ukraine

Nothing likely to be determined here. Spain v. Ukraine on Wednesday will likely be the game to start shaping this group.



Actually if Greece win here then they are all but assured qualification (the remaining game is vs Northern Ireland in Greece). All Spain has to do (to get 2nd) is to tie Ukraine.

[kevbrunton]

Originally posted by Juanele
Actually if Greece win here then they are all but assured qualification (the remaining game is vs Northern Ireland in Greece). All Spain has to do (to get 2nd) is to tie Ukraine.
You're right about Greece but not necessarily about Spain.

Ukraine is likely to get 3 this weekend giving them 12 points. A Spain v. Ukraine draw would give Ukraine 13 points and Spain 12. Spain would have 1 game left at Armenia. Spain would need at least a draw to be even on points and I have no idea how the tiebreakers work out. They'd have to win in Armenia if they're behind on tiebreakers.

Assuming that Ukraine wins v. No. Ireland on Saturday, then if there is a winner in Spain v. Ukraine on Wednesday, it likely knocks the other one out (barring Greece losing their last 2).

[desertfox2]

The way the tiebreakers work out is first by teh head-to-head record, then by away goals in those two matches, and then by goal difference if still tied and then goals for.

I also did a preview of the groups in two articles at www.soccerwriter.com but it was before the August 20th matches but still pertains to the matches this weekend. Also, a good breakdown of the groups kev.

[IASocFan]

Originally posted by kevbrunton
[Group 10
Albania at Georgia
Russia at Ireland

A win by Ireland put Russia in serious jeopardy and all but clinches a top 2 finish for Ireland. A draw by Ireland leaves them needing help to stay ahead of Russia who has a game in hand.

Russia, Switzerland, and Ireland all have a home game and an away game with the other 2. Russia also hosts Georgia. Assuming a Russia victory over Georgia, the Swiss have a two point lead over the other 2.

If one runs the table they win, and the winner of the other match is second. If the home team wins all matches, then the Swiss win, and the Russians must overturn a 4-2 defeat in Ireland (goal difference, then away goals). If all games are ties, then the Swiss win, and Ireland is second.

[ECMoney]

Originally posted by kevbrunton

Group 9
Finland at Azerbaijan
Wales at Italy

A win or draw by Wales all but clinches top spot for them (they still have to play Finland & Serbia at home). A win by Wales could actually draw Serbia back into the mix where they could threaten Italy's spot by beating Italy on Wednesday.

[/B]

I can't see Wales walking into Italy and getting a draw or a win. Italy will take over the group on Saturday with a big win over Wales and Finland will beat Azerbaijan. Wednesday's matches will play a big role as Finland travels to Wales and Italy travel to Yugoslavia. Italy then come home to host Azerbijian while Yugoslavia travel to Wales for the final game of the group.

My Prediction:
Italy wins the group with Wales qualifying for a playoff spot.

[Canadian_Supporter]

Faroe Islands just scored.... :D

Scotland 1 Faroe Islands 1 in the first half...

Foroyar!! Foroyar!!

[Ludahai]

SECOND HALF

Sweden has a 4-0 lead on San Marino.

Jonson, Jakobson, Ibrahimovic, and Kallstrom (pen) with goals for Sweden.

Finland 1-0 lead over Azerbaijan. Akhmedov got a red card in the first half.

Croatia 2-0 lead over Andorra.

Scotland 2-1 lead over the Faroe Islands

FIRST HALF

Bulgaria 1-0 over Estonia. Goal by Petrov.

Georgia 2-0 over Albania. Goals by Arveledze and Ashvetia.

Russia-Ireland 0-0 in the big match of the early starts.

Belarus and Czech Republic are just underway.

[Ludahai]

Croatia just scored to take a 3-0 lead over Andorra. Giovanni Rosso with the goal in the 71st minute.

Scotland just doubled their advantage over the Faeroe Islands 3-1 with a goal by James McFadden in the 74th minute.

[Ludahai]

Ireland strikes first against Russia with a 35th minute goal by Damien Duff.

[Ludahai]

Finland doubled their lead over Azerbaijan to 2-0 with a Mika Nurmela goal in the 74th minute.

[Ludahai]

Sweden running up the score to 5-0 over San MArino. Zlatan Ibrahimovic gets his second of the match via the penalty (the second for SWE in the match) in the 83rd minute. Mercifully, it is nearly over for San Marino.

[Ludahai]

Georgia looking good as Shota Arveladze scores his second of the match in the 44th minute to give them a 3-0 lead over Albania. Looks like Georgia will get out of the cellar and put Albania in it.

Russia gets an equalizer against Ireland as Sergei Ignashevitch scores in the 42nd minute. 1-1 nearing the half.

Belarus gets an early goal to take a 1-0 lead over group leaders Czech Republic with a goal by Vitaliy Bulyga in the 13th minute.

[desertfox2]

Final results:

Scotland 3-1 Faroe Islands
Sweden 5-0 San Marino
Andorra 0-3 Croatia
Azerbaijan 1-2 Finland

In progress:

Belarus 1-0 Czech Rep. (27th min)
Bulgaria 1-0 Estonia (HT)
Gerogia 3-0 Albania (HT)
Rep. of Ireland 1-1 Russia (HT)

Belarus is leading...wow

[Ludahai]

Short-handed Azerbaijan cuts the deficit in half with an 88th minute goal by Farrukh Ismaylov.

[Ludahai]

Originally posted by desertfox2
Final results:

Scotland 3-1 Faroe Islands
Sweden 5-0 San Marino
Andorra 0-3 Croatia
Azerbaijan 1-2 Finland

In progress:

Belarus 1-0 Czech Rep. (27th min)
Bulgaria 1-0 Estonia (HT)
Gerogia 3-0 Albania (HT)
Rep. of Ireland 1-1 Russia (HT)

Belarus is leading...wow

Group 4 - Sweden takes a 3 point lead over Hungary. Latvia can draw within a point with a win over Poland later.

Group 5 - Scotland creeps into it. A German win over Iceland will put Scotland one point behind Iceland with a match in hand.

Group 8 - Croatia takes a temporary 2 point lead over Bulgaria, who is playing Estonia now.

Group 9 - Finland moves ahead of Serbia for the time beining, but realistically, they are out of the picture.

The Armenia/Greece match has kicked off.

[Ludahai]

Pavel Nedved scores in the 36th minute to draw the Czech Republic even with Belarus 1-1.

[Ludahai]

Bulgaria doubled its lead over Estonia 2-0 with a Dimitar Berbatov goal in the 67th minute.

Macedonia/England, Ukraine/Northern Ireland and Rumania/Luxembourg have all kicked off.