Soccer - Euro 2008 qualifying matches roundup (2nd Jun '07)

The Euro 2008 qualifying matches resumed after most of Europe’s footballing club season came to an end since the last few weeks. Significant matches were played out as teams fought for crucial points to get into the top two places with just over a year to go.

Ryan Giggs's last match as a Wales Player

Group A

Belgium 1 - 2 Portugal
Portugal scored first with a Nani strike just before half time but Marouane Felliani equalized for Belgium in the 54th minute. However, Helder Postiga scored in the 63rd minute to give Portugal a crucial win.

Azerbaijan 1-3 Poland

Branimir Subashic gave Azerbaijan a shock lead in just 5 minutes over the Group A leader before quick strikes from Euzebiusz Smolarek and Jacek Krzynowek in the 63rd and 66th minute reversed the lead in Poland’s favourite. Krzynowek settled the game in the final minute with his second goal.

Finland 0-2 Serbia

Serbia’s Bosko Jankovic scored from a freekick by Inter milan’s Dejan Stankovic in only the 3rd minute, but that was the only real action in the first half. Finland pushed men forward in the second half but were dealt a sucker punch when Milan Jovanovic scored a crucial second goal to seal the game.

The results meant Serbia leapfrogged Finland into third place behind leaders Poland and second placed Portugal.

Group B

Faroe Islands 1-2 Italy
Filippo Inzaghi brought over his club form to help score two goals over minnows Faroe Islands. His Ac Milan teammate, Andrea Pirlo provided an accurate long ball into the box for him to score in the 13th minute. He then headed in his second goal in the 48th minute from a cross by Aimo Diana. The home side provided some nervous moments for Italy’s fans when Rogvi Jacobsen scored in the 77th minute, but the scoreline remained 1-2 in Italy’s favour.

France 2-0 Ukraine

With france knowing that they have to win all of their home games to qualify in this tightly contested group, they came out all guns blazing once the referee blew his whistle. Fresh face 19-year-old Samir Nasri together with Ribery and Anelka provide lots of pace which troubled the Ukraine defence all night long.

Ribery provided the highly anticipated goal for France after rounding the keeper from a Makelele pass in the 57th minute. Anelka then striked a superb volley past Shovkovsk in the 71st minutei to give France a comfortable 2-0 victory.

France lead the group with 15 points with Italy only 2 points behind. Ukraine and Scotland remained with 12 points each.

Group C

Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-2 Turkey

In an action packed fast half, Bosnia’s Zlatan Muslimovic and Edin Dzeko scored in the 27th and 45th minute to cancel out Hakan Sukur’s and Sabri Sarioglu’s
13th and 39th minute strikes respectively. Adnan Custovic winning his first cap for Bosnia, rounded off a thrilling match when he scored in the last minute of normal time to send the home crowd roaring in ecstasy.

Norway 4-0 Malta

In a comfortable win for Norway, Kristofer Haestad scored in the 31st minute with a diving header to give his team the lead. But Norway fans had to wait until the 73rd minute when Thorstein Helstad scored after just coming on as a substitute. Steffen Iversen in the 79th minute and John Arne Riise in the 90th made the result beyond doubt.

Greece 2-0 Hungary
Greece earned their win in the first half with goals from Theofanis Gekas in the 16th minute and Giorgos Seitaridis in the 29th minute with a forceful run a powerful finish.


The results meant Greece leapfrogged Turkey into first place, with Bosnia and Norway tied with 10 points each.

Group D

Wales 0-0 Czech Republic
In his final game playing for Wales, Ryan Giggs was determined to leave the international scene with a bang. But this was a tough task considering his team was up against a highly organized and creative team. Indeed the twin strike force of Baros and Koller with Rosicky supporting just behind, gave Wales defenders a tough time throughout the match.

Jason Koumas, Craig Bellamy and Giggs tried create their own triangle and they did create some chances but the crucial goal didn’t materialize. Koumas hit the bar with a curling freekick in the 50th minute but the highlighting moment of the match came when Giggs set off in a trademark weaving long run, going past four defenders as if they were not there and then unleashing a fierce strike which Petr Cech managed to parry off.

Giggs was given a standing ovation in the final minute when he was substituted as the crowd knew he will be sorely missed…very.

Germany 6-0 San Marino

A highly efficient German side crushed San Marino with 6 goals without any reply. However this did not looked like a high scoring match in the first half when they could only manage one goal through Kevin Kuranyi’s looping header in the last minute of the half.

But the floodgates opened when Marcell Jansen scored from a rebound in the 52nd minute. Torsten Frings followed with a 56th minute penalty, while Mario Gomez added a quick brace in the 63rd and 65th minute. Clemens Fritz completed the blitz in the 67th minute.

Germany and Czech Republic remained top and second respectively as Ireland did not play.

Group E

Russia 4-0 Andorra

Sevilla striker Alexander Kerzhakov started the scoring with a lob over Andorra’s keeper Koldo Alvarez in the 8th minute. He then completed his hat-trick with his second in the 16th minute and third in the 49th minute. Dmitri Sychev completed the rout in the 71st minute, giving the Andorra team a dismal record of 6 defeats In 6 qualifying games.

Macedonia 1-2 Israel

Israel scored a crucial away win to stay in the running for qualification in Group E. Their striker Barach Itzhaki headed in the first goal in the 11th minute, but Aco Stojkov equalized with a volley just 2 minutes later. Israel was not to be denied though as Roberto Colautti scored in the 44th minute and they held on till the final whistle.

Estonia 0-1 Croatia

Croatia put out a professional display to win 1 nil at Estonia, ensuring they stay on top of Group E. Da Silva Eduardo scored the only goal in the 32nd minute with a neat finish after turning sharply.

Croatia, Israel, Russia and England all maintained their placing from first to fourth respectively.

Group F

Denmark 3-3 Sweden (To be reviewed)
A pulsating yet controversial match was played at Copenhagen as a spectator rushed onto the pitch and tried to punch the referee unsuccessfully, after Denmark’s Christian Poulsen was sent off for punching Markus Rosenberg in the stomach in the 89th minute.

Earlier on, Denmark had completed a sensational comeback from 3 goals down with strikes from Daniel Agger , Tomasson and substitute Leon Andreasen in the 34th, 62nd and 77th minute respectively.

Sweden had opened the scoring with Elmander slipping the ball under the keeper in the seventh minute after Gravgaard had failed to clear a cross convincingly. Hansson doubled Sweden’s lead with a powerful free kick, before Elmander scored again with a cheeky back –eel, connecting with Christian Wilhemsson's low cross.

The result is now under review after earlier reports had suggested Denmark’s goals will be forfeited for the pitch invasion incident. UEFA has promised to announce the final result before Wednesday’s qualifying matches.

Latvia 0-2 Spain

Spain kept up their revival, scoring their 3rd qualifying win in a row with a 2-0 win away at Latvia. The goals were not fantastic as a spectacle, with Arturs Zakresevskis fumbling an own goal into the net just before halftime. Barcelona midfielder Xavi then scored a deflected goal which gave Aleksandrs Kolinko no chance at all in the 60th minute to put the result beyond doubt.

Surprise package Northern Ireland remained top, while Spain is still in the hunting at 3rd place. Sweden and Denmark will have to wait for UEFA’s ruling before next Wednesday to determine the points from Saturday’s match.

Group G

Belarus 0-2 Bulgaria

Tottenham Hotspurs striker Dimitar Berbatov showed why he is so highly sought after by the big clubs in Europe by scoring both goals for Bulgaria with a clinical display. His first goal was a superb solo effort as he weaved past three defenders before shooting past Yuri Zhevnov’s reach into the far corner in the 28th minute. He added his second just after the break with a simple finish after being left all alone in the box.

Romania 2-1 Slovenia

Romania took advantage of The Netherland’s off day to leapfrog past day with a 2-1 win at home over Slovenia. Tamas scored from a corner in the 52nd minute, and Nicolita added the second in the 69th minute following a defensive lapse by Slovenia players. Dare Vrsic scored in injury time for Slovenia but there was not enough time left to get an equalizer.

Bulgaria and Belarus stay in third and fourth place respectively as Slovenia failed to capitalize on Belarus’ loss.