Euro 2012 Qualifiers

[Sibboleth]

Northern Ireland count as a 'real test' for Italy now? Oh how the mighty have fallen.

[Keystone Phil]

Northern Ireland count as a 'real test' for Italy now? Oh how the mighty have fallen.

I'm not saying it's actually very serious competition but compared to Estonia and the Faroe Islands? Yeah, Northern Ireland counts as the first real test (especially when we're playing them in Belfast).

Don't get too happy, Al. We will still easily win our group and Wales still won't qualify for anything. 

[Gustaf]

In the last Euro qualifiers Northern Ireland had a strong home record, beating Sweden, Denmark and Spain there. So they're not a team to be trifled with.

Also, Italy actually has a pretty tough group. Serbia, Slovenia and Northern Ireland aren't teams you can just breeze past. 

[Keystone Phil]

In the last Euro qualifiers Northern Ireland had a strong home record, beating Sweden, Denmark and Spain there. So they're not a team to be trifled with.

Also, Italy actually has a pretty tough group. Serbia, Slovenia and Northern Ireland aren't teams you can just breeze past. 

Yeah, those teams certainly aren't minnows and Italy isn't taking/shouldn't take them lightly but it's not like we're in a group with teams like Spain or Germany. Then we'd really have to worry about finishing second place.

Overall, I think it's an easy group with some hurdles but first place should be ours. I think Slovenia is more of a one hit wonder (2010).

[Јas]

In the last Euro qualifiers Northern Ireland had a strong home record, beating Sweden, Denmark and Spain there. So they're not a team to be trifled with.

NI have been in hellish form recently. Up until the Slovenia game they were 7 games without a goal; and 10 without a win (since, funnily enough, beating Slovenia the last time).

David Healy has stopped scoring goals. If they're going to match their form from the last qualification campaign than something will have to change very soon.

[Tender Branson]

Today is Germany vs. Turkey in Berlin.

And Austria vs. Azerbaijan in Vienna.

My guesses: Germany 2:1 Turkey & Austria 3:1 Azerbaijan

[Gustaf]

In the last Euro qualifiers Northern Ireland had a strong home record, beating Sweden, Denmark and Spain there. So they're not a team to be trifled with.

NI have been in hellish form recently. Up until the Slovenia game they were 7 games without a goal; and 10 without a win (since, funnily enough, beating Slovenia the last time).

David Healy has stopped scoring goals. If they're going to match their form from the last qualification campaign than something will have to change very soon.

Oh, right. I'm certainly not predicting a similar performance by them this time. Merely pointing out that they have it in them, so to speak.

[Јas]

In the last Euro qualifiers Northern Ireland had a strong home record, beating Sweden, Denmark and Spain there. So they're not a team to be trifled with.

NI have been in hellish form recently. Up until the Slovenia game they were 7 games without a goal; and 10 without a win (since, funnily enough, beating Slovenia the last time).

David Healy has stopped scoring goals. If they're going to match their form from the last qualification campaign than something will have to change very soon.

Oh, right. I'm certainly not predicting a similar performance by them this time. Merely pointing out that they have it in them, so to speak.

Yeah, when on form they're not an unreasonable team - and can usually defend well enough.

They are sorely lacking though in the ability to both create and take goal scoring opportunities. Healy was almost doing this himself for a while there, but he's simply not playing well recently. Nor is he getting even first team club football at the minute. Kyle Lafferty has potential - but the team will still struggle to create chances for him as well.

Italy really should be able to take them at a canter.

[Benwah [why on Earth do I post something] Courseyay]

7 games without a goal; and 10 without a win

Sounds familiar to me...

Also, something is wrong, Faroe Islands, along with Romania and Switzerland, is our property normally.

Oh and, just after having found something strong in the middle, 2/3 of it is injured. Yay. Luckily attack still available.

[Tender Branson]

Today is Germany vs. Turkey in Berlin.

And Austria vs. Azerbaijan in Vienna.

My guesses: Germany 2:1 Turkey & Austria 3:1 Azerbaijan

Starts good:

2 minutes played, Austria 1, Azerbaijan 0

[Keystone Phil]

I'll take the draw in Belfast especially when Serbia lost 3-1 at home after being up late in the game.

[Landslide Lyndon]

I'll take the draw in Belfast especially when Serbia lost 3-1 at home after being up late in the game.

How the mighty have fallen.

[Keystone Phil]

I'll take the draw in Belfast especially when Serbia lost 3-1 at home after being up late in the game.

How the mighty have fallen.

See the earlier posts as to why they haven't "fallen" by drawing in Belfast. 

[Tender Branson]

Final results:

Austria 3, Azerbaijan 0
Germany 3, Turkey 0

If we could somehow win in Brussels on Tuesday against Belgium and then against Turkey, that would be great. But Austria and Belgium have about the same strength, so I think it will be a draw. At least our team is not as bad anymore as it was ...

[Vasall des Midas]

Several funny results yesterday.

[Hans-im-Glück]

Portugal 3, Denmark 1

I think this was a good game from Portugal and a very good start for the new manager Paulo Bento.

[GMantis]

Several funny results yesterday.

Yes, Bulgaria finally won a match

[Hans-im-Glück]

Several funny results yesterday.

Yes, Bulgaria finally won a match

Are now all Bulgarians Lothar Mathäus fans?

[Vasall des Midas]

Egad? You ended up actually hiring the creep!?

[GMantis]

Several funny results yesterday.

Yes, Bulgaria finally won a match

Are now all Bulgarians Lothar Mathäus fans?

While it would take a qualification to the EU for this to happen, he seems well liked, for now. Though our players are complaining that his training is too exhausting. Apparently Mathäus has learned two Bulgarian words: "again" and "quickly"

Egad? You ended up actually hiring the creep!?

Why is he a creep?

[Sibboleth]

Several funny results yesterday.

Yes, Bulgaria finally won a match

Against the worst Wales squad since that carrot Bobby Gould was coach.

[Benwah [why on Earth do I post something] Courseyay]

France.

The match has showed that now we have several possible good combinations for middle and attack. It still needs construction and automatisms, but something could be on its way...

And sometimes life is ironic to the point that after Romania we play Luxembourg.

[Gustaf]

Hoping that we can pull out a draw versus Holland tomorrow. :S

France is looking better now. So is Portugal, unfortunately.

[Lіef]

France.

The match has showed that now we have several possible good combinations for middle and attack. It still needs construction and automatisms, but something could be on its way...

And sometimes life is ironic to the point that after Romania we play Luxembourg.

From what I caught of the game (the last twenty or so minutes) the "new" French team really impressed me. Also seeing almost everyone in the stadium waving the tricolore was neat visually.

[Keystone Phil]

Does the French team ever place home games outside of the Stade de France? Try spicing it up a little, guys.