Thursday, 13.10.2011
Group G
Bulgaria 0-1 Wales
Switzerland 2-0 Montenegro
Everything was clear even before the last EURO 2012 qualifying round: England qualified for EURO 2012, Montenegro went for playoff ties. Moreover, the England didn’t play in the last round. So the matches weren’t interesting at all and could serve only for the statistics. In fact, Bulgaria is worth to be mentioned because it went down to the bottom and Wales that suddenly began to play harder occupied the last but one place.
Group H
Denmark 2-1 Portugal
After EURO 2012 qualification arose two questions: how could Estonia reach the second place and how could Portugal fall down to the second place. In general, the Portuguese was very calm and relaxed during the qualifying faze. You can see it from the ranking in the standing: 2/3 points scored from the all possible one! But just look at Spain and German that have 100% result or Netherlands – 90%.
Some time ago, Portugal was in the same row with all these national teams. Even more, they occupied the second place scoring 16 points; Norway has the same amount of them! It is even hard to imagine how they were frustrated: just gained one or two point more and Portugal would see matches in Ukraine and Poland as a spectator at the stands.
The unconditioned limpness was even in the very last match. However, locals have the match of their life.
In the 13 minute Michael Krohn-Dehli put his team ahead with left corner shot and the ball flew between three defenses and goalkeeper that were completely powerless to do something.
After the missed goal the guests tried to organize the attack but it was too late: Denmark closed all the entries and exits and didn’t give a chance to do something. The situation remained the same during 50 minutes. In the 63 minutes Denmark even doubled the score! Another goal pass for the right flank, they created the counterattack at the speed of light and shot by the net. Dennis Rommedahl received the ball standing just in front of the goals and made a pass. It was Nicklas Bendtner who finalized it and as a result doubled the score.
The only goal that Denmark allowed Portugal to score was already at the added time. In the 2 minute Cristiano Ronaldo stormed the sphere in the far corner of the net.
Norway 3-1 Cyprus
Group I
Spain 3-1 Scotland
Lithuania 1-4 Czech Republic
Czech Republic, which before the last round was the runner-up of the group I, was only two point ahead Scotland that played in the parallel match. This could mean: Scotland’s defeat or even and Czech Republic would be runner-up, Scotland’s win and Czech draw and win would mean the second place for latter and only Scotland’s win and Czech’s defeat could give the second place for Scotland.
The national teams played at the same time and already on the six minute everyone knew the result of the distant battle. In the 2 minute in Lithuania, Michal Kadlec made a penalty and in the 6 minute in Madrid David Silva concluded the exact shot into the goal inside Scotland’s net. So the Scotsmen didn’t see the other exit and started to believe that Lithuania would speed up and they would recollect themselves. This thing happened! However, neither for Lithuania nor for Scotland it didn’t bring the success. In the 16 minute Czech Jan Rezek doubled the score, in the 44 minute David Silva did the same thing and in the 45 minute Jan Rezek tripled the advantage. The final result after the first half-time was: Spain 2-0 Scotland, Lithuania 0-3 Czech Republic.
Everything was clear and in spite the second half-times were interesting (just remember two penalties in Lithuania!) but they did change nothing. Spain allowed Scotland to score one goal, and Czech Republic and Lithuania interchanged the goals.
Groups G, H, I results
England, Denmark, Spain qualified for EURO 2012. Montenegro, Portugal, Czech Republic will be paired for playoff ties.
