UEFA EURO 2012: Russia in disappointing home draw

Russia made it more complicated to qualify for the final stage of the UEFA finals, meaning that an away draw against Slovakia will probably be needed, while a home win against the Republic of Ireland today would have sealed the bid. Despite massacring Ireland on the pitch, Russia could not get the ball in the net. A point won for the visitors.

With the group stage nearing completion as the 51 teams competing take on their last two or three games, with hosts Poland and Ukraine already qualified, Russia leads group B, two points ahead of second-placed Republic of Ireland but with a difficult trip away to Slovakia in October. Russia plays away in Bratislava on October 7 while the Republic of Ireland has a relatively easy trip to Andorra (zero points in eight games). A Russian defeat and an Irish win would mean the Republic would need to beat Armenia in Dublin on October 11 to seal qualification. Russia's last game is in Moscow, against Andorra on the same date.

Interestingly, Armenia and Slovakia are close on the heels of the Republic. The group suddenly becomes interesting.

Tonight's games

Group A

Azerbaijan 3 - Kazakhstan 2

Austria 0 - Turkey 0

Germany qualified.

Group B

Russia 0 - Rep. Ireland 0

Macedonia 1 - Andorra 0

Slovakia 0 - Armenia 4

Group C

Serbia 3 - Faroe Islands 1

Estonia 4 - N. Ireland 1

Italy - Slovenia 0

Italy qualified

Group D

Luxemburg 2 - Albania 1

Romania 0 - France 0

The fight is between France and Bosia-Herzegovina. On October 7, Bosnia receives Luxemburg while France hosts Albania; on October 11, France hosts Bosnia.

Group E

Finland 0 - Netherlands 2

Moldova 0 - Hungary 2

San Marino 0 - Sweden 5

Netherlands qualified

Group F

Croatia 3 - Israel 1

Malta 1 - Georgia 1

Croatia leapfrogs ahead of Greece, Israel is out of it. On October 7, Greece hosts Croatia. On October 11, Croatia receives Latvia and Greece travels to Georgia.

Group G

Switzerland 3 - Bulgaria 1

England 1 - Wales 0

England qualifies.

Group H

Denmark 2 -Norway 0

Iceland 1 - Cyprus 0

Portugal, Denmark and Norway each have 13 points. On October 7, Denmark travels to Cyprus while Portugal receives Iceland. On October 11, Denmark receives Portugal and Norway visits Cyprus. If denmark wins the two games, it qualifies ahead of Portugal.

Group I

Scotland 1 - Lithuania 0

Spain 6 - Liechtenstein 0

Spain qualifies.

UEFA Rules for qualifying:

"Qualifying group stage
The 51 entrants were drawn into nine groups, six of six teams and three of five. Matches are played on a home-and-away basis between 3 September 2010 and 11 October 2011. The nine winners and the runner-up with the best record against the top five sides in their pool qualify directly for the final tournament. The eight remaining runners-up enter the play-offs.

Play-offs
The four sides with the best UEFA national team coefficient ranking will be seeded and will play the second legs on 15 November 2011 at home. The first legs will be played on 11 or 12 November. The teams which score the greater aggregate of goals qualifies for the finals, with away goals and then penalties used to determine the winner in the event of a draw".

(Source: UEFA.com)

Country Games Points Goals

Group A

ermany            8 24 28-5

Turkey             8 14 11-8

Belgium           8 12 16-11

Austria             8   8 12-16

Azerbaijan       8   7  9-21

Kazakhstan     8   3  5-20

Group B

Russia              8 17 10-4

Rep. Ireland     8 15 11-6

Armenia            8 14 17-7

Slovakia            8 14   6-8

Armenia            8 14 17-7

Macedonia        8   7   6-9

Andorra             8   0   1-17

Group C

Italy                 8 22 15-2

Serbia              8 14 12-10

Estonia            9 13  13-13

Slovenia          9 11 10-7

N. Ireland        8  9   8-8

Faroe Islands  10 4  6-26

Group D

France             8 17 11-3

Bosnia-H.        8 13 10-7

Romania          8 12 10-6

Belarus            9 12   6-4

Albania            8   8   6-9 

Luxemburg      9   4   3-16

Group E

Netherlands    8 24 34-5   

Sweden            8 18 27-7

Hungary          9 18 22-14

Moldavia         8   6  8-15

Finland            8   9 15-9

S. Marino        9   0   0-49

Group F

Croatia             8 19 16-5

Greece             8 17   9-3

Israel               9 13 11-11

Georgia            9 10   6-7

Latvia               8   7   5-10

Malta                8   1   4-17

Group G

England            7 17 15-3

Montenegro     6 11   5-3

Switzerland     6   8 10-8

Bulgaria          7   5   9-12

Wales             6   3   3-10

Group H

Portugal            6 13 15-7

Denmark          6 13   9-4

Norway             7 13   7-4

Iceland             7  4   3-7

Cyprus             6   2   5-12

Group I

Spain               6 18 12-5

Czech Rep.      6  10  8-5

Scotland          6    8  7-7

Lithuania         7    5  3-9

Liechtenstein  7    4  3-16

Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey

Pravda-Ru