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berni23 |
Brasil
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Location: Berlin |
| Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:24 pm |
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 Post subject: Group D
Euro 2008 Qualifying Group D Table | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | PTS | Czech
Republic | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 5 | 29 | | Germany | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 35 | 7 | 24 | Republic
of Ireland | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 14 | 17 | | Slovakia | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 33 | 23 | 16 | | Wales | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 19 | 15 | | Cyprus | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 24 | 14 | San
Marino | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 57 | 0 | Euro 2008 Qualifying Group D Fixtures | 02/09/06 | Czech Republic | 2 v 1 | Wales | | Lafata 76, 89 | | Jiranek
85(o.g) | | 02/09/06 | Germany | 1 v 0 | Republic of Ireland | | Podolski 57 | | | | 02/09/06 | Slovakia | 6 v 1 | Cyprus | | Skrtel 9, Mintal 33, 56, Sebo 43, 49, Karhan 52 | | Giasemi 90 | | 06/09/06 | San Marino | 0 v 13 | Germany | | | | Podolski 11, 28, 43, 64, Klose 46, 72 Ballack 35, Schweinsteiger 30, 47, Hitzlsberger 66, 72, Friedrich 87, Schneider (pen) 90 | | 06/09/06 | Slovakia | 0 v 3 | Czech Republic | | | | Sionko 10, 21, Koller 57 | | 07/10/06 | Czech Republic | 7 v 0 | San Marino | | Kulic 15, Polak 22, Baros 28, 68, Koller 43, 52, Jarolim 49 | | | | 07/10/06 | Cyprus | 5 v 2 | Republic of Ireland | | Konstantinou 10, 50 (pen), Garpozis 16, Charalambides 60, 75 | | Ireland 8, Dunne 44 | | 07/10/06 | Wales | 1 v 5 | Slovakia | | Bale 37 | | Svento
14, Mintal 32, 38, Karhan 51, Vittek 59 | | 11/10/06 | Republic of Ireland | 1 v 1 | Czech
Republic | | Kilbane 62 | | Koller 64 | | 11/10/06 | Slovakia | 1 v 4 | Germany | | Varga 58 | | Podolski
13, 72, Ballack 25, Schweinsteiger 36 | | 11/10/06 | Wales | 3 v 1 | Cyprus | | Koumas 33, Earnshaw 39, Bellamy 72 | | Okkas 83 | | 15/11/06 | Cyprus | 1 v 1 | Germany | | Okkas 43 | | Ballack
16 | | 15/11/06 | Republic of Ireland | 5 v 0 | San
Marino | | Reid 7, Doyle 24, Robbie Keane 31, 58, 85 | | | | 07/02/06 | San Marino | 1 v 2 | Republic
of Ireland | | Marani 86 | | Kilbane 49, Ireland 90+ | | 24/03/07 | Czech Republic | 1 v 2 | Germany | | Baros 77 | | Kuranyi 42, 62 | | 24/03/07 | Republic of Ireland | 1 v 0 | Wales | | Ireland 39 | | | | 24/03/07 | Cyprus | 1 v 3 | Slovakia | | Aloneftis 43 | | Vittek 54, Skrtel 67,
Jakubko 77 | | 28/03/07 | Wales | 3 v 0 | San
Marino | | Giggs 3, Bale
20, Koumas 63 (pen) | | | | 28/03/07 | Republic of Ireland | 1 v 0 | Slovakia | | Doyle 13 | | | | 28/03/07 | Czech Republic | 1 v 0 | Cyprus | | Kovac 22 | | | | 02/06/07 | Germany | 6 v 0 | San
Marino | | Kuranyi 45,
Jansen 52, Frings 54, Gomez 63, 65, Fritz 67 | | | | 02/06/07 | Wales | 0 v 0 | Czech
Republic | | | | | | 06/06/07 | Germany | 2 v 1 | Slovakia | | Durica 10 (o.g),
Hitzlsperger 43 | | Metzelder 20 (o.g) | | 22/08/07 | San Marino | 0 v 1 | Cyprus | | | | Okkas 54 | | 08/09/07 | San Marino | 0 v 3 | Czech
Republic | | | | Rosicky 33, Jankulovski 75,
Koller 90+ | | 08/09/07 | Wales | 0 v 2 | Germany | | | | Klose 5, 60 | | 08/09/07 | Slovakia | 2 v 2 | Republic
of Ireland | | Klimpl 37,
Cech 90+ | | Ireland 7, Doyle 57 | | 12/09/07 | Czech Republic | 1 v 0 | Republic
of Ireland | | Jankulovski 15 | | | | 12/09/07 | Slovakia | 2 v 5 | Wales | | Mintal 12, 57 | | Eastwood 22, Bellamy 34, 41,
Durica 78 (o.g), Davies 90 | | 12/09/07 | Cyprus | 3 v 0 | San
Marino | | Makrides 15,
Aloneftis 41, 92 | | | | 13/10/07 | Republic of Ireland | 0 v 0 | Germany | | 13/10/07 | Cyprus | 3 v 1 | Wales | | Okkas 59, 68,
Charalambides 79 | | Collins 21 | | 13/10/07 | Slovakia | 7 v 0 | San
Marino | | Hamsik 24,
Sestak 32,57, Sapara 37, Skrtel 51, Holosko 54, Durica 76(pen) | | | | 17/10/07 | Germany | 0 v 3 | Czech
Republic | | | | Sionko 2, Matejovsky 23,
Plasil 63 | | 17/10/07 | Republic of Ireland | 1 v 1 | Cyprus | | Finnan 90+ | | Okkarides 80 | | 17/10/07 | San Marino | 1 v 2 | Wales | | Selva 73 | | Earnshaw 13, Ledley 36 | | 17/11/07 | Czech Republic | 3 v 1 | Slovakia | | Grygera 13,
Kulic 76, Rosicky 83 | | Kadlec 79 (o.g) | | 17/11/07 | Germany | 4 v 0 | Cyprus | | Fritz 2, Klose
20, Podolski 53, Hitzlsperger 82 | | | | 17/11/07 | Wales | 2 v 2 | Republic
of Ireland | | Koumas 23, 89
(pen) | | Keane 31, Doyle 60 | | 21/11/07 | Cyprus | 0 v 2 | Czech
Republic | | | | Pudil 11, Koller 74 | | 21/11/07 | Germany | 0 v 0 | Wales | | | | | | 21/11/07 | San Marino | 0 v 5 | Slovakia | | | | Michalik 42, Holosko 51,
Hamsik 53, Cech 57, 83 |
Last edited by berni23 on Thu Nov 22, 2007 2:19 pm; edited 11 times in total
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berni23 |
Brasil
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Location: Berlin |
| Fri Jun 29, 2007 3:15 pm |
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Post subject:
EURO 2008: GROUP D
Germany moved five points clear at the top of UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group D with a 2-1 victory over Slovakia in Hamburg. After Ján Ďurica and Christoph Metzelder had traded own goals, Thomas Hitzlsperger struck the hosts' winning goal two minutes before the break.
Ďurica own goal
It was Hitzlsperger who fired an early strike narrowly wide as Germany went immediately on the offensive. Yet while their opening goal after ten minutes was not unexpected, it did come via a large slice of fortune. Marcel Jansen burst clear down the right and pulled the ball back from the byline. The Slovakia defence failed to clear and Ďurica deflected the ball into his own net under pressure from Miroslav Klose.
Luck evened out
Germany seemed in total control but Slovakia got back on terms in bizarre fashion on 20 minutes. In attempting to thwart the run of Matej Krajčík, Metzelder inadvertently toe-poked the ball past Jens Lehmann at his near post. That goal knocked Germany out of their stride briefly but they almost regained their lead after 33 minutes when captain Bernd Schneider flicked just wide from Klose's cross.
Hitzlsperger header
Joachim Loew's men only had to wait ten minutes more to restore their advantage, Hitzlsperger heading home after 43 minutes. Philipp Lahm curled in a left-footed cross from the right side of the penalty area and the VfB Stuttgart player met the inviting delivery with a firm downward header from six metres out.
Fritz effort
Germany continued to have the better of things in the second half with Clemens Fritz and Mario Gómez both going close as the hosts sought a clinching goal. It was not needed in the end as they held out for the win that leaves them five points clear of the Czech Republic at the top of Group D. While they can look forward with confidence to resuming their campaign in Wales in September, fourth-placed Slovakia will need a win against the Republic of Ireland next time out to revive their fading hopes.
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FAN CAMP |
England
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Location: Cottbus |
| Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:34 am |
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Post subject:
Looks very good for us.
There is no way we are not going to qualify.
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berni23 |
Brasil
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Location: Berlin |
| Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:21 am |
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Post subject:
UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying Group D
A second-half strike by Yiannis Okkas earned Cyprus a narrow victory over San Marino in Serravalle on Wednesday night.
Okkas winner
Okkas converted a corner early in the second half to move Cyprus level on points with Wales in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group D, while San Marino remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the pool after suffering their seventh defeat in as many matches.
Bollini volley
The first half was an open affair with numerous chances for both sides but neither had the cutting edge to take the lead. Efstathios Aloneftis shot straight at goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini with a 25-metre free-kick before Antonis Georgallides was forced to tip over Andy Selva's long-range effort at the other end. Fabio Bollini also volleyed over and Yiasoumi Yiasoumis headed wide as chances were traded.
Selva chances
Cyprus broke the deadlock seven minutes after the resumption when San Marino failed to deal with Aloneftis’s inswinging corner from the right and Okkas drilled Yiasoumis’s flick-on past Simoncini from five metres. Selva spurned two further chances to equalise when firing over and then wide in the last ten minutes, while Lambros Lambrou was awry with his final attempt as the match became stretched.
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berni23 |
Brasil
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Location: Berlin |
| Sun Sep 09, 2007 9:46 pm |
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Post subject:
Wales 0-2 Germany
Two Miroslav Klose goals gave Germany a comfortable win in Wales that takes the Group D leaders to the verge of the UEFA EURO 2008™ finals.
One win away
Klose, captaining Germany for the first time in the injured Michael Ballack's absence, opened the scoring early on in Cardiff and his header on the hour to double the advantage was the very least the visitors deserved. They maintain the best record in any group having dropped just two points and are five ahead of the second-placed Czech Republic. Indeed, Germany go to the Republic of Ireland on 13 October knowing a victory would seal qualification
Klose strikes
Within five minutes Germany were ahead. Kevin Kuranyi raced forward from midfield and played the ball into the path of Klose, who produced a neat finish. Kuranyi broke through again in search of a second goal but was dispossessed by Lewin Nyatanga, before Thomas Hitzlsperger sent a free-kick centimetres over the bar. Kuranyi was then denied by James Collins as Germany's dominance continued unabated, with Wales grateful to go in at half-time only 1-0 down.
Second goal
There was little change to the pattern of the game after the interval. Roberto Hilbert forced a save from Wayne Hennessey, Bastian Schweinsteiger shot on to the top of the bar, before Klose struck again on the hour mark with a close-range header after Hilbert had tackled Gareth Bale and crossed into the box. Klose now wanted a hat-trick to mark his 70th cap but he fired straight at Hennessey before heading just past the post from a Marcell Jansen centre. Robert Earnshaw sent a rare Wales salvo narrowly over the bar but a comeback was never on. Wales, in fifth, visit Slovakia on Wednesday.
San Marino 0-3 Czech Republic
The Czech Republic picked up the expected win in San Marino which consolidated second place in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group D but they were made to work by their hosts.
Victory earned
Tomáš Rosický scrambled in the opening goal but Marek Jankulovski and Jan Koller only settled matters in the second half after Alessandro Della Valle had been sent off for San Marino. The Czech Republic remain five points behind Germany but Slovakia's late equaliser against the Republic of Ireland leaves Karel Brückner's side with a three-point cushion over the team they welcome to Prague on Wednesday.
Czechs ahead
San Marino almost took a shock lead on two minutes when Petr Čech was forced to save by Carlo Valentini, and Andy Selva made the Chelsea FC goalkeeper work soon after. The visitors counterattacked and won a corner which Rosický sent on to the head of Koller but San Marino keeper Aldo Simoncini cleared the danger. Fabio Bollini then became the next player to test Čech, before Sammarinese dreams of a first UEFA European Championship point began to fade. Simoncini denied Marek Kulič and Martin Fenin, yet was finally beaten on 33 minutes when he got a fist to a Kulič effort only to see Rosický head in.
Points secured
The Czech Republic pushed for a second goal after the break and Koller nodded over before David Jarolím shot straight at Simoncini. Their task was made easier when Della Valle was shown a yellow card for a foul, then immediately booked again for dissent on 64 minutes. San Marino eventually succumbed once more when Jankulovski fired in a free-kick with 15 minutes remaining. Koller headed in a late third from substitute Stanislav Vlček's cross and a victory against Ireland in midweek would leave the Czech Republic within sight of the finals.
Slovakia 2-2 Ireland
A thunderous strike from Marek Čech earned Slovakia a crucial point that keeps alive the home side's faint qualifying hopes in Group D while dealing a potentially fatal blow to the Republic of Ireland's chances of reaching next summer's finals.
Late drama
Goals from Stephen Ireland and Kevin Doyle – the second a devastating shot on the turn three minutes before the hour – either side of Maroš Klimpl's equaliser, looked to have given Stephen Staunton's men the three points that would have kept the pressure on the Czech Republic going into the teams' meeting in Prague on Wednesday. Čech had other ideas, though, drilling in from just outside the area a minute into added time to snatch a draw with another home game, against Wales, to come for Slovakia in four days' time.
Ireland opener
There had been a minute's silence before kick-off in memory of former Czechoslovakian international Viliam Schrojf, who died on 1 September at the age of 76, but it was the visitors who began the brighter in Bratislava. They took the lead with a well-worked goal in the seventh minute. Kevin Kilbane broke clear down the left and his deflected cross was brilliantly dummied by Robbie Keane, leaving Ireland, pressing forward from midfield, to lift a simple finish over Štefan Senecký.
Doyle delight
The Irish failed to build on that early advantage, however, with goalkeeper Shay Given having to make a fine block from Marek Sapara before sustained Slovakia pressure was rewarded with an equaliser eight minutes before half-time. Sapara was the architect, Ján Ďurica flicking on his left-wing corner for the determined Klimpl to head in at the far post. Marek Mintál threatened early in the second period, although when a third goal did arrive it came at the other end: Doyle worked space 25 metres out and unleashed an unstoppable left-foot shot into the top corner. Just as Irish celebrations were starting in earnest, though, Čech popped up to salvage Slovakia's evening.
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berni23 |
Brasil
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Location: Berlin |
| Sat Sep 15, 2007 3:02 am |
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Post subject:
Czech Republic 1-0 Ireland
A well-worked early goal from Marek Jankulovski gave the Czech Republic a crucial win against ten-man Republic of Ireland as Karel Brückner's side closed in on a place at UEFA EURO 2008™.
Jankulovski joy
The home team kicked off with a three-point cushion over their visitors in second place in Group D and AC Milan full-back Jankulovski combined with Jaroslav Plašil in the 15th minute to score what proved to be the only goal of the game. The visitors pressed for an equaliser, Kevin Doyle twice going close, but the dismissal of substitute Stephen Hunt left them with too much to do. A home game against section leaders Germany on 13 October is their next challenge while the Czechs face the same opponents four days later.
Quickfire start
The Czechs were quickly into their stride at the Sparta Stadium, Libor Sionko's shot deflecting wide but a breakthrough was not long in coming, Jankulovski exchanging passes with Plašil and skipping past Richard Dunne to drill in. Sionko spurned another presentable opportunity and Ireland finally began to exert some pressure of their own, Dunno exploiting a Sionko miskick to play Doyle in on goal and the Reading FC striker guided his left-foot shot beyond Petr Čech only for the post to come to the goalkeeper's rescue.
Hunt off
The second half began in similar fashion to the first, Milan Baroš curling wide before Tomáš Rosický was denied by a fine stop from Shay Given. Ireland's hopes were further undermined by the 61st-minute dismissal of Hunt for a challenge on Jan Polák, although a swift counterattack then gave Doyle another glimpse of goal but this time his shot flashed past the far post. The visitors came even closer moments later as Čech failed to gather a free-kick and David Rozehnal had to turn Dunne's effort off the line but the Czechs held out.
Slovakia 2-5 Wales
Wales made amends for their 5-1 home defeat by Slovakia early in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying with a comfortable victory in Trnava tonight.
Comeback
Although Marek Mintál gave Slovakia a 12th-minute lead, Freddy Eastwood soon equalised and Wales captain Craig Bellamy struck twice to put his team 3-1 up at the break. Mintál pulled one back but a late Ján Ďurica own goal and Simon Davies' strike settled matters. Wales join fourth-placed Slovakia on ten points in Group D, today's visitors being behind on head-to-head record but having a game in hand.
Quick response
If it was a quiet opening, Slovakia scored with virtually the first chance when Mintál pounced after a defensive slip. Mintál then forced a superb save from Wayne Hennessey, who also denied Marek Čech, yet only ten minutes after the goal the game changed. Bellamy began the move as he set Joe Ledley away down the left, and his cross was ideal for Eastwood to turn in.
Bellamy goals
On 34 minutes Bellamy was sent clear by Ledley and he coolly chipped Štefan Senecký to put Wales ahead. Bellamy, who had missed Saturday's home defeat by group leaders Germany to be with his newborn baby, found the target again just before the break. Ledley reprised his role as creator with a clever ball that his captain finished from a tight angle.
Win sealed
Arrears were reduced in the 57th minute when Čech cut back the ball for Mintál, who took his opportunity well. However, the away fans, in good voice, had more to sing about when Bellamy's ball across the face of goal was deflected in by the luckless Ďurica. Davies' strong shot made it 5-2 late on. On 13 October Slovakia welcome San Marino while Wales are in Cyprus.
Cyprus 3-0 San Marino
Efstathios Aloneftis scored twice to add to Konstantinos Makridis' opening goal as Cyprus coasted to a Group D victory against San Marino in Nicosia.
Makridis header
The visitors had the first effort of the game when Andy Selva blasted an early free-kick over but Cyprus quickly took control with Yiannis Okkas testing goalkeeper Federico Valentini. That was the prelude to the opener and it was Aloneftis who supplied it with a cross which Makridis headed in after 15 minutes. Valentini then foiled Stelios Okkarides, Okkas and Michalis Konstantinou while Elias Charalambous also missed the target.
Aloneftis free-kick
The home side finally made their dominance pay by scoring a second goal four minutes before the break, Aloneftis converting from a free-kick after a foul on Konstantinou. After the interval Manuel Marani missed with a long-range shot for the visitors and Selva spurned another half-chance but the hosts responded by completing the scoring with virtually the last kick of the game. Makridis played the role of provider, setting up Aloneftis to finish with his left foot, securing three points for Cyprus and leaving San Marino still looking for their first point in Group D.
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berni23 |
Brasil
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Location: Berlin |
| Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:53 pm |
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Post subject:
UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group D
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Germany
Germany have become the first team to qualify for UEFA EURO 2008™ alongside hosts Austria and Switzerland with a draw that keeps the Republic of Ireland's hopes of joining them in the finals mathematically alive.
Germany confirmed
Group D leaders Germany began the day eight points clear of third-placed Ireland, knowing that avoiding defeat at Croke Park would be enough to seal a top-two finish. In a tight game the visitors duly achieved that aim, and while Ireland are five points behind the Czech Republic, they can still pip their rivals if Stephen Staunton's team overcome Cyprus and Wales in their remaining matches and the Czechs lose in Germany on Wednesday and against Slovakia and Cyprus next month.
Schweinsteiger injured
From the start it was an open contest and throughout both sides looked capable of scoring. Bastian Schweinsteiger was forced off with a head injury midway through the first half, Simon Rolfes taking over, but Germany were in positive mood and Mario Gómez's shot bounced just over on 20 minutes. At the other end, Andy Reid's clever ball found Robbie Keane but the Tottenham Hotspur FC striker could not beat Arsenal FC goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. The best chance of the first half came not long before the break as Christoph Metzelder headed a corner towards goal but Steve Finnan cleared off the line.
Lehmann heroics
Ireland began the second period brightly and Lee Carsley's cross-shot drifted towards goal, forcing Lehmann to tip over, and soon after the keeper was relieved when Keane, in space and with only the No1 to beat, sliced his attempted chip. Lukas Podolski had a shot deflected over and then drove just wide, while Lehmann did well to deny Ireland substitute Shane Long. It could have gone either way until the final minute, but no goal arrived and Germany are through.
Slovakia 7-0 San Marino
Slovakia recorded a confidence-boosting victory at the expense of group minnows San Marino thanks to six different goalscorers.
Six-shooters
Marek Hamšík, Stanislav Šesták, Marek Sapara, Martin Škrtel, Filip Hološko and Ján Ďurica were all on target for Ján Kocian's team who remain in fourth place in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group D.
Resistance over
Slovakia dominated from the start but took 24 minutes to break down the Sammarinese resistance. Marek Čech played in midfielder Hamšík who shot past goalkeeper Federico Valentini and into the top corner. The second goal followed eight minutes later when striker Šesták picked up possession on the edge of the visitors' area, burst between two defenders, skipped past another, before chipping Valentini from close range. Then the third before half-time: Ján Kozák supplied Sapara who advanced into the box to score right-footed.
No let-up
Valentini managed to keep Slovakia out for six minutes of the second half, until Škrtel popped up at the far post to turn in Hološko's cross. Giampaolo Mazza's men held out for a further three minutes before Hološko got his name on the scoresheet by finishing off a one-two with Šesták.
Magnificent seven
It was 6-0 when the latter player secured his double – volleying in Kozák's centre from the right. Yet if the Slovakians were hoping for double figures, they would be disappointed. The final addition to the scoring arrived on 76 minutes when the away side's defender Nicola Albani conceded a penalty which full-back Ján Ďurica converted with aplomb.
Cyprus 3-1 Wales
Cyprus struck three times in 20 second-half minutes to deservedly defeat Wales and secure a third consecutive UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group D win.
Okkas double
Both these teams were coming off fine results – Cyprus having enjoyed two straight defeats of San Marino and Wales a 5-2 success in Slovakia. The visitors led at the break here through James Collins but Cyprus always had the better of the play and Yiannis Okkas scored twice to turn the game before substitute Konstantinos Charalampidis headed a goal that took his country above their opponents into fifth place.
Wales ahead
The hosts were without injured striker Michalis Konstantinou yet were on top from the start with Okkas dictating proceedings. However, it was the man charged with watching Okkas in the Wales defence who broke the deadlock: Gareth Bales's free-kick from the left found Collins unmarked at the far post and the West Ham United FC player's angled shot nestled inside the opposite side-netting.
Bellamy denied
Despite that setback, Cyprus kept up the pressure and Alexandros Garpozis headed at goalkeeper Danny Coyne, while Collins limped off just before the break. Okkas had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second period and Wales nearly punished Cyprus again on the break but captain Craig Bellamy's shot was kept out by the diving Antonis Georgallides.
Turnaround
Just before the hour, the match changed as Efstathios Aloneftis's free-kick from the right eluded Coyne and was nodded in by Okkas. The No9 put Cyprus ahead nine minutes later when Yiasoumi Yiasoumi's free-kick went loose and Aloneftis touched the ball across for Okkas to smash in from close range. Charalampidis completed the victory after fellow substitute Yiasoumi had headed Garpozis's centre back across goal.
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berni23 |
Brasil
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Joined:
Joined: 14 Apr 2005
Posts: 1257
Location: Berlin |
| Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:17 pm |
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Post subject:
UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group D
Germany 0-3 Czech Republic
The Czech Republic booked their place at UEFA EURO 2008™ with a surprise 3-0 victory over already-qualified Germany in Munich.
Notable defeat
First-half goals from Libor Sionko and Marek Matějovský, and a third midway through the second period from Jaroslav Plašil condemned Germany to their first defeat in 24 UEFA European Championship qualifiers, a run stetching back nine years. The hosts, who had earned their finals ticket having drawn in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, relinquished their lead in Group D with the defeat.
Ideal start
Midfielder Sionko gave Karel Brückner's men the perfect start with just two minutes gone. Plašil's looping pass from outside the area sprung the Germany offside trap and found Jan Koller, who laid the ball into the path of the onrushing Sionko to slot past Timo Hildebrand. Matějovský then doubled the advantage on 23 minutes after evading the attentions of both Torsten Frings and Christoph Metzelder before chipping Hildebrand into the far left-hand corner of the net.
Germany Czech Republic
Uploaded by ILCAPO25
Löw low
Germany's first opportunity came three minutes later but Bastian Schweinsteiger's long-distance shot sailed wide, shortly before Kevin Kuranyi missed two headed chances. Schweinsteiger continued to probe and brought two fine saves out of Petr Čech before the visitors sealed the points and their qualification with a break-away goal on 63 minutes. Plašil collected a long cross from Daniel Pudil and beat Hildebrand to finish off a well-worked Czech Republic move and inflict Joachim Löw's first competitive defeat as Germany coach.
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berni23 |
Brasil
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Location: Berlin |
| Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:16 pm |
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Post subject:
Group D
The Czech Republic and Germany had already secured qualification and they remain tied on points at the summit after both won at the weekend, the Czechs beating neighbours Slovakia 3-1 and Germany sweeping Cyprus aside 4-0.
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berni23 |
Brasil
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Joined:
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Posts: 1257
Location: Berlin |
| Thu Nov 22, 2007 2:39 pm |
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Post subject:
Czech Republic sealed top spot
The Czech Republic sealed top spot in Group D with this comfortable UEFA EURO 2008™ victory in Cyprus.
Pole position
Daniel Pudil's goal gave the early initiative to Karel Brückner's side, before Jan Koller struck 16 minutes from time to secure the points. The result ensured that the Czechs would finish first in the group because of their better head-to-head record against also-qualified Germany.
Deadlock broken
The breakthrough hardly came against the run of play, as the Czechs had already threatened through Marek Matějovský, Tomáš Galásek and Michal Kadlec. In the event, it arrived via the left foot of 22-year-old midfielder Pudil, who found the bottom corner of Antonis Georgallides's goal from around 30 metres.
Dominance
Georgallides got closer to the next Czech attempts, saving from both Marek Kulič and Matějovský. By way of a first-half reply, Angelos Anastasiadis's team could only offer long-range efforts from Michalis Konstantinou and a wasted Efstathios Aloneftis free-kick.
Doubling up
Second-half substitute Milan Baroš then shot wide before strike partner Koller put the win beyond doubt. The totem connected with Jaroslav Plašil's 74th-minute corner for a headed goal. Georgallides then prevented Plašil turning from creator to scorer, and the Cyprus keeper also denied Martin Fenin late on. The defeat left the islanders with 14 points from their 12 games, 15 fewer than the Czechs.
San Marino 0 - 5 Slovakia
Marek Čech struck twice as Slovakia ended their Group D campaign with a resounding 5-0 win against San Marino in Serravalle.
Michalík breakthrough
Having restricted Wales to a narrow 2-1 victory in their last outing, San Marino must have held hopes of another close encounter as the teams approached half-time with the score goalless. However, Ľubomír Michalík made the breakthrough three minutes before the interval and from then on it was one-way traffic. Within 12 minutes of the restart it was 4-0 as Filip Hološko, Marek Hamšík and Čech all got their names on the scoresheet, and Čech rounded off the victory seven minutes from time. The result was enough for Slovakia to leapfrog Wales and Cyprus into fourth, with San Marino 14 points adrift at the foot of the table.
Selva denied
San Marino ended their UEFA EURO 2008™ campaign with a 'goals against' tally of 57, yet things looked bright for Giampaolo Mazza's team in a lively opening. Andy Selva almost gave the hosts a shock lead when his free-kick struck the crossbar on five minutes and the same player tested Štefan Senecký with a long-range effort later in the half.
Floodgates open
After Michalík headed, however, in the floodgates opened. Six minutes after the restart Hološko nodded in Hamšík's corner to make it 2-0 and when Hamšík added a third from distance two minutes later, Slovakia were cruising. Čech quickly hit his first of the night and San Marino's misery was complete when the 24-year-old applied a crisp finish to Juraj Halenár's pass to make it 5-0.
Germany 0-0 Wales
Wales earned a creditable draw in Frankfurt to end their Euro 2008 campaign on a relative high note despite finishing fifth in Group D.
The Welsh central defensive trio of Danny Gabbidon, Lewis Nyatanga and James Collins all emerged with great credit after forming a watertight defensive shield in front of 20-year-old keeper Wayne Hennessey.
Both teams went into the game with little to play for. Germany had already qualified while Wales were out of the running, and the game developed along predictably tame lines.
Germany controlled possession throughout and ex-Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger was the creative force behind many of their moves in the first half, most notably in the 10th minute when he jinked past three challenges and laid off to Lukas Podolski, who blasted just over from 20 yards.
Wales were lucky to survive in the fifteenth minute when Tim Borowski's shot cannoned off the post, onto the back of Henessey's head, back onto the post and stayed spinning inches short of the line before Hennessey finally cleared.
Robert Earnshaw, playing as a lone stiker endured a difficult night as his team-mates struggled to retain possession long enough to get the ball up to him, and the Derby County front man was eventually substituted in the 55th minute.
David Edwards and Carl Fletcher both had half chances to score shortly before half-time but in truth Jens Lehmann had very little to do in the Germany goal.
The second half started slowly and petered out from there. Wales were obviously content to play for a point and dropped increasingly deep as time progressed. Germany continued to push for a winner, but it was their final ball and decision making in the final third that let them down time and time again.
Apart from the couple of moments of danger in the first half Wales never really looked like conceding despite the pressure and despite finishing so low in the Group D table, manager John Toshack will no doubt view such a solid performance as a positive to build on for the future.
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