Euro 2012 Qualifying: Saturday Wins By France, Croatia End Third Round

The roar at Stade de France was as much elated relief as it was elation, seeing a strong performance from their side would not go for naught, substitute Loic Remy putting France ahead over Romania in the 85th minute. A stoppage time goal from from Yoann Gourcuff gave France a 2-0 win, a finally score that served as a more accurately reflection of the match’s tilt.

That tilt was toward the Romanian goal, with France putting in one of their better performances in years. Of course, the performance could be seen as an extension of their play against Bosnia and Herzegovina, against whom Les Bleus got a crucial, round two victory. Combined with today’s result, France sits at the top Group D, one point ahead of both Albania and Belarus.

Given the draw of Euro 2012 qualifying’s Group F, I thought Israel had a decent chance of qualifying – or, at least making the playoff. Given how today’s first half at Ramat Gana has shaken out, it looks like I overestimated the Israelis’ quality.

Either that, or Croatia is back to their late 2007 form, scoring two first half goals on the road, taking a 0-2 lead into halftime.

The Stade de France has seen France continue the revitalization that started against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and although Les Bleus have yet to break through in their Saturday Euro 2012 qualifier, the teams went to halftime with the feeling that it’s just a matter of time for Laurent Blanc’s team.

Of course, you never know in this sometimes unfair game of soccer, but for France fans who have been through a roller-coaster summer and fall, successive positive performances are worth some elation. Les Bleus need Karim Benzema, Mathieu Valbuena or Florent Malouda to make their efort come good (as they almost did when Malouda went into the side netting mid-way through the half), but if the first half performance is any indication, Blanc is getting early returns, regardless of the scoreline.

We can dispense with the awkward feeling of seeing Scotland and Lithuania on top of Group I. After Spain’s 3-1 win over the Lithuanian’s all’s right with Group I, with the defending European and world champions perched atop the quintet, holding six points after two matches.

A brace by Fernando Llorente, starting in place of the injured Fernando Torres, plus a David Silva insurance tally gave the hosts the victory, helping onlookers forget a scoreless first half that played with the idea Spain would miss Xavi Hernández.

A first half brace from Nani with a late insurance goal from Cristiano Ronaldo capped an impressive display by Portugal, posting a convincing 3-1 over a Denmark team that had bested the Seleccao in World Cup qualifying.

Beyond the score, the Portuguese played with a confidence and creativity that was never seen under former coach Carlos Queiroz. In Paulo Bento’s debut, Portugal discarded their conservative approach in favor of a style that saw the Seleccao instill an open approach, allowing Nani and Ronaldo to better utilize their stills. The result was a Denmark team on the back heel all match, a better reflection of the teams’ relative talents than the strangled matches of World Cup qualifying.

Spain is now up 3-1 and on track to their second victory in as many matches after David Silva put La Furia Roja up 3-1 in the 79th minute.

The goal comes 17 minutes after Fernando Llorente completed his brace, giving Spain a 2-1 lead. With Silva’s goal, his tenth for Spain, the defending European champions are on-track to go to the top of Group I with six points through two matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken through at the Dragão, avenging one attempt early in the second half that want off the post, giving Portgual a 3-1 lead in the 85th minute. The goal should cap what has been an impressive performance for Portugal, the Seleccao looking better than they had during Carlos Queiroz’s tenure as coach.

Denmark’s goal, originally credited to defender Simon Kjaer, has been changed to an own goal by Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho.

Defender Simon Kjaer has halved Portugal’s lead, bringing Denmark within one goal of a result at the Dragão.

In a match dominated by Portugal, Kjaer’s 79th minute tally has brought the Danes within 2-1, Denmark having held the hosts to Nani’s first half brace. In the interim, Portugal has generated the best opportunities, with Cristiano Ronaldo finding the woodwork in the second half.

Darvydas Sernas sent a shock through the Helmántico crowd when he equalized in the 54th minute, but Fernando Llorente’s second goal of the match has given Spain a 2-1 lead an hour into the world champions match with Lithuania.

Both of Llorente’s goals came the same way, with Spain penetrating through the left of Lithuania’s defense, crossing from the byline to see Llorente head-home while goalkeeper Zydrunas Karcemarskas took himself out of position. Each goal came from the edge of the six, where the first came near post – the second, far.

Slovenia is now on four points after their 5-1 win over the Faroe Islands. Groningen attacker Tim Matavz had three goals in just over an hour, with goals by Milivoje Novakovic and Zlatko Dedic closing out the Slovene’s scoresheet. A stopped time goal from Christian Mouritsen gave the visitors a small amount of consolation.

The result puts Slovenia even with Serbia and Northern Ireland on four points in Group C.

Questions surrounding the Italian national team will persist after they were held to a scoreless draw by Northern Ireland, leaving bother nations undefeated in Group C play. Italy sits atop the group with seven points while Northern Ireland has four points through two.

The result will do little to quiet questions around the Azzurri, whose wins over Estonia and the Faroe Islands did little to alleviate concerns born from summer failings at the World Cup. With Northern Ireland haven proved a difficult place for even the best teams to get a result, a point in Belfast keeps the Azzurri and their support (and likely coach Cesare Prandelli) unable to ascertain whether the team is moving forward or stagnating.

Albania came back from an early deficit, sending their match with Bosnia and Herzegovina into halftime tied at one, a scoreline that held through the second 45 minutes, leaving Albania on top of Group D after the 1-1 draw.

Albania is even on points with Belarus, both nations winning one and drawing two, though Albania has scored two more goals. Bosnia and Herzegovina, coming off a loss to France, sit third with four points.

Despite allowing two late goals, Russia held on for a 3-2 win over Ireland, bouncing back from a loss in Moscow to Slovakia, putting five nations within two points of the lead in Group B.

Russia’s win combines with Armenia’s 3-1 triumph over the Slovaks to leave three teams – Russia, Ireland and Slovakia – with six points atop the group. Macedonia and Armenia each have four points, with Andorra bottom, without a point through three matches.

A horrible start for new coach Vladimir Petrovic saw Serbia give up three goals in the last half hour in Beograd, losing to visiting Estonia 1-3.

Zdravko Kuzmanovic appeared to right the struggling Serbs in the 60th minute, getting the favorites on the board with a 1-0 lead, but goals by Tarmo Kink (63’) and Konstantin Vassiljev (73’) quickly reversed Serbia’s lead.

A first half goal from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and a dominating amount of possession gave the Netherlands a 0-1 victory in Moldova, setting-up Tuesday’s match in Amsterdam against Sweden.

The Swedes came into the day on top of Group E, but having the day off, they were passed by the Dutch after the Netherlands’ win in Chisinau, a result that sets-up a battle of two perfect teams come Tuesday.

Whereas all looked lost for Ireland after Roman Shirokov’s early second half goal, the home team has fought back to within one with seven minutes to play in Dublin.

Captain Robbie Keane got the Irish’s first goal, converting from the spot in the 72nd minute to make it 1-3.

Welcome to the Seleccao, Paulo Bento. You have an emerging star.

That’s what we’ve known about Nani for some time, but with two goals in three minutes against Denmark in Porto, Nani’s star has given Bento a 2-0 lead 31 minutes into his Portugal coaching debut.

Bulgaria is four minutes away from three points in Cardiff, with Ivan Popov’s 48th minute goal giving the visitors a 0-1 lead.

The match at Cardiff City Stadium is the debut for Wales’ Brian Flynn as well as Bulgaria’s coach, Lothar Matthäus.

The Czech Republic have made Roman Hubnik’s 69th minute goal hold-up, downing previously group-leading Scotland 1-0 in Praha, earning this first three points of Euro 2012 qualifying. For Scotland, it was their first loss of qualifying, a result that will send them below one of Lithuania or Spain, dependent on the result in Salamanca.

Also going final, Luxembourg was able to earn a surprise point from Belarus, a nation that came into today tied with Albania at the top of Group D. Belarus stays undefeated in qualifying with two draws in three matches while Luxembourg earns their first point of the competition.

Estonia has come back from a goal down in Serbia to take a 1-2 lead after Konstantin Vassiljev’s 73rd minute goal.

The match in Beograd marks the debut of Vladimir Petrovic, who took over as coach following Serbia’s disappointing home draw with Slovenia in qualifying’s second round.

There are a number of one-man teams in Europe, but Mirko Vucinic is proving to me the best of those one men. Having already lifted Montenegro to a win over Wales in September, Vucinic has given his country aa 1-0 lead in the 75th minute against Switzerland, putting the nation with a quarter hour of temporarily going top in Group G.

Montenegro entered Friday tied atop their group with England, but with the Three Lions off until Montenegro visits London on Tuesday, Vucinic may have putting his country top for at least the next three days.

They’ve kicked-off at the Dragão, where Denmark is looking to ruin Paulo Bento’s debut as Portgual boss. As that match start, fellow Group H team Norway has completed a surprising win in Cyprus, a 1-2 result thanks to goals by John Arne Riise and John Carew.

Norway now has nine points in Group H, currently six points ahead of Denmark. Unless the Danes beat the Seleccao, Norway will have a six point lead in at the Dragão’s final whistle.

Roman Shirokov’s 20-yard shot went off center half Richard Dunne, going opposite Shay Given’s dive, going just inside the goalkeeper’s left post, giving Russia a 0-3 lead in Dublin.

The goal came six minutes into the second half and sent murmurs through the Aviva Stadium crowd.

Marko Arnautovic has added insurance for Austria, now up 2-0 after 63 minutes against visiting Azerbaijan.

Adding to Sebastian Prödl’s first half tally, Arnautovic’s 53rd minute goal has Austria set to stay perfect ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Brussels.

Defender Roman Hubnik has broken the stalemate in Praha, giving the Czech Republic a late and likely decisive lead over Scotland, 1-0.

The match went 69 minutes without a goal, seemingly destined to replicate Scotland’s round one trip to Lithuania. Hubnik’s goal, the third of his international career, puts the Czechs on-course for their first win of Group I play,