Euro 2012 Qualifiers
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Author Topic: Euro 2012 Qualifiers  (Read 71997 times)
GMantis
Dessie Potter
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« Reply #400 on: October 07, 2011, 03:08:34 PM »

Wales has taken the lead against Switzerland!
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ZuWo
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« Reply #401 on: October 07, 2011, 03:39:31 PM »

Wales has taken the lead against Switzerland!

That was a terrible performance by the Swiss, plain and simple. If you lose to Wales in such a way, you have no business trying to qualify for the World Cup.
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GMantis
Dessie Potter
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« Reply #402 on: October 07, 2011, 03:44:40 PM »

Reminder to everyone: teams finishing on equal points will be ranked on head-to-head record before anything else. Might be important in a number of groups.

UEFA's use of head-to-head record instead of goal difference is really stupid.
No, it's the better method as it compares how well the teams did against each other and not how good they were at beating up the minnows.

It may be more fair, but it ultimately makes the outcome less exciting/fluid and fails to promote attacking play, unlike deciding by goal difference.
In some cases however teams which might have scrapped through with a draw would need a win under the direct result tiebreaker. So it depends on every specific case.

Wales has taken the lead against Switzerland!

That was a terrible performance by the Swiss, plain and simple. If you lose to Wales in such a way, you have no business trying to qualify for the World Cup.
It also means that Bulgaria will have to defeat Wales in their last game to avoid finishing last. Looking at how Wales played, I'm not very optimistic at this happening. 
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GMantis
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« Reply #403 on: October 07, 2011, 03:49:31 PM »

And Montenegro makes it 2-2 in injury time!
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ZuWo
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« Reply #404 on: October 07, 2011, 03:52:16 PM »

And Montenegro makes it 2-2 in injury time!

I'm not too unhappy. In this shape, the Swiss won't beat Montenegro anyway.
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GMantis
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« Reply #405 on: October 07, 2011, 03:53:16 PM »

England qualifies for the tournament and Montenegro qualifies to the play-off.
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Keystone Phil
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« Reply #406 on: October 07, 2011, 04:53:49 PM »

Poor Switzerland. I wish I could have seen that amazing Montenegro finish though. Slovakia and Slovenia are out, too.

I think Ireland will beat or tie Armenia next week in what ought to be a great game. Serbia will have a tougher time because they need all three points away from home with Slovenia trying to be spoiler. I think the Serbs will eek it out though. France should beat Bosnia.

With Portugal almost blowing this game against Iceland, I don't know what's going to happen in their final game. Denmark should be thrilled.
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Filuwaúrdjan
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« Reply #407 on: October 07, 2011, 07:56:08 PM »

Grin
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Gustaf
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« Reply #408 on: October 08, 2011, 04:56:04 AM »

Well, not a good game by Sweden by any means, but we won and that is what matters. Second place now secured.

At this stage, it is all about being best runner-up. Unfortunately, I suspect Denmark will get it. So, here is the deal as far as I can see:

If Sweden beats Holland, we have it regardless of how other stuff goes.

If we tie Holland, we get it if Portugal beats Denmark and Croatia does not beat Latvia by 5-0 or more.

If we lose against Holland, it is over.

Realistically, I think it is between Sweden and Denmark at this stage. I doubt Croatia can pick up the goal difference.

Of course, getting a point against Holland is not that likely. What goes in our favour is a number of things though:

1. No Robben or Sneijder, their best players and playmakers. Also no Affelay and no Steklenburg. Still, the players they have left are still good.

2. They have nothing to play for. Unfortunately, not something that typically bothers Holland I think.

3. We have home ground.

4. Counter-intuitively, Ibrahimovic cannot play since he is suspended. And Sweden actually tends to play better without him than with him. Last Euro qualification we beat Spain 2-0 without him. 

---------------------

In other groups, I hope Estonia can get to runner-up. Slovenia might be able to tie Serbia, which would be enough. The Serbian point against Italy is actually utterly useless to them. Had Estonia not lost 0-2 against Faroe Islands they could have clinched 2nd place by now. Lol.

Turkey is virtually guaranteed imo. Germany is not pulling any punches and I expect them to steamroll Belgium while Turkey gets an easy win against the bag of sucks that is Azerbaijan.

Russia has Andorra in the final game which means they have won the group. Ireland should be able to not lose against Armenia at home and get 2nd. Had Armenia not tied Macedonia they would have had the upper hand.

France will likely stave off Bosnia, although it would be hilarious if we could get another Ireland versus France play-off. Grin

Greece has probable taken their group since they should not lose against Georgia.

Denmark will not beat Portugal, I do not think.

A wee bit excitement still in the last group. If Scotland beats Liechtenstein, they would be fine with tying Spain while Lithuania ties the Czechs. I think none of this will happen though.
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Keystone Phil
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« Reply #409 on: October 08, 2011, 01:19:37 PM »

Scotland up 1-0 at the half. They better pop in a goal or two more. Liechtenstein has pulled off some surprises this qualifying campaign...
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Keystone Phil
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« Reply #410 on: October 08, 2011, 02:59:18 PM »

Scotland wins. It all comes down to Tuesday's action. The Czechs have to be a little nervous.
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Keystone Phil
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« Reply #411 on: October 09, 2011, 10:05:06 AM »

Just an observation going into the final day of the Group stage: while I support Belgium for the runner up spot and don't want to see Armenia get through Group B, the former has to be the least deserving team in contention for a playoff spot while the latter is probably to most deserving. Belgium has screwed up so many matches late in the game, either losing or drawing, that they should have won or at least tied while Armenia has put up a great fight to possibly make it through a tough group. Their performance has been really surprising.

If current play is any indication, I'm willing to bet that Armenia will be the team to watch in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in Group B (Italy's group). Denmark and Armenia will probably be the teams battling it out for second place. Hell, the latter might even give my guys a scare.

I'll also admit to Gustaf that it looks like I underestimated Bosnia. Tongue  I still think France will beat them on Tuesday and they'll lose in the playoff round but they put on a great campaign.
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Gustaf
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« Reply #412 on: October 09, 2011, 10:36:33 AM »

Just an observation going into the final day of the Group stage: while I support Belgium for the runner up spot and don't want to see Armenia get through Group B, the former has to be the least deserving team in contention for a playoff spot while the latter is probably to most deserving. Belgium has screwed up so many matches late in the game, either losing or drawing, that they should have won or at least tied while Armenia has put up a great fight to possibly make it through a tough group. Their performance has been really surprising.

If current play is any indication, I'm willing to bet that Armenia will be the team to watch in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in Group B (Italy's group). Denmark and Armenia will probably be the teams battling it out for second place. Hell, the latter might even give my guys a scare.

I'll also admit to Gustaf that it looks like I underestimated Bosnia. Tongue  I still think France will beat them on Tuesday and they'll lose in the playoff round but they put on a great campaign.

Told you so. Wink I agree though that they will likely not pass France. I'm largely in agreement with your other points as well.

As regards Italy's World Cup group, it is looking quite feisty by now. Malta sucks of course and Bulgaria seem weak, but none of the other three seem to be teams who will just roll over and let you kill them.

I'm upset though - by bringing this up you fooled me into looking at those groups, thus reminding me of Sweden's horrible future. There is no team I wouldn't rather have than Germany. Ireland and Austria for 3rd and 4th pot teams is also bad luck, imo. Ugh.
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GMantis
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« Reply #413 on: October 10, 2011, 02:24:33 AM »

Just an observation going into the final day of the Group stage: while I support Belgium for the runner up spot and don't want to see Armenia get through Group B, the former has to be the least deserving team in contention for a playoff spot while the latter is probably to most deserving.
If you think Armenia is the most deserving team to go through, why don't you want them to?
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minionofmidas
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« Reply #414 on: October 10, 2011, 05:08:58 AM »

Just an observation going into the final day of the Group stage: while I support Belgium for the runner up spot and don't want to see Armenia get through Group B, the former has to be the least deserving team in contention for a playoff spot while the latter is probably to most deserving.
If you think Armenia is the most deserving team to go through, why don't you want them to?
Because he doesn't like it if small teams set up the established order. *shrugs*
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Keystone Phil
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« Reply #415 on: October 10, 2011, 11:02:46 AM »

Just an observation going into the final day of the Group stage: while I support Belgium for the runner up spot and don't want to see Armenia get through Group B, the former has to be the least deserving team in contention for a playoff spot while the latter is probably to most deserving.
If you think Armenia is the most deserving team to go through, why don't you want them to?
Because he doesn't like it if small teams set up the established order. *shrugs*

Bingo.  Wink

Plus, I want Ireland to go through even though they aren't part of the "established order." I want Italy to face Trapattoni during the tournament and finally get a win. The Italy-Ireland rivalry would be fun for me amongst some of my friends.
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republicanism
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« Reply #416 on: October 10, 2011, 01:25:27 PM »


I don't remember how they do the play-offs: Are the 8 teams casted free against each other, or are some teams seeded?

Anyways, the whole qualification went pretty good for the teams I like. Two Scandinavians in the playoffs (or Denmark qualifies directly), Ireland should make it in the playoffs, Scotland with an outside chance.
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Keystone Phil
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« Reply #417 on: October 10, 2011, 02:11:14 PM »


I don't remember how they do the play-offs: Are the 8 teams casted free against each other, or are some teams seeded?

The four teams with the best UEFA coefficient ranking will be seeded.
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Lief 🗽
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« Reply #418 on: October 10, 2011, 02:20:00 PM »

Ireland's been playing horribly, while Armenia has displayed some nice, exciting attacking football (they've scored almost as many goals as Russia and Ireland combined). Neither team obviously has much of a chance at the actual tournament, so let's at least have the one that isn't playing like crap get through.
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republicanism
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« Reply #419 on: October 10, 2011, 02:22:21 PM »


I don't remember how they do the play-offs: Are the 8 teams casted free against each other, or are some teams seeded?

The four teams with the best UEFA coefficient ranking will be seeded.


Ah, it's a shame. So no chance for France vs. Portugal in the playoffs Sad



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Keystone Phil
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« Reply #420 on: October 10, 2011, 02:32:21 PM »

Ireland's been playing horribly, while Armenia has displayed some nice, exciting attacking football (they've scored almost as many goals as Russia and Ireland combined). Neither team obviously has much of a chance at the actual tournament, so let's at least have the one that isn't playing like crap get through.

I haven't seen the Ireland games but the results aren't horrible. They drew against Russia and Slovakia in September when things were very tense between the three teams at the top of the group. Maybe they were too cautious but I reserve the "horrible" label for teams that lose or draw (or even barely win) when they are supposed to win comfortably or at least tie.

In my opinion, Slovakia gets the "horrible" label. Talk about a collapse.
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Јas
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« Reply #421 on: October 11, 2011, 02:34:31 AM »

We're on a run of 8 clean sheets (including games against Italy, Russia and Croatia); and we're the only side to have beaten Armenia in Yerevan in this group.

The wheels could certainly come off the wagon tonight (and I do suspect that at least the clean sheet run will probably come to an end), but I don't think it's fair to say that our recent form has been 'playing like crap'.
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afleitch
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« Reply #422 on: October 11, 2011, 07:53:41 AM »

So, Scotland have to beat Spain, or failing that have Lithuania beat the Czech Republic to finish second and get through to the playoffs. Won't happen. Ah well.
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Insula Dei
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« Reply #423 on: October 11, 2011, 08:26:36 AM »

Let's hope for a miracle tonight, people. Defeating Germany may be tough, but Turkey sadly isn't going to lose from the Azeri's.


Anyway, I share some of Phil's qualms. Objectively we really don't deserve to be in Ukraine or Poland, whereas Turkey would probably deserve to be there more than us. But I do believe that this Belgium is slowly growing to the point where it would be a more than worthy participant in any international competition. I have sad this before, but, boy, we do have a lot of young talent that's yet to blossom.
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Franzl
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« Reply #424 on: October 11, 2011, 09:14:53 AM »

We've made it our goal to finish the qualification with a perfect record.

We're not getting defeated by Belgium at home... Wink
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