Only the last pair of matches remain in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2012. Arjblog reviews the top upsets so far:
Moldova 2 - 0 Finland - September 3 2010
For a team ranked 122 in the world, that has never qualified for an international tournament and actually finished last in its previous qualification group, winless, behind Luxembourg (World Cup 2010 UEFA Group 2), the win over Finland in Chisinau was easily the greatest result in its short history. Only admitted to FIFA and UEFA in the aftermath of the Soviet collapse, Moldovan football is still in its germinal stages with the fall exploits of Sheriff Tiraspol and Zimbru Chisnau in qualifying for the continental tournaments, the only time one hears of it. Goals from Alexandre Suvorov and Anatolie Doros created instant history as they threw an immediate spanner into Finland's works - a blow from which the Finns barely recovered all campaign.
Slovenia 0 - 1 N Ireland - September 3 2010
Northern Ireland have shocked bigger teams before with an epochal win over England in the lead up to World Cup 2006. However, the current side, although capable are hardly tigers ont he field and usually limp home from away teams. So, for them to travel to and beat a team that had just finished another World Cup campaign, where they were minutes away from reaching the last 16; is a stupendous achievement. Corry Evans' strike created a mini-shockwave that terminally hampered Slovenia's chances of emerging from the group while adding another scalp to Nigel Worthington's plucky side.
Portugal 4 - 4 Cyprus - September 3 2010
One team is a veritable who's who of Europe's most exciting attacking talent, while the other has not threatened qualification for a major tournament since Sinisa Gogic (remember him?) scored some memorable goals at the tail end of the last millenium. And with the game happening at at Guimares' home turf, one expected a shellacking. Still, somehow, Portugal managed to twice let the islander's take the lead before having to come back. Then they took the lead twice themselves before allowing the visitors to get back on level pegging both times. 2-2 in the first half, 4-4 at the final whistle. At the end of it all, eight different scorers could not separate the teams. The next time Portugal scored four against Cyprus, the response was somewhat more muted.
One team is a veritable who's who of Europe's most exciting attacking talent, while the other has not threatened qualification for a major tournament since Sinisa Gogic (remember him?) scored some memorable goals at the tail end of the last millenium. And with the game happening at at Guimares' home turf, one expected a shellacking. Still, somehow, Portugal managed to twice let the islander's take the lead before having to come back. Then they took the lead twice themselves before allowing the visitors to get back on level pegging both times. 2-2 in the first half, 4-4 at the final whistle. At the end of it all, eight different scorers could not separate the teams. The next time Portugal scored four against Cyprus, the response was somewhat more muted.
Armenia 3 - 1 Slovakia, Slovakia 0 - 4 Armenia
It's not just that Armenia beat Slovakia once at home, or that they returned the favour away from home as well. It's that both times Armenia utterly destroyed the round of 16 team from South Africa 2010. With their potent young trio of Movsisyan, Mkhitaryan and Ghazaryan in full flow, Armenia emerged as the fourth potential qualifiers from what turned out to be Europe's closest group. Armenia were persistent, expansive and displayed massive powers of belief mixed with execution of the highest quality. At time of writing, Armenia are just one solid result away from making the playoffs for the first time.
It's not just that Armenia beat Slovakia once at home, or that they returned the favour away from home as well. It's that both times Armenia utterly destroyed the round of 16 team from South Africa 2010. With their potent young trio of Movsisyan, Mkhitaryan and Ghazaryan in full flow, Armenia emerged as the fourth potential qualifiers from what turned out to be Europe's closest group. Armenia were persistent, expansive and displayed massive powers of belief mixed with execution of the highest quality. At time of writing, Armenia are just one solid result away from making the playoffs for the first time.
Serbia 1 - 3 Estonia, October 8 2010
Although the game is shrouded in rumours of player dissent mixed and bribery allegations, there was now way the Balkan powerhouse was supposed to lose, at home, this abjectly to a plucky but limited Estonian team. After Zdravko Kuzmanovic had put the home side up on the stroke of the hour, things looked to be going to plan but goals from Tarmo Kink and Konstantin Vasillijev titled the game back in the visitor's favour. The eternal image will be that of the Serbian defence falling back and giving the latter the freedom of the Crvena Zvezda Stadium to rifle home what turned out to be the game winner. To further compound the misery of the World Cup 2010 side was a late, late own goal turned in by Aleksander Lukovic.
Azerbaijan 1 - 0 Turkey October 8 2010
Turkey are one of the strongest teams east of Italy, with an almost peerless distribution of talent from yet another gifted generation. Azerbaijan are somewhat less, with a patchy history of mixed results and constantly drifting between being considered tricky and harmless. And in eight previous games, Turkey had won six and drawn two including four wins in Baku. So with the second round of games in sight, Turkey would have fancied an easy three points on the road. In the event nothing of the sort happened. Turkey were equal parts wasteful and inept while Azerbaijan were inspired. An early goal from Rashad Sadygov settled the tie and the Azeris went home celebrating their first win over their Turkish cousins since they emerged from the USSR.
Georgia 1 - 0 Croatia March 26 2011
Georgia and Croatia are on almost diametrically opposite sides of Europe's footballing spectrum. One is tricky at best with their best results at home when a side comes unprepared, the other is one of Europe's most talented and darkest horses. Heck, Georgia has even lost to Moldova and is generally a doormat tucked away in the mountains around Tibilisi. Croatia's players adorn some of Europe's biggest clubs and have a seemingly infinite pool of fresh faces coming through. So, to call this an astronomical upset is calling it lightly. A late, great goal from former Schalke striker Levan Kobiashvili decided the points and Croatia returned to Zagreb with their tails between their legs, with further calls for motivation against the minnows ringing in their ears.
Hungary 2 - 1 Sweden September 2 2011
This is a stretch, with Hungary having improved immeasurably in the past few years and Sweden having stalled somewhat. However, one team is a constant qualifier for international tournaments with their appearances comprised of recent quarter-final finishes along with third place at USA '94. The other team was shellacked 9-0 the last time they got close to an international tournament (losing to Yugoslavia in the playoffs for World Cup '98). So, the omens were dark for the hosts as the teams kicked off at Ferenc Puskas stadium in Budapest. Yet, Hungary took the lead through Imre Szabics before stealing the points with an injury time winner through Gergely Rudolf, one of the revelations of the tournament. Christian Wilhelmsson had levelled matters for the Swedes.
--
Full Details can be found here:
No comments:
Post a Comment