Euro 2012 round-up

Wednesday, 12/10/2011

by Ger McCarthy

GROUP A
As expected Germany finished top of Group A and rounded off their qualification campaign in style with a 3-1 defeat of Belgium in Dusseldorf. Real Madrid’s Mesut Ozil was amongst the goals on a night the Belgians missed out on a play-off berth when Turkey leapt into second spot in the group courtesy of a narrow 1-0 over Azerbaijan in Istanbul.

GROUP B
Russia booked their place in next summer’s Euro 2012 thanks to a 6-0 thumping of Andorra while the Republic of Ireland overcame the sending off of striker Kevin Doyle to clinch a play-off spot following a nervy 2-1 win at home to Armenia. An own goal and a second half Richard Dunne strike secured Ireland’s passage to the play-offs.

GROUP C
Italy completed their journey to Poland-Ukraine next summer with a routine 3-0 win at home to Northern Ireland in Nigel Worthington’s final game in charge. Veteran striker Antonio Cassano bagged a brace for the Italians on a night Estonia made it through to the play-offs as Group C runners-up when Serbia were beaten 1-0 by Slovenia in Maribor.

GROUP D
France needed a 78th minute converted penalty from Manchester City’s Samir Nasri to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina to claim top spot in Group D. The Bosnians finished second in the group and will be in the hat next Thursday for the UEFA play-off draw.

GROUP E
The Netherlands lost their 100 per cent record in Group E on the final night of qualification fixtures with Sweden running out deserving 3-2 winners in Solna to clinch qualification for Euro 2012 as the best group runners-up. Huntelaar and Kuyt were on target for the Dutch with Kallstrom, Larsson and Toivonen goals making it a night to remember for the Swedes.

GROUP F
Greece qualified for Euro 2012 on a dramatic final night in Group F by leapfrogging Croatia into top spot following a 2-1 win away to Georgia. Targamadze fired the Georgians into an early 1-0 lead until late strikes from Fotakis and Charisteas cemented Greece’s place in next summer’s tournament. Croatia finished in the playoff berth thanks to a routine 2-0 win at home to Latvia.

GROUP G
Fabio Capello’s England made it to Euro 2012 earlier in the week following a 2-2 draw away to Montenegro and finished top of the group with 18 points accrued form their eight matches. The 2-0 loss away to Switzerland on Tuesday night didn’t prevent the Montenegrins from clinching the play-off berth on a night Gary Speed’s Welsh side won 1-0 in Bulgaria.

GROUP H
A shootout for first and second place in Group H resulted in a 2-1 win for Denmark over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Copenhagen on Tuesday evening. Goals from Krohn-Dehli and Sunderland’s Niklas Bendtner handed the home side a deserved 2-0 lead and despite a late penalty from Ronaldo the Danes held on for a famous win to book their place in Euro 2012.

GROUP I
Spain finished their Group I campaign with a perfect record of eight wins following a comfortable 3-1 defeat of Scotland in Alicante on Tuesday evening. Manchester City’s David Silva scored twice and Barcelona’s David Villa completed Spain’s total with Blackburn’s David Goodwillie replying with Scotland’s solitary strike. The Czech Republic made sure of second place and a playoff spot thanks to a 4-1 victory in Kaunas over Lithuania.

QUALIFIED: Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Russia, Italy, France, Netherlands, Greece, England, Denmark, Spain and Sweden

PLAY-OFFS (4 to qualify from): Portugal, Croatia, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Estonia, Montenegro and Turkey
Follow Ger on Twitter: @offcentrecircle

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