Euro 2008 Qualifiers

[DJ Ager]

Today the draw was made for the Euro 2008 qualifiers:

UEFA EURO 2008? qualifying round

Group A
Portugal
Poland
Serbia and Montenegro
Belgium
Finland
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan

Group B
France
Italy
Ukraine
SCOTLAND
Lithuania
Georgia
Faroe Islands

Group C
Greece
Turkey
Norway
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Hungary
Moldova
Malta

Group D
Czech Republic
Germany
Slovakia
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
WALES
Cyprus
San Marino

Group E
ENGLAND
Croatia
Russia
Israel
Estonia
F.Y.R. Macedonia
Andorra

Group F
Sweden
Spain
Denmark
Latvia
Iceland
NORTHERN IRELAND
Liechtenstein

Group G
Netherlands
Romania
Bulgaria
Slovenia
Albania
Belarus
Luxembourg

England have got a good draw, Northern Ireland, Wales and Ireland have a tricky groups. But Scotland have a very harsh group with Ukraine, Italy and France.

Preview of England's oppenents:

Croatia
World Ranking: 20
Key Players: Dado Prso, Robert Kovac, Igor Tudor

Croatia will be the hardest team in the group, and I think they'll manage to hold off Russia for second place. In Prso and Tudor they do have star players and won't be easy.

Russia
World Ranking: 34
Key Players: Alexsei Smertin, Dmitry Loskov, Sergei Ovchinnikov

England haven't played Russia since the break up of the USSr and won't enjoy a cold long trip to Moscow. However, but for Smertin, they do lack quality players with experiance outside Russia. They were dissapointed to miss out on a World Cup place and will battling for second place with Croatia.

Israel
World Ranking: 44
Key Players: Youssi Benayoun, Tal Ben Haim, Avi Nimmy

Israel will fancy their chances as an outside bet for second spot. In a very tough group for the World Cup qualifiers, they were close to qualifying and were unbeaten, in a group including France, Switzerland and Ireland. Benayoun is their star player and a trip to Israel won't be easy.

Estonia
World Ranking: 76
Key Players: Mart Poom, Andres Oper, Tarmo Neemelo

Estonia are a steady improving nation, who did well to finish fourth in their WC group of seven teams, and above Latvia. They have a good keeper in Poom and fairly sturdy in defense. Watch out for Oper.

FYR Macedonia
World Ranking: 87
Key Players: Igor Mitreski, Goran Pandev, Goran Popov

England will already know about Macedoniaafter drawing 2-2 in Euro 2004 qualifying. They seem to rise the occasion as they held the Ntherlands to two draws in WC qualifying. Goran Pandev is a handful upfront and they are improving more and more and like Estonia, wont be pushovers and will be ready for the challenge.

Andorra
World Ranking:126
Key Players: Antoni Lima, Marc Bernaus, Manolo Jiminez

Andorra are really the minows in the tank. England have never played the tiny country situated on the montainous border of France and Spain. However, even Andorra are improving and the WC campagin was the best as they picked up 5 points. Pulled off a shock win against Macedonia at home 1-0 and also drew away in Skopje too. They also held Finland to a shock scoreless draw at home.

 

[Kev]

This has been posted in the football thread

 

[Kev]

Thread re-opened now the football thread has been closed.

 

[Bala]

France - Italy again? Its time to kick some ugly Italian butt! France for champs again!

 

[Sureshot]

I some how don't see us playing Israel as they have practically gone into war.

Russia will be hard to beat under Huddink.

 

[m_vaughan]

Well the group that I will be interested in will be this one:

Group F
Sweden
Spain
Denmark
Latvia
Iceland
N. Ireland
Liechtenstein

The good news for us is that:
1. Luis Aragones has signed a 2 year extension.
2. We have a good, young team.

All we need now is a little more consistency, some belief, and lots of luck.

From that group I think the other teams to watch out for are Sweden and Denmark.

 

[ZexyZahid]

I'll follow the group of Netherlands. Romania, Bulgaria and Slovenia are the main contenders. Romania beat the Czech Republic in previous World Cup qualifiers and didn't just manage to qualify. Bulgaria is playing mediocre for their normal abilities. Slovenia was the team that beat Italy the last time, so they aren't a bad team. But overall I would say the Netherlands should manage to qualify for Euro 2008.

And now the matches of Italy vs France sound very interesting.

 

[BigCrickNan]

England are almost certain to qualify, along with Russia or Croatia. Russia and Croatia will be tough away, but we shouldn't lose. Unlucky for Ukraine, a good performance at the world cup and got that group. I've heard Romania have got a good team now so they should beat Bulgaria to qualify in their group.

Anyway - GO ENGLAND!!

 

[DJ Ager]

Group C looks pretty open, Greece, Turkey , Norway, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary are in with a chance.

 

[sid_19840]

England have a pretty easy group,Id be surpised if they struggle in this one.

 

[sachin]

Bloody English get a gimme group!!!I'm really looking forward to the Italy France match in september(i think it's in Paris).The Spanish group is looking very tight also.

 

[Sureshot]

Wouldn't call it a gimme group.

Russia, Croatia and to an extent Israel are all decent teams.

I've stated my reasons on the latter why we shouldn't go there though.

 

[Skater]

Group C looks pretty open, Greece, Turkey , Norway, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary are in with a chance.

If I remember correctly Greece are not allowed to compete. I think their opponents will receive byes.

 

[DJ Ager]

They have now just been re admitted to Uefa after in was overturned.

Wouldn't call it a gimme group.

Russia, Croatia and to an extent Israel are all decent teams.

I've stated my reasons on the latter why we shouldn't go there though.

None of the groups are "gimmes", but, out of the groups they could have got, it is fairly comfortable. But yes, Russia, Croatia and Israel, are tricky.

 

[icyman]

Netherlands dont have any good opponent.
They are almost certain to qualify.
Group B could be the one to watch out for.