Asia World Cup qualifying: What’s next?
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Showing posts with label The European Championships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The European Championships. Show all posts
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Sunday, 2 January 2011
EURO TRIVIA
TEN QUESTIONS ON .... EURO 96
1. England and Germany contested the second semi-final at Wembley. Which two teams faced each other in the other semi-final and where was it played?
2. Which player scored the opening goal of the Final of Euro 96 and then transferred to Liverpool later in the summer?
3. Which two Eastern European sides failed to qualify from Group B?
4. Who scored England's four penalties in the shootout win against Spain in the quarter-finals?
5. How many goals did France score in open play in the knock-out stages of the tournament?
6. Which was the only side to fail to score a goal at Euro 96?
7. Who was the top goalscorer at Euro 96?
8. The two eventual finalists - Germany and the Czech Republic - both came out of Group C. Who were the other two teams in the group?
9. What was the result of the group encounter between the two finalists?
10. How many of the seven knock-out matches went to extra-time?
1. England and Germany contested the second semi-final at Wembley. Which two teams faced each other in the other semi-final and where was it played?
2. Which player scored the opening goal of the Final of Euro 96 and then transferred to Liverpool later in the summer?
3. Which two Eastern European sides failed to qualify from Group B?
4. Who scored England's four penalties in the shootout win against Spain in the quarter-finals?
5. How many goals did France score in open play in the knock-out stages of the tournament?
6. Which was the only side to fail to score a goal at Euro 96?
7. Who was the top goalscorer at Euro 96?
8. The two eventual finalists - Germany and the Czech Republic - both came out of Group C. Who were the other two teams in the group?
9. What was the result of the group encounter between the two finalists?
10. How many of the seven knock-out matches went to extra-time?
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
CLASSIC EURO ENCOUNTERS
Yugoslavia v Spain, Group C final match, Euro 2000
Spain had to win this match to progress. Extraordinary drama, with commentary in French.
Spain had to win this match to progress. Extraordinary drama, with commentary in French.
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
EURO TRIVIA
TEN QUESTIONS ON .... EURO 2000
1. Which two sides contested the opening match of the tournament?
2. England and Germany both failed to get out of Group A, finishing 3rd and 4th respectively. Who finished first and second?
3. In which city was the Final held?
4. Which team scored two crucial injury-time goals in their final group match to defeat Yugoslavia 4-3, thus securing the victory they required to qualify for the quarter-finals?
5. In total, how many goals were scored in the four quarter-finals?
6. Which of the three Scandinavian sides who participated at Euro 2000 (Sweden, Norway or Denmark) failed to score a goal or secure a point?
7. Who was the only Dutch player to score in the penalty shootout against Italy in their semi-final defeat?
8. Which two countries made their first ever appearance in the European Championship at Euro 2000?
9. What did the four teams in Group D - France, Holland, Denmark and the Czech Republic - all have in common?
10. Which two players scored the two goals that gave France victory over Italy in the Final?
1. Which two sides contested the opening match of the tournament?
2. England and Germany both failed to get out of Group A, finishing 3rd and 4th respectively. Who finished first and second?
3. In which city was the Final held?
4. Which team scored two crucial injury-time goals in their final group match to defeat Yugoslavia 4-3, thus securing the victory they required to qualify for the quarter-finals?
5. In total, how many goals were scored in the four quarter-finals?
6. Which of the three Scandinavian sides who participated at Euro 2000 (Sweden, Norway or Denmark) failed to score a goal or secure a point?
7. Who was the only Dutch player to score in the penalty shootout against Italy in their semi-final defeat?
8. Which two countries made their first ever appearance in the European Championship at Euro 2000?
9. What did the four teams in Group D - France, Holland, Denmark and the Czech Republic - all have in common?
10. Which two players scored the two goals that gave France victory over Italy in the Final?
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
EURO STORIES: OTTO REHHAGEL'S GREEK MIRACLE
German coach Otto Rehhagel took over as coach of the Greek national team in 2001, in time for the team's final two qualifying matches for the 2002 World Cup.
Monday, 22 November 2010
Friday, 5 November 2010
TOP FIVE ..... EURO GOALS
My picks, in ascending order:
5. Maniche Portugal v Holland Euro 2004 Semi-final
This incredible strike in the 58th minute put Portugal 2-0 ahead in the semi-final against Holland and had the host nation dreaming of European glory on home soil. Although they held out to beat the Dutch, they lost the Final to rank outsiders Greece in probably the biggest shock in the competition's history.
4. Poborsky Czech Republic v Portugal Euro 96 Quarter-final
Poborsky's lob against Portugal in the quarter-final of Euro 96 was his first international goal. It was innovative, technically brilliant, and stunned everbody watching. It also won the match.
3. Van Basten Holland v USSR European Championships 1988 Final
When Arnold Muhren lofted a high ball to the far side of the penalty area the world waited for it to drop at Van Basten's feet. Instead, the striker never let the ball touch the ground, implementing an audacious volley on goal from the tightest of angles. A stunning strike from which the USSR never recovered, sealing the Euro Title for Holland.
2. Gascoigne England v Scotland Euro 96 Second Group match
5. Maniche Portugal v Holland Euro 2004 Semi-final
This incredible strike in the 58th minute put Portugal 2-0 ahead in the semi-final against Holland and had the host nation dreaming of European glory on home soil. Although they held out to beat the Dutch, they lost the Final to rank outsiders Greece in probably the biggest shock in the competition's history.
4. Poborsky Czech Republic v Portugal Euro 96 Quarter-final
Poborsky's lob against Portugal in the quarter-final of Euro 96 was his first international goal. It was innovative, technically brilliant, and stunned everbody watching. It also won the match.
3. Van Basten Holland v USSR European Championships 1988 Final
When Arnold Muhren lofted a high ball to the far side of the penalty area the world waited for it to drop at Van Basten's feet. Instead, the striker never let the ball touch the ground, implementing an audacious volley on goal from the tightest of angles. A stunning strike from which the USSR never recovered, sealing the Euro Title for Holland.
2. Gascoigne England v Scotland Euro 96 Second Group match
Few players have the ingenuity to conceive a manoeuvre like this, let alone possess the ability to execute it. Perhaps the two things go hand-in-hand; the hallmark of genius. Gascoigne's greatest goal resurrected England's tournament after a disappointing start, and they went on to reach the semi-finals.
1. Panenka Czechoslovakia v West Germany European Championships 1976 Final
How on earth can I choose a penalty as my pick for the greatest goal ever scored in European Championship history? Simply because of what was at stake. Panenka took a gamble that was unthinkable; one that he knew could make or break the rest of his life. The ultimate element of surprise gave Czechoslovakia their finest hour.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
TRIVIA ANSWERS
ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA
1. Spain and Russia, who finished 3rd and 4th in the group respectively. Spain beat Russia, drew with Greece and lost to Portugal, while Russia were the only team in the tournament to inflict a defeat on Greece in the final round of group matches, having lost their first two games.
2. David Beckham. England were already a goal to the good and looking to bury the game, but Fabian Barthez beat Beckham's penalty away and France went on to snatch a highly unlikely and dramatic victory with two injury-time goals from Zinedine Zidane.
3. Milan Baros of the Czech Republic was the top scorer at Euro 2004 with five goals; three in the group stages and two more in a 3-0 quarter-final victory against Denmark. Defeat against Greece in the semi-final followed.
4. Seven. In the opening match Greece beat Portugal 2-1. In every subsequent match they scored one goal, securing a draw with Spain in their second match before losing 2-1 to Russia in their final group game. They then won each of their three knock-out ties - against France, the Czech Republic and Portugal - courtesy of a single goal.
5. England and Sweden, both in the quarter-finals. England were beaten 6-5 on penalties by Portugal following a 2-2 draw, whilst Sweden lost 5-4 in their shootout against the Dutch after a goalless 120 minutes. The winners met each other in the semi-final, with hosts Portugal emerging victorious.
6. Latvia. Euro 2004 was the first major tournament that the Baltic Republic had qualified for, and although they finished bottom in their group, they secured a creditable 0-0 draw against Germany and only lost narrowly (2-1) to the group winners the Czech Republic.
7. Angelos Charisteas. His header in the 57th minute of the Final became the most important goal ever scored in the history of Greek football as it was enough to secure the European Championship for his country. It was Charisteas's third goal of the tournament.
8. England and Sweden both notched up eight goals in their three group games. England beat Croatia 4-2 in their final group game to secure qualification and Sweden's tally was helped by a 5-0 thrashing of Bulgaria in their opening game.
9. The Czech Republic won all three of their group matches. They opened with a 2-1 success against Euro debutants Latvia before impressively overcoming Holland (3-2) and Germany (2-1) to top the group and qualify in style.
10. Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo was the hero in the penalty competition against England. With the score locked at 5-5, the shootout went into sudden death. Ricardo saved a weak effort from the English substitute Darius Vassell and then buried his own shot in the corner to send the hosts through to the last four.
1. Spain and Russia, who finished 3rd and 4th in the group respectively. Spain beat Russia, drew with Greece and lost to Portugal, while Russia were the only team in the tournament to inflict a defeat on Greece in the final round of group matches, having lost their first two games.
2. David Beckham. England were already a goal to the good and looking to bury the game, but Fabian Barthez beat Beckham's penalty away and France went on to snatch a highly unlikely and dramatic victory with two injury-time goals from Zinedine Zidane.
3. Milan Baros of the Czech Republic was the top scorer at Euro 2004 with five goals; three in the group stages and two more in a 3-0 quarter-final victory against Denmark. Defeat against Greece in the semi-final followed.
4. Seven. In the opening match Greece beat Portugal 2-1. In every subsequent match they scored one goal, securing a draw with Spain in their second match before losing 2-1 to Russia in their final group game. They then won each of their three knock-out ties - against France, the Czech Republic and Portugal - courtesy of a single goal.
5. England and Sweden, both in the quarter-finals. England were beaten 6-5 on penalties by Portugal following a 2-2 draw, whilst Sweden lost 5-4 in their shootout against the Dutch after a goalless 120 minutes. The winners met each other in the semi-final, with hosts Portugal emerging victorious.
6. Latvia. Euro 2004 was the first major tournament that the Baltic Republic had qualified for, and although they finished bottom in their group, they secured a creditable 0-0 draw against Germany and only lost narrowly (2-1) to the group winners the Czech Republic.
7. Angelos Charisteas. His header in the 57th minute of the Final became the most important goal ever scored in the history of Greek football as it was enough to secure the European Championship for his country. It was Charisteas's third goal of the tournament.
8. England and Sweden both notched up eight goals in their three group games. England beat Croatia 4-2 in their final group game to secure qualification and Sweden's tally was helped by a 5-0 thrashing of Bulgaria in their opening game.
9. The Czech Republic won all three of their group matches. They opened with a 2-1 success against Euro debutants Latvia before impressively overcoming Holland (3-2) and Germany (2-1) to top the group and qualify in style.
10. Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo was the hero in the penalty competition against England. With the score locked at 5-5, the shootout went into sudden death. Ricardo saved a weak effort from the English substitute Darius Vassell and then buried his own shot in the corner to send the hosts through to the last four.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
EURO STORIES: JOY AND TRAGEDY FOR KIM VILFORT
Kim Vilfort. A name the Danish public will never forget, whose heroics at the European Championships in 1992 played out alongside one of the deepest personal tragedies that anyone can ever experience.
Denmark were invited by UEFA to take part in the Euros in 1992 just ten days before the tournament was due to start, as UN sanctions against Yugoslavia prohibited the then war-ravaged nation from participating. The Danish players were called back from their holidays and a squad was rapidly assembled. A key member of that squad was Brondby midfielder Kim Vilfort, whose 7-year old daughter was tragically suffering from leukemia at the time.
Vilfort returned home after the first two group games - a 0-0 draw with England and a 1-0 defeat against the host nation Sweden - in order to be at his daughter's side in hospital in Denmark. She was in very poor health and Vilfort wanted to stay with her. Denmark beat France in their last group game to progress in the tournament however, and his family persuaded him to return to Sweden and continue to represent his country, who were now preparing for a unexpected semi-final against defending European Champions Holland.
The decision to return must have been an agonizingly difficult one to make, but it had a significant bearing on the destiny of the European Championship. The clash with the Dutch was an enthralling affair; Denmark twice took the lead but couldn't hold on to it, and the game ended 2-2 after extra-time. In the resulting penalty shootout the Danes scored all five of their spot-kicks - Vilfort confidently taking the fourth one - meaning that one miss by Marco Van Basten sent the Danes through to the Final. They were now building up to the biggest match in their history, which would be against the World Champions Germany. They were massive underdogs.
Following the semi-final Vilfort again returned to Denmark to be at his daughter's side. Again he was persuaded to return for the Final, and - in a fairy tale ending as good as any that Hans Christian Andersen ever wrote - Vilfort stole the moment of crowning glory. With 11 minutes left of the Final and Denmark leading 1-0, Vilfort latched on to a forward header 30 yards out, threaded his way between two defenders and unleashed a left-footed drive from the edge of the penalty area that found the back of the net via the post. Without that second goal, Germany may well have found enough in the tank to conjure up an equalizer. But this was a moment of fate for player and country; Vilfort and Denmark had achieved the impossible. Three weeks earlier Denmark had not even been on the guest list for the Euros; now, they were heading home as the Kings of European football.
Kim Vilfort's daughter had been terminally ill, and he knew that there would be no miracles off the pitch. Line Vilfort herself had pleaded with her father to return to the tournament and play for his country. He respected and trusted the tremendous courage of his daughter, and the rest is history.
Denmark were invited by UEFA to take part in the Euros in 1992 just ten days before the tournament was due to start, as UN sanctions against Yugoslavia prohibited the then war-ravaged nation from participating. The Danish players were called back from their holidays and a squad was rapidly assembled. A key member of that squad was Brondby midfielder Kim Vilfort, whose 7-year old daughter was tragically suffering from leukemia at the time.
Vilfort returned home after the first two group games - a 0-0 draw with England and a 1-0 defeat against the host nation Sweden - in order to be at his daughter's side in hospital in Denmark. She was in very poor health and Vilfort wanted to stay with her. Denmark beat France in their last group game to progress in the tournament however, and his family persuaded him to return to Sweden and continue to represent his country, who were now preparing for a unexpected semi-final against defending European Champions Holland.
The decision to return must have been an agonizingly difficult one to make, but it had a significant bearing on the destiny of the European Championship. The clash with the Dutch was an enthralling affair; Denmark twice took the lead but couldn't hold on to it, and the game ended 2-2 after extra-time. In the resulting penalty shootout the Danes scored all five of their spot-kicks - Vilfort confidently taking the fourth one - meaning that one miss by Marco Van Basten sent the Danes through to the Final. They were now building up to the biggest match in their history, which would be against the World Champions Germany. They were massive underdogs.
Following the semi-final Vilfort again returned to Denmark to be at his daughter's side. Again he was persuaded to return for the Final, and - in a fairy tale ending as good as any that Hans Christian Andersen ever wrote - Vilfort stole the moment of crowning glory. With 11 minutes left of the Final and Denmark leading 1-0, Vilfort latched on to a forward header 30 yards out, threaded his way between two defenders and unleashed a left-footed drive from the edge of the penalty area that found the back of the net via the post. Without that second goal, Germany may well have found enough in the tank to conjure up an equalizer. But this was a moment of fate for player and country; Vilfort and Denmark had achieved the impossible. Three weeks earlier Denmark had not even been on the guest list for the Euros; now, they were heading home as the Kings of European football.
Kim Vilfort's daughter had been terminally ill, and he knew that there would be no miracles off the pitch. Line Vilfort herself had pleaded with her father to return to the tournament and play for his country. He respected and trusted the tremendous courage of his daughter, and the rest is history.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
TOP FIVE EURO FINALS
Here are my top five European Championship Finals in ascending order:
5. 1960: USSR 2-1 Yugoslavia (Paris)
The first ever European Championships were held in France. The official title of the competition was the "European Nations' Cup" and the inaugural event was won by the Soviet Union - their one and only major international trophy. The Final was a closely fought affair which could have gone either way. Yugoslavia drew first blood with a scrappy goal just before half-time from ace striker Milan Galic but the lead was to be short-lived. Slava Metreveli levelled matters in the 49th minute. The Soviets then had legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin to thank as he proceeded to make a string of great saves as the match wore on and took the Final to extra-time. The superior fitness of the Soviets began to tell, and Viktor Poneldelnik's strike seven minutes from the end sealed victory.
4. 1980: West Germany 2-1 Belgium (Rome)
German playmaker Bernd Schuster has an outstanding match that day in Rome to lead his country to a deserved second European Championship triumph. A spirited Belgium made a game of it and rallied in the second half to cancel out Horst Hrubesch's early goal with an equalizer from the penalty spot in the 75th minute. The Germans were not to be denied, however, and Hrubesch headed a dramatic winner with just two minutes left.
3. 1992: Denmark 2-0 Germany (Gothenburg)
This was one of the truly great football stories. Denmark hadn't even qualified for the tournament, but stepped in as last-minute replacements for war-ravaged Yugoslavia. World Champions Germany were huge favourites ahead of the Final, in spite of the fact that the Danes had seen off the defending European Champions Holland in a thrilling semi-final. The fairytale ending became reality when superb strikes from John Jensen and Kim Vilfort sealed a truly memorable and extraordinary triumph.
2. 2000: France 2-1 Italy (Rotterdam)
Unlike Germany in 1992, France did succeed in adding the European Championship Title to their World Title in Rotterdam in 2000 - in dramatic circumstances. For long periods of the match Italy were comfortably in control, and appeared to be cruising to victory following a Marco Delvecchio goal early in the second half. Substitute Alessandro del Piero missed two gilt-edged opportunities to extend the lead though, and the Azzurri were made to pay. A late, late equalizer from Sylvain Wiltord dealt the Italians a savage blow, and it was left to David Trezeguet to smash home a golden goal winner 13 minutes into extra-time.
1. 1976: Czechoslovakia 2-2 West Germany (Belgrade)
A thrilling Final, full of direct, attacking football and tremendous goalkeeping from both Ivo Viktor and Sepp Maier. The Czechs built up a deserved two-goal lead inside 25 minutes, but the West Germans halved the deficit almost immediately following a goal by Dieter Muller, who punished the Eastern European nation for slack defending. Both teams continued to play on the offense and several chances to score went begging at both ends. In the last attack of the match the Germans won a corner, and Bernd Holzenbein rose above everybody to head his side level. The frenetic pace continued in extra-time as both teams sought - but failed - to find a winning goal. With the score in the penalty shootout locked at 3-3, up stepped Uli Hoeness to blast his shot over the bar and leave Czechoslovakia one penalty away from winning their first major Title. What followed was an audacious demonstration of supreme confidence by Antonin Panenka, who dinked the ball over Maier in what is probably the most famous penalty ever scored.
5. 1960: USSR 2-1 Yugoslavia (Paris)
The first ever European Championships were held in France. The official title of the competition was the "European Nations' Cup" and the inaugural event was won by the Soviet Union - their one and only major international trophy. The Final was a closely fought affair which could have gone either way. Yugoslavia drew first blood with a scrappy goal just before half-time from ace striker Milan Galic but the lead was to be short-lived. Slava Metreveli levelled matters in the 49th minute. The Soviets then had legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin to thank as he proceeded to make a string of great saves as the match wore on and took the Final to extra-time. The superior fitness of the Soviets began to tell, and Viktor Poneldelnik's strike seven minutes from the end sealed victory.
4. 1980: West Germany 2-1 Belgium (Rome)
German playmaker Bernd Schuster has an outstanding match that day in Rome to lead his country to a deserved second European Championship triumph. A spirited Belgium made a game of it and rallied in the second half to cancel out Horst Hrubesch's early goal with an equalizer from the penalty spot in the 75th minute. The Germans were not to be denied, however, and Hrubesch headed a dramatic winner with just two minutes left.
3. 1992: Denmark 2-0 Germany (Gothenburg)
This was one of the truly great football stories. Denmark hadn't even qualified for the tournament, but stepped in as last-minute replacements for war-ravaged Yugoslavia. World Champions Germany were huge favourites ahead of the Final, in spite of the fact that the Danes had seen off the defending European Champions Holland in a thrilling semi-final. The fairytale ending became reality when superb strikes from John Jensen and Kim Vilfort sealed a truly memorable and extraordinary triumph.
2. 2000: France 2-1 Italy (Rotterdam)
Unlike Germany in 1992, France did succeed in adding the European Championship Title to their World Title in Rotterdam in 2000 - in dramatic circumstances. For long periods of the match Italy were comfortably in control, and appeared to be cruising to victory following a Marco Delvecchio goal early in the second half. Substitute Alessandro del Piero missed two gilt-edged opportunities to extend the lead though, and the Azzurri were made to pay. A late, late equalizer from Sylvain Wiltord dealt the Italians a savage blow, and it was left to David Trezeguet to smash home a golden goal winner 13 minutes into extra-time.
1. 1976: Czechoslovakia 2-2 West Germany (Belgrade)
A thrilling Final, full of direct, attacking football and tremendous goalkeeping from both Ivo Viktor and Sepp Maier. The Czechs built up a deserved two-goal lead inside 25 minutes, but the West Germans halved the deficit almost immediately following a goal by Dieter Muller, who punished the Eastern European nation for slack defending. Both teams continued to play on the offense and several chances to score went begging at both ends. In the last attack of the match the Germans won a corner, and Bernd Holzenbein rose above everybody to head his side level. The frenetic pace continued in extra-time as both teams sought - but failed - to find a winning goal. With the score in the penalty shootout locked at 3-3, up stepped Uli Hoeness to blast his shot over the bar and leave Czechoslovakia one penalty away from winning their first major Title. What followed was an audacious demonstration of supreme confidence by Antonin Panenka, who dinked the ball over Maier in what is probably the most famous penalty ever scored.
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