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Qualification covers cracks as Irish dare to dream
Those who arrived late to the Republic of Ireland’s party in Dublin could be forgiven for wondering what was going on as 10 years of hurt were banished and Euro 2012 qualification was assured.
Ten years to the day after they last secured qualification for a major tournament (beating Iran in a playoff to make the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea), the Irish rounded off a resounding 5-1 aggregate victory over Estonia to book their place at Euro 2012.
As with any celebration, it would have been rude to point out that the hosts had not exactly shone during qualifying as they struggled against sides from both ends of the table.
Dismantled at home by a technically superior Russia, they struggled before finally overcoming the group’s supposed weaker sides, Macedonia and Andorra.
The Irish simply never looked comfortable on the ball during the whole campaign, appearing much more organised when defending.
Captain Robbie Keane may have scored seven goals in the campaign, but he has been criticised for needing too many chances to get on the scoresheet.
Danes the winners in FIFA numbers game
The calculation of the FIFA rankings may be a mystery to many soccer fans, but the football associations are well aware of the value of a high ranking.
Having recently beaten Cyprus and Portugal to win their group and qualify for the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine, Denmark rose to joint 10th with Argentina.
Jim Stjerne Hansen, general secretary of the Danish Football Association (DBU), told the Reuters Sports Blog that it brings advantages, both on and off the field.
Having risen from 17th to 10th, the Danish FA are looking forward to attracting a better class of opposition for friendlies. “People tend to have an eye on that when it comes to friendlies, the best teams will always look to play teams in at least the top 20,” he said.
“The commercial deals you can make are also better when you manifest yourself in that group.’
The value of the success of the national team will not be lost on head coach Morten Olsen, who is set to negotiate with Hansen for an extension to his contract. Next year Olsen will celebrate 12 years at the helm of the Danish national team, and the general secretary is one of his biggest fans.
Swedes show Dutch courage
Sweden’s 3-2 victory over the Netherlands to qualify for Euro 2012 may have surprised many observers, but Swedish footballers have a long history of success against Dutch opposition.
The home of “Total Football” has for many years been something of a finishing school for Swedish footballers, and five of the players in the victorious Sweden squad play their club football in the Netherlands.
Many others have passed through Holland on their way to better things.
“Holland is not unlike Sweden. When they get there, Swedish players are well-schooled and it’s a good country to go to, especially as a first stop (in their career),” Henrik Larsson told the Reuters Sports Blog the day after the Swedes handed the Dutch their only defeat of the qualifying campaign.
“They play good football and most people there speak English, so you can make yourself understood much easier than in a league that has a more difficult language,” Larsson said.
It’s an atmosphere that Swedes seem to thrive in.
Spreading out internationals makes sense
UEFA’s plan to spread out fixtures during international weeks makes perfect sense and should bring an end to those strange weekends during the season with no top class soccer, when I find myself watching rubbish old B-movies and darts.
The idea would see a national team play on Thursday for example and then Sunday, or Friday and Tuesday like now or Saturday and Tuesday.
The “week of football” as UEFA dubs it will also mean the big soccer fans can watch lots of live international football day after day rather than trying to catch the highlights of 20 games all played one one evening.
Clubs can’t moan either as they will still be getting their players back on a Wednesday before a club match as currently happens after the reasonably recent change to play second matches of international double headers on Tuesday.
The only downside to the plan I can see is that national coaches will get less preparation time following weekend club matches if their first game is on a Thursday.
UEFA also wants to harmonise kick off times for qualifiers which makes a lot of sense too.
Everyone knows that Champions League games in the club sphere start at 1845 GMT but looking at Friday’s Euro 2012 games, they start at 1600, 1700, 1715, 1800, 1900, 1915, 1930, 1945, 2000, 2030 and yes the obligatory Portugal at 2100 (when do they ever get to sleep?)
I feel that this change in spreading out internationals is a great compromise. There is such a big issue between club and national team play, so if you can find a balance between the two, you would be a hero!
The club teams feel that they have the rights to the player considering that the pay them, so I feel that the national team coaches should respect this change.
Might misfiring Torres miss out on Euro 2012?
In our latest post on Spanish soccer, Mark Elkington in Madrid raises the prospect of out-of-sorts striker Fernando Torres missing out on the Euro 2012 finals as competition for places heats up.
Fierce competition for places in Spain’s frontline for Euro 2012 has increased the pressure on misfiring Chelsea striker Fernando Torres.
Some are even suggesting the hero of Spain’s triumph at Euro 2008 may not even make the squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine next year and have speculated coach Vicente del Bosque could pick strikers including Alvaro Negredo (pictured) and Fernando Llorente ahead of the former Liverpool man.
The world and continental champions thrashed Liechtenstein 6-0 on Tuesday to qualify for the finals, but Torres was left to watch from the stands as David Villa, Spain’s all-time top scorer, and Negredo both netted doubles.
“There were ten players who didn’t play,” Del Bosque said when asked afterwards about the surprise decision to leave Torres out.
“He is an important player but the people selected for the national team are those who do well for their clubs, not the other way round.”
Torres has scored 27 goals for Spain, including the winner in their 1-0 Euro 2008 final victory over Germany, but was short of match fitness after injury and contributed little to last year’s victorious World Cup finals campaign.
Villa is certainly outshining him in all areas and Villa can also play out wide if needed which Torres cant
Soccer Break Tuesday – Champions League week special
Enjoy. That we will. Cristiano Ronaldo is back for Real Madrid and Gareth Bale for Tottenham Hotspur as four teams prepare for their biggest games this season in the Champions League quarter-final first legs on Tuesday.
Spurs forward Rafael van der Vaart is returning to the Bernabeu and would clearly love to make an impact on his old side.
Also in action is Spaniard Raul, pictured, with Schalke 04 at holders Inter Milan. The Italians will be out for revenge following their UEFA Cup final loss in 1997.
Back to domestic football, and Wayne Rooney’s possible two-match ban for swearing on camera is all over the internet and the papers. Manchester United have until later on Tuesday to respond. Can you see the striker being let off?
Euro Football Zone takes a look at that infamous match for two reasons. One, how far Nani has come this season and two, are West Ham United too good to be relegated from the Premier League?
On a more cheerful note, read here for a look at the progress being made in Poland as they strive to be ready to host Euro 2012.
Finally, check out this video of a 16-year-old Scottish girl whose skills are wowing the football world.
Soccer Break Thursday
As the weekend approaches we can all start getting excited about domestic football again and the increase in stories and transfer speculation.
Read here for Arsenal and Real Madrid transfer news, and Tottenham Hotspur fans beware, Niko Kranjcar appears unsettled. It would be a shame to lose such a talent.
We have a Premier League and a Ligue 1 preview for you, and an analysis of the mountain of statistics that come with football reporting. Do you have any amazing stats up your sleeve?
A very topical issue at this time of the year is player burnout. With all to play for managers must exercise caution when choosing their teams but also risk the wrath of the fans if they do not pick their ‘best’ side. Do you pick your strongest 11 regardless?
A player who may well burn himself out without even setting foot on the pitch is Mario Balotelli. The gifted yet volatile Italian is yet again in trouble, this time apparently for throwing darts out of a window at Manchester City’s youth team.
A word on Euro 2012, where England manager Fabio Capello believes his team’s young players will flourish just like Germany did at the 2010 World Cup. Excited at the prospect? Then buy your tickets now.
Staying with the international game, and click here for a good read on the switching allegiances debate.
Thanks Roque Jr. Still think Van Persie Jr is more skillful though..
Soccer Break Wednesday
Now the international period is over we can focus on domestic issues again, or can we?
Tuesday’s matches provided plenty of drama, from the battles Spain and the Netherlands had to fight to get through tricky Euro 2012 qualifiers, to Ghana’s lighting up of London, to Australia’s World Cup revenge against Germany in a friendly.
Brazil’s two-goal hero against Scotland continues to grab the headlines. Would you be interested in signing the talented 19-year-old Neymar?
For two of Europe’s biggest clubs there is bad news. The strike that could have seen the cancellation of La Liga matches this weekend has been called off, so Real Madrid must play three days before their Champions League quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur.
Staying with a North London theme, Arsenal could be without striker Robin van Persie after the Netherlands forward was injured against Hungary in the 5-3 thriller. No doubt Arsene Wenger will have something to say so keep your ears open.
And what about Jens Lehmann? Gunners fans…would you trust him in goal over Manuel Almunia?
Some good news now. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says the game is developing well in the United States, though there’s always a flip side. After the encouraging 1-1 draw against Argentina on Saturday, the U.S. lost 1-0 to Paraguay on Tuesday.
Soccer Break Tuesday
Spring is here and love should be in the air, but instead all we’re left with is bickering managers.
Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho are no strangers to controversy, so it’s no surprise to see them at it again, though the timing is odd. Mourinho still has it all to prove at Real Madrid over the next two months, while Capello has yet to truly inspire confidence in England fans.
What do you make of Capello’s captaincy decision after handing the armband to Gareth Barry, days after excluding him from the squad to face Wales?
And Real fans, does it annoy you to see Mourinho flirting so openly with other jobs?
Back to action on the pitch, and on Tuesday there will be a special reason to watch England’s friendly against Ghana. Read more here.
Another special occasion will take place in Japan when the national team play a J-League select team to raise funds for the stricken victims of the tsunami and earthquake earlier this month.
A Different League takes a look at Ireland and whether they are strong enough to qualify for Euro 2012 from a formidable group including Slovakia, Russia and Macedonia. Thoughts?
Thanks Redcoat..but what if the Special One wins a trophy this season at Real? Would he stay or he would he jump ship with a better offer?
Soccer Break Friday
It’s gone quiet on the football news front though the sun’s still out in Europe as we await another weekend of unrelenting on-pitch drama in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
Anyone out there lucky enough to be attending the Serbia v Northern Ireland match? 240 fans got the nod.
World Cup winners Spain are also playing against Czech Republic. Fascinating country Spain, full of interesting dynamics. Read here for a thorough explanation.
Sticking with politics, and Libya’s qualification for the 2012 London Olympics could be in danger after the conflict in north Africa.
Heading to South America, people are still reeling from the death of a fan over the weekend and here’s a more considered piece on Argentina’s tarnished game.
Our David Beckham blog is still attracting comments. What is your view on the former England captain? Would you pick him for England?
Last but not least, an amusing look at some of the most garish football kits of all time. What sticks in the memory for you?
On the Beckham question, I think most people would say his England days are gone now. The national team would gain little and the move could put younger players’ backs up.
