Wednesday, 12.10.2011
Group A
Germany 3-1 Belgium
No one even had an intention to doubt that Turkey would overplay Azerbaijan in the parallel match. The intrigue consisted in the Germans humor whether they would play in giveaway football or whether not with Belgium national team. Thus, there wasn’t giveaway football. Though Belgium team tried hard to make a sensation.
In the 30 minute of the match Toni Kroos made a corner near Belgium’s net. Whether ball “fell” from his leg, whether it was his intention but the sphere flew into the penalty zone half a meter above the field. Sami Khedira caught it and immediately attempted to kick it. However, Turkish defenses blocked the kick. So Khedira didn’t want to struggle desperately so he turned around and saw Mesut Ozil and make a pass for the team colleague and he stormed the ball into the nearby corner of the goals.
The second goal didn’t make anyone to wait much. The Germans scored it after corner kick. After the Belgium’s corner! In the 33 minute German defenses took away the ball from their penalty zone and in some passes began a counterattack “three to four”. André Schürrle received the sphere, saw a goalkeeper leaving the goals, kicked and doubled the score.
The third goal came in the second half-time, in the 48 minute. Another counterattack, Mario Gomez took the ball almost in the middle of the field, made a pass to Ozil, went forward and again received the ball, stormed into penalty zone and tripled the score.
Belgium team only in the end of the game managed to score the prestige goal. However, it was rather banal goal. In the 86 minute the local defenses just didn’t followed Marouane Fellaini – 3-1. Maybe the reason was eccentric Marouane ‘s hairdo that enchanted everyone. (Who saw, he understands!).
The unconditional defeat didn’t give a chance to believe in the second place in group.
The psychological and physical powers of German team continue astonishing. On the stand of German stadium was a banner: “One team – one aim: the final in Kiev”. It seems that they can do this.
Turkey 1-0 Azerbaijan
Turkish team defeated Azerbaijan one with help of the one and only Burak Yılmaz’s goals in the 60 minute. He scored it after long and exact Selçuk İnan’s pass. The locals controlled game completely and were able to speed up at every moment. However, the one goal was sufficient to be paired for a two game play-off for EURO 2012.
Kazakhstan 0-0 Austria
Group B
Ireland 2-1 Armenia
It seems that the Armenia team which received the title “discovery” of the EURO 2012 qualification was afraid of its success. In the match with more experienced rival for the second place in the group they got too nervous and “burn out”. Than scored the goals into own net in the figurative and literal senses.
Thus, in the 27 minute, the guests’ goalkeeper Roman Berezovski due to unreasonable reason left the penalty zone to meet the Ireland forward. Of course, the situation was dangerous; however, two Armenian defenses were following him! So when he already left the penalty area he touched the ball with his hands. The referee decided as it’s prescribed and showed the red card. (By the way, in repeat we see that Irishman touched the ball with hand but strange Berezovski act distract the referee).
In the 43 minute locals Damien Duff kicked the ball from the right flank, however, Kevin Doyle couldn’t reach it but he was secured by… Armenian defense Valeri Aleksanyan! He helped the ball to find itself in the net!
Nevertheless, even after this two frustrating moment they seemed to be battleworthy. But they didn’t collect themselves.
In the 59 minute Richard Dunne made an advantage of the goalkeeper fault and Armenia defense and so doubled the score and almost annulled Armenian chance to be the runner-up.
Henrik Mkhitaryan’s goal in the 62 minute meant nothing. Ireland is a runner-up and titled one of the weakest teams of the upcoming playoff games.
Russia 6-0 Andorra
Macedonia 1-1Slovakia
Group C
Slovenia 1-0 Serbia
You know, how the Serbia nation team lost their place in the playoff matches? In the added time to the first half, locals Dare Vršič was standing almost in the middle of the field with the ball… and decided to kicked it! Sphere flew the middle of flight it began to land… Bojan Jorgačević was standing (literally standing) in the net. Perhaps he got tired or thought that would catch the sphere… But the ball overflew him and met the goals! (See the Video section).
During the match Serbia managed not to score the penalty! Who can they blame? Of course, only themselves.
The Serbia’s defeat made Estonia national team the main sensation of the EURO 2012 qualifying! Estonia that never was the football country became a runner up in the group and left Serbia and Slovenia behind! It cost a lot!
Italy 3-0 Northern Ireland
Groups A, B, C results
Germany, Russia and Italy qualified for EURO 2012. Turkey, Ireland, Estonia will be paired for a two game play-off.
