Euro 2012 Qualifying, Underway: Netherlands, Spain, England Impress In Opening Matches

In doing that, France has amplified the chances that their team does not make Euro 2012. For some people, that’s an unfathomable thought, but Les Bleus just lost at home to Belarus. We may want to start considering the possibilities - possibilities which, in light of the performances at Euro 2008 and South Africa 2010, are more grounded than reactionary. Bosnia and Herzegovina may be a better team. I have a hard time thinking either Romania or Belarus are truly better, but if France is going to play games for a few matches, the gap between them and Belarus and Romania gets bridged quickly. This tournament is only ten games long. That is a small sample size, France.

It’s also time France came to grips with their place in the soccer world. There are no Zidanes in the player pool. Where’s a Thuram? Are there Desaillys and Blancs? Does the midfield have a Vieira? I ask because there seems to be two problems. First, France is not as talented as they were during their Ubuntu era. No shame in that, because every country goes through their highs and lows. Unfortunately, this downturn is compounded by France’s second major problem: their federation is acting as if the talent with which they won the World Cup is inherent to their country.

Speculation Georgia was one qualifying cycle away from being interesting proved conservative when Alexander Iashvili put the Georgians ahead in the third minute, a lead the visitors would keep for over an hour. It was enough time to convince onlookers that the speculated descent of Greece was continuing, while the young players Georgia’s set to incorporate were paying premature benefits.

As is apt to happen in soccer, the story changed with one goal, a 72nd minute equalizer from Nikolaos Spiropoulos that would preserve a point for the former champions. Now the explaining begins.

Corry Evans’s 70th minute goal gave Northern Ireland a 1-0 victory in Maribor, defeating a Slovenia team that finished above them in World Cup qualifying.

Slovenia and Northern Ireland were drawn into the same group for World Cup 2010 qualifying. Though the teams would split their two matches, the home team willing each time, Slovenia finished second in group and went on to qualify for the World Cup. Northern Ireland would finish five points back.

Belgium showed the potential of their touted group of young players, threatening Germany a number of times before Miroslav Klose struck, putting the Germans ahead in the 51st minute, all the World Cup semifinalists would need to beat their upstart hosts, 1-0.

Belgium had first half chances through Romelo Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini, Jan Vertonghen and Moussa Dembele, but strong play from Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer kept the visitors even.

An easy day for the holders saw Spain score two goals within 26 minutes en route to a 4-0 victory at Liechtenstein, with the day’s big story the brace by striker Fernando Torres.

Torres struggled through a goalless World Cup that saw him eventually lose his spot in Spain’s starting lineup. Speculation held Torres was dealing with a knee injury, but on Friday Torres showed his continued improvement with goals in the 18th and 54th minutes.

Starting in place of the injured Robin van Persie, new Schalke striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar scored the second, third, and fourth goals of the Netherlands’ 5-0 demolition of perpetual minnows, San Marino.

The Netherlands opened the scoring with a Dirk Kuyt penalty kick in the 16th minute. Huntelaar added the second in the 38th minute, sending the match to half 2-0. Two move from Huntelaar after break preceded Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 34th international goal.

Filip Holosko stole two extra points for Slovakia, posting a stoppage time goal against visiting Macedonia to earn 1-0 victory on Friday.

The goal came with Slovakia up a man after Vance Sikov’s sending-off, having earned two yellow cards. To that point, Slovakia had the better of the chances, but the advantage was not so great as to begrudge the visitors their point.

The last two years of problems for the Azzurri nearly gained a whole new perspective on Friday, with Italy falling behind in Estonia after 31 minutes. The hosts would take that lead into halftime before Antonio Cassano and Leonardo Bonucci saved Italy, giving the favorites a 2-1 win.

The victory was Italy’s first of 2010.

Bosnia and Herzegovina performed as expected in Luxembourg on Friday, following-up a strong World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-0 victory that puts them on top of Group D after the first match day. Scoring all three goals within the first 16 minutes of play, Bosnia and Herzegovina cruised for the last hour-plus of the match.

Attacker Senijad Ibricic opening the scoring in the sixth minute, followed six minutes later by Miralem Pjanic. Edin Dzeko capped the scoring at the 16 minute mark, after which the visitors settled in. By the second half, Luxembourg was able to create opportunities against a relaxed Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Romanian soccer was dealt another frustrating blow on Friday, finally finding their first lead over visiting Albania in the 80th minute only to be drawn two minutes before full-time. The 1-1 result gives Albania an unexpected point and continues the struggles for a once strong Romanian team, coming off a fifth place finish in their World Cup qualifying group.

The missed points are a setback for Romania, the second pot team in Group D, who also saw Bosnia and Herzegovina get three points on the road at Luxembourg. Perception held Romania’s biggest challenge for the group’s second spot was Bosnia and Herzegovina, but after being drawn at home by Albania, Romania is left playing catch-up.

A second half brace from Pontus Wernbloom have Sweden a deserved 2-0 victory over visiting Hungary to open each nation’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. For the 24-year-old AZ attacker, the goals were the first of an international career that started in 2007.

Hungary had taken Sweden into half time scoreless despite the hosts earning the match’s better chances, most notably through the returning Zlatan Ibrahimovic. After a formation switch resulting from Sebastian Larsson being brought on for Johan Elmander, coach Erik Hamren’s found goals in the second half, Wernbloom scoring in the 51st and 73rd minutes.

Montenegro was the stronger team at the start, getting a goal from captain Mirko Vucinic at the half-hour mark to take a 1-0 lead on Wales. Despite a surge near match’s end from the visitors, Montenegro would hold on to their lead and win the first match of their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

Vucinic beat a sluggish James Collins for his chance on goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, eventually slotting home a near-post match-winner. Collins’s tough day would eventually end with John Toshack taking him off in the 75th minute.

Serbia cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Faroe Islands on Friday, opening up their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign by vaulting to the top of Group C. The Faroes drop to two losses in as many games, having already been defeated by Estonia last month.

Serbia got first half goals four minutes apart from Danko Lazokic and Dejan Stankovic to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Birmingham City’s Nikola Zigic scored late to give the Serbians their final margin of victory.

Two goals by Pavel Pogrebnyak, the second a penalty kick in the second half, gave Dick Advocaat a 2-0 win over Andorra in his debut as Russia coach. The win moved Russian ahead of Ireland at the top of Group A.

It was a controlled performance from the Russians, 2008 semifinalists who missed this year’s World Cup. Pogrebnyak was set up int he 14th minute by Andrei Arsahvin and finished the second half penalty chance won by Alan Dzagoev.

Sami Hyypia’s 36th minute red card may have ended any chance Finland had to qualify for Euro 2012. The Finnish captain dismissal set the stage for a surprise 2-0 victory by European minnows Moldova, a nation that had failed to win a match during qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. But on Friday, second half goals from Alexandru Suvorov and Anatolij Doros - recorded four minutes apart - gave the Moldovans a 2-0 win.

Moldova was one of two nations in Group E from whom the potential qualifiers were expected to get full points (the other: San Marino). Finland’s loss means they will likely have to make-up those three points against Sweden, the nation they would have been hoping to beat for second place.

Turkey got an expectedly dominant result in Kazakhstan, and in doing so brilliantly rang in the Guus Hiddink era of Turkish soccer, winning their opening Euro 2012 qualifier, 3-0.

Turkey’ s highlight came from Hamit Altintop, who scored the team’s second goal with a 22-yard volley near the right elbow of Kazakhstan’s area. Two minutes before, Arda Turan had gotten the Turks on the board with a goal from about one foot out. Nihat Kahveci scored the final goal at the 75-minute mark.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s late substitution, bringing Keith Fahey on for Aiden McGready, paid off when the Birmingham City player scored the match’s only goal in the 76th minute, lifting Ireland to a victory over one of Europe’s minnows.

For much of the match it looked as if Trapattoni’s typically restrained approach may cost Ireland against Armenia, but Fahey put an 18-yard shot past Roman Berezovskiy to get the Irish three points.

The holders, the world champions, the Euro 2012 favorites Spain headline the final Euro 2012 group: Group I. As was the case in World Cup qualifying, they should post a perfect record in these eight matches, though a three-way fight for second will hold our interest in the quintet. If the Czech Republic replicate their World Cup qualifying struggles, Scotland and Lithuania have a shot at Euro 2012.

FIFA Rank: 1

Elo Rank: 1

Recent Performances: Current World and European Champions.

Coach: Vincente del Bosque

Captain: Iker Casillas

Prominent players: Amongst those called in, Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villareal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), David Silva (Manchester City), David Villa (Barcelona), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

Outlook: Very good. We’ve yet to find a reason why Spain should falter. Clearly the world’s best team, they will qualify easily.

Predicted Finish: 1st

As it was before the World Cup, Portugal and Denmark are drawn together, this time for Euro 2012’s qualifying. Missing their coach and their best player for the first qualifiers, Portugal looks set to repeat their lack-luster form of the previous tournament and let Denmark take another group from them. Those two nations are a head above Group H’s other three teams.

FIFA Rank: 8

Elo Rank: 9

Recent Performances: Second round exit in the World Cup. Quarterfinalist at Euro 2008.

Coach: Carlos Queiroz, once he returns from suspension

Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo, once he returns from injury

Prominent players: Eduardo (Genoa), Ricardo Carvalho (Real Madrid), Bruno Alves (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica), Raul Meireles (Liverpool), Nani (Manchester United), Danny (Zenit Saint Petersburg)

Outlook: Portugal is the seeded team in the group but can’t be considered its favorites. Denmark beat them in World Cup qualifying, with the Seleccao having too many questions for a return to their talent’s level to be assumed. They’re going to be great at the back, but they still have shown no commitment to scoring goals. Unless that changes over the next 14 months, they’re looking at another playoff.

Predicted Finish: 2nd

The first of UEFA’s five-team groups features two of the home nations. England is the group’s seeded team and will have two matches against a Welsh team with high hopes. Switzerland is the group’s other threat, one that could take the group. We’ll get a good indication of how dangerous they are next Tuesday when they host the Three Lions.

FIFA Rank: 7

Elo Rank: 6

Recent Performances: Second round exit in the World Cup. Failed to qualify for Euro 2008

Coach: Fabio Capello

Captain: Rio Ferdinand, with Steven Gerrard filling-in

Prominent players: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gareth Barry (Manchester City), James Milner (Manchester City), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur)

Outlook: It feels strange having to clarify this: the World Cup is not the only competition in the world. I mention this because the Three Lions’ poor showing in South Africa has crafted this view that England’s a weak team, the country’s in soccer crisis and it can’t produce a good player or hire a decent coach. Not true, at all. They’re neither as good as they thought nor as bad as they now think. They win this group.

Predicted Finish: 1st

Israel’s 3-1 win over Malta on Thursday vaulted them to an early Group F lead, and while they are unlikely to keep that position in a group that includes Croatia, Israel has a good change to finish second. To do so, they will have to beat out a transitioning Greece squad and a Latvian team coming off a strong World Cup qualifying campaign.

FIFA Rank:14

Elo Rank: 7

Recent Performances: Third place in UEFA World Cup qualifying. Quarterfinalists at Euro 2008.

Coach: Slaven Bilic

Captain: Darijo Srna

Prominent players: Josip Simunic (Hoffenhim)Vedran Corluka (Tottenham hotspur), Danijel Pranjic (Bayern Munich), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04), Luka Modric (Tottenham Hotspur), Niko Kranjcar (Tottenham Hotspur), Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ivica Olic (Bayern Munich)

Outlook: Shockingly, Croatia not only failed to qualify for the World Cup, they didn’t even make the UEFA playoffs. They remain a seeded team and the solid favorite to win this group, having no glaring weaknesses. With Eduardo back, Slaven Bilic could actually improve upon a 2008’s result.

Predicted Finish: 1st

The Netherlands drew another easy qualifying group and should have no problem clinching a spot for Euro 2012, but where Group E gets interesting is in the fight for second place. Sweden has moved on from Lars Lagerback and should be considered the favorite for the spot, but capable Finland and Hungary teams could challenge for the playoff spot.

FIFA Rank:2

Elo Rank: 3

Recent Performances: Second place at the World Cup. Quarterfinalists at Euro 2008.

Coach: Bert van Marwijk

Captain: Mark van Bommel

Prominent players: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), John Heitenga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Hamburg)

Outlook: Expect the Dutch to leave their brutal World Cup tactics behind and return to a more fluid approach. They’re currently missing Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie but should still easily handle the first week of qualifying.

Predicted Finish: 1st

The manufactured soccer crisis in France makes Group D wide open. Les Bleus are ostensibly the seeded team, but with their current penchant for dwelling on what happened in South Africa, it’s unclear whether they’re willing to live-up to that stature. That leaves the group open for Romania and, more readily, Bosnia and Herzegovina. If Bosnia and Herzegovina does not replicate their strong World Cup qualifying form, even Belarus could have a shot, if those teams beat up on each other enough.

FIFA Rank: 21

Elo Rank: 25

Recent Performances: Eliminated in group play at World Cup. Eliminated in group play at Euro 2008.

Coach: Laurent Blanc

Captain: We’ll see, Philippe Mexes would wear the armband.

Prominent players: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille), Löic Remy (Marseille)

Outlook: If you notice names missing from the prominent players list, that’s because many of the World Cup’s not-so-villains are still being left out of the team. Given the team has a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina this week, France is setting themselves up to replicate World Cup qualifying’s second place group finish.

Predicted Finish: 2nd

Group C was the first to start play in Euro 2012 qualifying, with Estonia defeating the Faroe Islands in mid-August. This may be the last time Estonia tops the group, with four other nations capable of finishing in the top two. Italy is the seeded team, but with a new coach and a roster in transition, all of Serbia, Northern Ireland and Slovenia could come out of Group C.

FIFA Rank:11

Elo Rank: 14

Recent Performances: Eliminated in group play at World Cup. Eliminated in the quarterfinals of Euro 2008.

Coach: Cesare Prandelli

Captain: Gianluigi Buffon when healthy, but Andrea Pirlo will wear the armband this week.

Prominent players: Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Febio Quagliarella (Juventus), Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)

Outlook: Italy has only one defender that has more than three caps, and with Gianluigi Buffon out for at least a couple more months, the Azzurri have one cap amongst their goalkeepers. Cesare Prandelli is also making his competitive debut as coach. It’s a bit fortunate that Italy gets Estonia and the Faroe Islands this week. Had they faced one of the group’s tougher teams, it could have cost them come October 2011.

Predicted Finish: 2nd

Russia’s place in the top nine of the UEFA coefficient means Dirk Advocaat, again walking in the footsteps of Guus Hiddink, has the de facto seeded team in Group B. Their main obstacles to qualifying will be a Slovakia team that just qualified for their first major tournament and Giovanni Trapatonni’s Republic of Ireland.

Having drawn weak teams from each of the six pots, Group B is the easiest of the tournaments nine groups.