The qualifiers for the European Championships 2004 in Portugal are starting this Saturday. The outlook: GROUP 1: Slovenia vs Malta Cyprus vs France no game: Israel France of course is the big favourite in this group and should win their game in Cyprus easily. Slovenia is also heavily favoured to win vs Malta and they are under pressure to get three points for probably competing with Israel for the playoff spot in this group. GROUP 2: Norway vs Denmark Bosnia vs Romania no game: Luxembourg For me one of the toughest groups, starting with an interesting Scandinavian duel. Norway got to show that they aren't as bad as in the last WC qualifiers, but Denmark is the favourite. Personally I'm expecting a close race, also Bosnia and Romania aren't without chance. Game 1 will already be very important for all teams. GROUP 3: Austria vs Moldovia Netherlands vs Belarussia no game: Czech Rep Austria needs to win if they want to keep a small chance to make the playoff spot. Netherlands got to rehabilitate for the WC disappointment and should win easily. Sure is that one very strong team will have to go to the playoffs. GROUP 4: San Marino vs Poland Latvia vs Sweden no game: Hungary The away teams are the huge favourites and also should be the ones competing for the direct qualifying spot. GROUP 5: Faroe Islands vs Scotland Lithuania vs Germany no game: Iceland Again the away teams should win their games. Three points are essential for Scotland (and coach Berti), otherwise they might face a bad surprise and finish 3rd behind Iceland. GROUP 6: Greece vs Spain Armenia vs Ukraine no game: Northern Ireland Interesting southern game in Greece. Spain is the big favourite in this group, but Greece improved in the last games and has some outsider chance. At least they should be able to compete for the 2nd spot with Ukraine. GROUP 7: Turkey vs Slovakia Liechtenstein vs Macedonia (only Sunday game, all others Saturday) no game: England England leans back and hopes on Slovakia surprising Turkey. The other game should be important for not finishing last in this group. GROUP 8: Belgium vs Bulgaria Croatia vs Estonia no game: Andorra Another interesting group with three possible group winners. Belgium vs Bulgaria is already an important game with good quality, while Croatia should be first after this game. GROUP 9: Aserbaidjan (sp?) vs Italy Finland vs Wales no game: Yugoslavia Italy is the big favourite of the group and especially in this game. Finland vs Wales is very interesting as one of them might surprise and compete with Yugoslavia for the second spot. GROUP 10: Russia vs Ireland Switzerland vs Georgia no game: Albania The two favourites are already competing in the first game, while Switzerland is hoping to be lucky third to surprise one of them to make the playoffs.
Just a fun halftime score: Faroe Islands vs Scotland 2-0 Goals by Petersen (7'/13'). But still a long way to go for them, Scotland slowly woke up in the last five minutes.
Regardless of what happens in the second half of Scotland-Faroes I think Berti Vogts will be sacked after the match.
England vs Portugal is just a friendly. FINAL SCORES: Gr.5: Faroe Islands vs Scotland 2-2 1:0 Petersen (7), 2:0 Petersen (13), 2:1 Lambert (62), 2:2 Ferguson (83). Scotland has to be very lucky with this score as Faroe Islands had plenty of chances (even after the equaliser) to decide this game. Gr.2: Norway vs Denmark 2-2 0:1 Tomasson (23), 1:1 Riise (54), 1:2 Tomasson (72), 2:2 Carew (93)
What a disaster for Scotland. They were going to play 4 strikers to "ensure lots of goals." So much for that... Ireland is also down 2-0. Latest Scorse: 37' Cyprus 1 - 0 France 79' Austria 2 - 0 Moldova 79' Armenia 1 - 2 Ukraine 37' Finland 0 - 1 Wales 79' Russia 2 - 0 Ireland
3-1 now Russia on top. I'm surprised Ireland has given up 3 goals. Also, I can't believe Cyprus is leading 1-0 over France. Amazing.
39 minutes, Cissé equalise for France. But still, 1-1 against Cyprus!!! And France seems to have dominated the game completely but having great problems scoring.
IRELAND SCORES! 90' Russia 3 - 2 Ireland 20' Andrei Kariaka 25' Vladimir Beschastnykh 69' Gary Doherty 70' Alexander Kerzhakov 76' Clinton Morrison
Latest 45' Cyprus 1 - 1 France FT Norway 2 - 2 Denmark FT Austria 2 - 0 Moldova FT Faroe Islands 2 - 2 Scotland FT Armenia 2 - 2 Ukraine HT Croatia 0 - 0 Estonia HT Finland 0 - 1 Wales 90' Russia 3 - 2 Ireland
FT Russia 4 - 2 Ireland Latvia-Sweden is underway. Cyprus-France, Croatia-Estonia, and Finland-Wales start the second half.
You know, Croatia is still tied 0-0 with Estonia in the 57th minute...interesting. Also, France just scored again...2-1 now.
No mention of the Ukraine game.... A pretty bad choke apparently, got off to a dream start with a 2-0 lead at halftime but gave up a goal in the 74th and then an equalizing penalty in the 89th, I doubt that was the result they were looking for. Also just curious, would Wales over Finland be an "upset"?