Euro 2008 Qualifying Begins!
Yes, the road to Vienna/Zurich starts today. England are up at noon EST with their titanic struggle against Andorra. Unfortunately, those Irish gangsters at Setanta have the coverage on PPV and I'll be hoping that Five Live is unblocked for the match. Tune in with me, won't you?
posted by gatorbob @ 8:44 AM
141 Comments:
And already England's Group E opponents on Wednesday FYR Macedonia have jumped to the top of the group table by beating the might Estonia 0-1 away last night.
Lennart Meri! Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald! Gustav Suits! Siiri Sisask! Eino Tamberg! Your boys took one hell of a beating!!!
The pubs are all dry in Skopje this morning for sure.
I am here fellas.
What a bummer. Five Live is already blocked. I knew it would be for the England match but it must be for the Scotland match as well. I am listening to to talksport.
http://www1.talksport.net/index.asp
They go around all the grounds.
Scotland are three up against the Faroe Islands. Another goal, less than half an hour gone Four-Nil. Northern Ireland are losing at home to mighty Iceland.
We better not lose. Look at this fact.
Old Trafford holds more people than the entire population of Andorra, who play England at Manchester United's home ground on Saturday. (Daily Mirror)
I heard yesterday that more tickets were sold for the Argentina vs. Brazil friendly at the Emirates Stadium than for the England match at Old Trafford!
Yikes!!!!
Old Trafford doesn't look good empty.
I would prefer to go and watch A/B then E/A
Five Nil to Scotland
Poor old Northern Ireland are already 0-2 down at home to Iceland. Here's the funny bit. Check out this starting eleven for the Icelanders:
Arason, Steinsson, Indridi Sigurdsson, Ingimarsson, Hreidarsson, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Arnason, Joey Gudjonsson, Gudjohnsen, Hannes Sigurdsson, Thorvaldsson.
That's a whole load of ssssssons!
Holy Toledo... three nil to Iceland.
England lost at this ground!!!
hey SON, I didn't understand your last email
That's sssson to you, mate!
Poor old David Healey; let's hope he doesn't get his head down after this shellacking.
He has already gotten booked
You may have noticed that FSC is presenting a feast of Euro 2008 football today - Romania vs. Bulgaria at 2 and Norway at 4.
And if that's not enough there's Real Salt Lake vs. the Crapids at 9 tonight!
(sigh)
Two changes from the Greece match.
Phil in for Gary and Wes in for Rio.
Crouch and Defoe still up top for England.
AJ only on the bench
That is a prettty sad line up by FSC.
The must be better games than those.
Do you know why Scotland are playing at Celtic's Parkhead instead of Hampden Park? I do.
Just heard that OT won't be full but some of the top tier is filling up. It is going to be bigger than the Greece match.
Better haggis at Parkhead?
Oh lordy, the 'Orrible Orange! Are they still playing four at the back? And a holding mid? Ridiculous for Andorra. At some point, you have to take the shackles off and bomb away at a weak side like that. My worry is not losing, but dropping points because we're too negative.
Sounds right but it is wrong.
The real reason is that Robbie Williams is performing at Hampden. I guess he is bigger than Scotland
James Richardson on the Guardian's Football Weekly podcast has just suggested that shite sides like Andorra should have to pre-qualify (like weak CL sides do) for the Euros rather than cluttering up the group stages with their shiteness. I agree!
Sounds a good idea. Some of the groups are tough.
How about Scotland's group? France, ITALY...
It is noticeable that most of the big sides have naff sides they're playing today. The exception is Germany vs. the Republic, but you have to bet that the Irish Mafia have that one too. Bastards!
Why couldn't FSC show that one?
They are showing Germany San Marino on Wednesday!!!(that's a close one)
Yeah, but even in that group you've got the Faroes. If you dumped all the Malta, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Luxemburg, Andorra, etc. sides into one pre-qualifying groups and then allowed the top two to proceed it might make more more manageable groups.
Let's be honest those sides are only going to be spoilers nicking the odd point off the big sides right?
Because they can get all of the bog-trotters to poney-up $25 of their under the table construction job wages for the privilege of seeing the Republic play down the pub.
Here's the England side for today:
England: Robinson; P Neville, A Cole, Brown, Terry, Gerrard, Hargreaves, Lampard, Downing, Crouch, Defoe.
Are you interested in the Andorra starting eleven....? didn't think so.
Scotland win 6-0. You can never complain about scoring six goals in an international. Well done The SCOTS
Yeah, good result. They did what they needed to do against inferior opposition. Now England need to do the same.
I want more!!!
I agree - double hattrick for Crouchaldinho!
And they've kicked off! Come on England!
Where are the rest of the LOB lads?
I can't believe that they're all down the pub paying $20.
No I'm here. What feed are you on?
5Live have bailed on us it seems.
Just watching the text on 365. It reminds me of following the WC 2002 qualifiers on line in Japan - in the middle of the night!
I am listening to the Talksport. No commentating but life talk and they keep going to OT. The website address is posted earlier.
Good to hear from you Steve.
You have been ignoring me lately
Goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andora looks like a "pub team"
Crouch
Northern Ireland have lost 0-3 at home to Iceland. A miserable start for them and with Iceland, Sweden, and Spain in their group, it's curtains already.
Yesss!!!! Crouchie! Is he doing the robot?
that's going to change as soon as I figure out something fancy html-wise. I have my techie-guru working on it. Watch this space Davey-boy!
I wish I knew
I know, and you're going to love it!
are you saying that you would be able to listen to five live with some techie sneekiness?
Defoe has just missed a sitter. Drilled it wide of the post - this is looking good. 365 is calling for a cricket score.
I don't get your last comment Bob
A keeper scored from a punt on one pounce. Hopefully Skysports News will show it.
Look out for it. Tranmere vs. Orient
that's something I asked him before and he's never been able to defeat it. I'm sure that if he were able to eventually, he'd let me know and I would pass it on.
No. Something special with you in mind though.
"A punt on one pounce?" And you think my posts are inscrutable. What is that, Mancspeak?
Terry has just lashed one over the bar. We're all over these mugs.
He can't pronounce the letter B.
Silly Punt!
another goal
Gerrard
Classic! LOL!
Wooo hooo! 2-0!
Wahey! Stevie gets #2!
Thank you Steve
You answered Bob's snotty email perfectly
It's the Liverpool boys coming through. Reminds me of a certain 1-5 result in Munich.
Boy was that score a false indication!!!
Sven was God and England were world beaters!!! (sigh)
Any chance that Telemundo or Univision will show the Argentina-Brasil tomorrow?
Here's how 365 is describing the current atmosphere:
"The stadium is absolutely silent as the fans just sit there waiting for another goal."
Typical Old Trafford crowd!
England are capable. But not with Sven. I don't know about McLaren either, but we had the players going into the tournament and with a off-key Brazil and France, it coulda been. Sven was a disgruntled employee by then and we were screwed.
I agree, but the margin of victory and defeat is so thin these days. If one of those chances in extra vs. the Portuguese had gone in, who knows?
Don't believe it. It's just that normal hearing doesn't detect the high pitch Mancunian girlie shriek.
I'lll take a look... it's not on UNI
Sounds like Stevie G. is playing as a third striker. He's already been caught offside three times!
Only logical to throw players forward against this collection of sheep-shearers, beret habadashers, and sausage casing fillers. Even the 'range could be on a goal today.
France are already two up away to Georgia.
Good quote from OT
1719: The way England have started, Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Luis Alvarez might want to offer a prayer to his namesake.
Daniel Warren, BBC Sport at Old Trafford
Only danger here is that Andorra are so bloody awful, that England may just decide to take the foot off the gas. And then it's only a 'orange tragedy away from letting one in.
Saha scores for the French
"It is progress for Andorra being caught offside - it means that they are in England's half."
Mark Lawrenson, BBC Sport
Why not take one of the fullbacks off and give Johnson or Bent an early run out? That might prevent the "taking the foot off the gas" phenomenon.
What happened to Luke Young from Charlton. Knobbled?
Dunno - I hadn't heard that. The frightening thing is that Steve Macca may prefer Phil Neville.
I heard on the radio that it was just Macca's choice
Hargreaves has just hit the post with a beautiful curling free kick. Nearly 3-0.
I'd rather see Johnson and Bent get a run-around to get a few. Question is will the Andorran back four even capable of scything down Johnson for his customary ruthless penalty?
Christ! One bloody thing after another. We're stuck with Phil Neville back in the frame? God, the English never learn. What's next, Emile EFFing Heskey?
Sounds like they've taken the foot off the gas already. We need a third to keep the momentum going.
I am hearing on the radio about people not really caring about England. Especially those fans of Prem teams. I disagree. I am totally behind England and United.
I read on the Guardian site that Macca's shrieking at the players to move the ball wide and forward but they're running it straight up the gut instead.
Three nil
Defoe
That is a shame. The club game is so thoroughly corrupted by money now that I care more now about the international game than ever.
Defoe has just missed another chance. That's two. Another miss and he should go off at the half.
Forget what I just wrote. Well done, Jermaine! 3-0!
I've noticed that supporting England is considered sorta naff by writers for the Guardian and WSC and their ilk. Which emboldens the sort of numptie that's all too forgiving of Cristiano's and Carvallo's cheating crybaby performance this summer. I read something recently that showed how many times Gerrard has fallen over compared to Skippy. This is PC of a very damaging stripe.
Agreed. I've noticed that among Brits of an intellectual stripe - the average Guardian reader. I don't get it - it's been yonks since England had claims on anything close to an empire and the mixing of politics and sport is always a bad idea.
Good for Defoe but the description makes it all Gerrard.
Yeah, but it sounds like the wide play is working. That's clearly the direction that Macca is setting out his stall for, and I like it. And some goals for the front two pairing gives them some confidence for the games to come.
It's just lazy analysis triggered by the dearth of thought presented by most of the papers. But it's really annoying and I'd like to get back to Portugeezer baiting.
Lawro apparently is calling for more of Downing in the squad at the expense of Joe Cole. His point being that Cole is not a crosser of the ball, Downing is and that Macca's team is geared towards getting on the end of crosses. Thoughts?
Half time
3-0.
They are two goals behind the Scots at half.
Yellow for 'orrible 'orange. Well done the team in yellow(presumably)
I could see that. With the kind of injuries and suspensions that England will inevitably pick up, there's bound to be some room for the wide men and quality midfielders such as Joe Cole.
Half-time: 3-0 England coasting it.
Downing was Macca's darling at Boro. Same for England.
Cole is a good player but I don't really like him
Really?! What's not to love about Joey Cole?
I don't know.
He is a littly to flashy for me.
I can''t explain it, he bugs me
I worry about concentrating on crossing. About the only thing Sven did right was show that with Cole, Lamps, Rooney, etc, England could produce quality football with the kind of technique that breaks down the opposition.
Shutting out Cole just stops the evolution.
Is it that he's Chelsea or that he's a bit gormless? He was good this summer.
Where did Trev come from!!!
Get off my back, ALL OF YOU!!!!
I agree that Cole isn't the best crosser, especially on his weak side. But I'd probably have Cole on for Lamps while he's on such bad form.
You should be listening to Talksport.
They are having... four nil... defoe.. a good arguement about Wes
Second half starting and Andorra have replaced Javier Sanchez for Juli Sanchez. They're obviously chasing it.
What's the argument about Wes? He's crap and he's orange, right? Oh, and he was booked in the first half - that takes some doing against Andorra.
One of the guys like him and the other one doesn't.
Callers like him as well.
I don't think he is that bad fellas
Well, you wouldn't, would you? You've still got the replica kit with "Birtles" on the back, right?
France are 3-0 up against Georgia now.
They are just talking about the Argies getting mysterious groin strains when they play Chelski on November 18th
Excellent. Doing these guys over now. Too bad it's Defoe. Now he's on a hat-trick, it's less likely that Bent and Johnson will get on the pitch.
Good for Defoe though his goals for England will always have the asterisk that they were scored against Andorra.
ahhh... but will the Argies be on the field?
You'd have to think that all of the England forwards today are auditioning for a spot alongside Roon. And that's with the proviso that wee Mikey never makes it back to full fitness. So far, I'd say it's Crouch at the head of the pack. He seems to score when he's got the England shirt on.
Welcome, Trev!
To add insult to injury, the Andorrans have had one guy off with what looks like a broken leg and another is down now receiving treatment. Can you imagine the flight home after a game like this for that guy? "We've been thrashed and my leg's hanging off!"
Jermaine nearly had his hattrick there. Drilled it into the keeper's hands.
Hargreaves has hit the post for the second time today! A long effort that smashed against the upright.
Lennon and Richardson have replaced Neville and Downing. Nice one - it'll be interesting to see Aaron get amongst these Andorrans.
5!!
Crouchy
who to get the hat-trick?
Crouch or Defoe
Lovely!
My money's on Crouchie!
my money or defoe just to make it interesting(i want Crouch really)
Apparently the goal came from Lennon who got to the by-line and looped a cross over for Crouch to nod in. A very good sign because Aaron's weakness has always been crossing.
I lose.. Defoe is off for AJ
Nice to see Richardson on in place of Phil. We know what a calamity Phil can be and it's high praise for him when you can say that he didn't make a mistake.
But Richardson does have potential and against Andorra, it's cowardly not to have him run out if there's a chance that he can start.
No hattrick for Defoe today - Macca's yanked him for AJ. A bit cruel - why not leave a player on when he's on a hattrick? It's not as if scoring three for one's country happens every day.
I agree Gooner. They should've started Richardson or even AJ on the left rather than Downing.
Still fifteen minutes left - can they match the Scots drubbing of the Faroes?
You can't suddenly revert to all midgets up front.
All credit to Defoe for scoring two, but he's missed the sitters again today. He should have four by any accounts and he hit two quite tamely at the keeper. Other efforts were stopped by half-decent keeping but he just doesn't make a keeper work hard enough. So while Mikey is being re-sectioned and Roon is suspended, he's a fill-in. Once Roon and if Mikey gets back, Defoe's back in the queue again.
Johnson still needs to prove himself so it's good he gets the chance.
Right. I don't any of them have really proven themselves ready to start in a game of real importance apart from Crouchie.
how wil Giggs and Bellamy do against the Czechs?
Looks like Crouchie generously tried to fall over in the box for Johnson to get his England account opened. Shame that the ref didn't buy it.
The Czechs seemed a bit tired in the WC. They need some young blood to take over for Nedved and co.
England are running out of time for the sixth here, and it's not like the Andorrans are pressing for a consolation goal.
Going forward yes, the Czechs looked too dependent on Nedved to put one on Koller's head or for Poborsky to distract them long enough for Rosicky to line up a screamer.
But they've still got a very decent defense. Bellemy's not proved anything at international level and for that matter, neither has Giggs. I'd expect a narrow Czech victory.
That must be Elijah Wood.
The Welsh have a five man defense today
Final Score
Five Nil
The Scots did better.
Who would win between The Faroes and Andorra?
Oooh, that's a cheap shot at John Hartson's weight, yes?
Sounds like that doc. "The Other Final" about the match-up between the worst sides in the world.
56,000 at OT. The return fixture is going to be quite the same. The stadium can fit a massive 1,200
5-0 - that'll do nicely. I'll take the same again on Wednesday, but somehow I expect that Macedonia will put up more of a fight.
Still, satisfying enough. Excellent performances by Crouch, Gerrard, and Hargreaves, decent two-goal tally for Defoe, assists by Downing, and the 'range and Phil didn't get exposed as crap.
5 to the good is a good goal tally even if it could have been double that.
Roll on into Skopje!!! See you Wednesday. I'm off to Five Guys for lunch.
Nine goals for and none against in two games for Macca.
Not a bad record
I am not going out to lunch you lucky bugger.
I ain't going nowhere and SCHOOL starts on Tuesday. Life isn't good!!!
Get in that last splash in the pool then.
Good luck with the school opening, Dave. "Do it to them before they do it to us!"
Thanks, one more day to go!!!
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