11-9-19 EURO QUALIFYING SOCCER WEEK
EURO QUALIFERS
GROUP D
ROI 1-1 SWITZERLAND
GALLANT MC GOLDRICK
MOMENT
The Swiss dominated and deservedly led when Fabian Schar
scored to cap off a good passing move.
McGoldrick headed home from James McClean's deflected cross
to save a point.
MY
OPINION
This was a point well earned by
the Irish and it does keep their Euro qualification run on track as they seem
to be doing the business but it does still feel like everything will run to
that final day but the Swiss Denmark match could also change things. I do think
mick has seen what he needs to see from friendlies to make calls for big
matches in October
GEORGIA 0-0 DENMARK
WISE WEISS
The visitors did enjoy most of the play in the first half
but were unable to make it count on the scoresheet and as the game wore on, the
home team grew in confidence and began to dictate the game
Danish talisman Christian Eriksen cut a frustrated figure
throughout the second half as the visitors struggled to control the encounter.
"Georgia might even have won it when they put that
free-kick straight at Kasper Schmeichel at the death and there were a few
shouts around the room here when that happened.
MY
OPINION
I think that this says that
Georgia are beginning to move up the levels and will not make it easy for
anyone going to the stadium and that could be a problem for Ireland but it was
said that it was a poor performance by the Dains and that the Georgians
deserved their point
GROUP I
SCOTLAND 1-2 RUSSIA
INSANE IONOV
Ryan Fraser, playing
off the left wing, found himself in possession on the byeline with two Russians
for company. Unfazed, the Bournemouth man dropped his shoulder and swung in a
searching right foot cross which should have been business as usual for
Guilherme. Instead the goalie inexplicably allowed the ball to bounce off him
and land at the feet of John McGinn who continued his superb start to the
season and showed composure to volley home
The captain Dzyuba, who evened the scores. Fortune may have
favoured the striker - skipper Andy Robertson’s interception from Alexandr
Golovin dropping fortuitously at his feet, but the big Russian’s first touch
opened up his body and allow him to drill low past Marshall
Alesksei Ionov sent Golovin racing away down the Russian
right channel, and after the Monaco man had snuck in behind Cooper, his cross
to the back post found Zhirkov who bundled home under pressure from O’Donnell.
MY
OPINION
I think this might be a result
that destroys Scotland’s hopes at least through this system as they lose a
match that that they deserved to win and these types of matches sometimes are
what can change a nation’s moral at least their next big matches don’t come for
a month
SCOTLAND 0-4 BELGIUM
LETHAL LUKAKU
Dries Mertens beat Stephen O'Donnell to the ball and spotted
De Bruyne's sprint down the left wing. Andy Robertson found himself isolated
against the Manchester City playmaker and Lukaku, and the through-ball and
finish were perfect.
The second goal came after De Bruyne took a short corner in
the 24th minute. Robertson was slow at providing help for the outnumbered
Callum McGregor and De Bruyne sent in a cross that Vermaelen knocked home from
six yards after escaping the attentions of McLean.
The third goal, eight minutes later, was even more
straightforward. Alderweireld beat Charlie Mulgrew to De Bruyne's corner and
headed in off the bar from 12 yards.
There was a fourth for the Belgians, Lukaku being allowed to
turn by some more comatose Scottish defending before finding the unplayable De
Bruyne, who slotted a right-footed curler beyond Marshall to pile on the pain
for what was left of the home crowd
MY
OPINION
This was a disaster no question
about it and it means that Scotland will find it very difficult to qualify through
this route. I think that they are going to have to sort themselves out for the
play offs in March but this passage might just be done
GROUP A
ENGLAND 4-0 BULGERIA
KILLER KANE
Trying to play the ball out for from the back, Bulgaria goalkeeper
Plaman Iliev tries to ping a pass towards Vasil Bozhikov on the edge of the
penalty area. His delivery is wayward and goes straight to Raheem Sterling
instead. Advancing towards the byline, he pulls a diagonal ball into the path
of Harry Kane who slots home from six yards out.
Harry Kane scores from the penalty spot after Marcus
Rashford had been brought down in the Bulgaria penalty area by
Nikolay Bodurov.
The winger knees the
ball home from all of one yard out, making no mistake as he got on the end of a
Harry Kane dink from the left side of the six-yard box.
Harry Kane is brought down by the substitute Dimitrov, who
takes his standing leg from underneath him.
Harry Kane scores with ease, despite the goalkeeper guessing
the right way this time. He fires to Iliev’s right and the ball fizzes into the
back of the net.
MY
OPINION
I think that this was a simple
match for England as they just blew Bulgaria away and it did look from this
match like they were serious contenders and I think this Nation can develop a lot
further as they are so many young players in their squad
ENGLAND 5-3 KOSAVO
SANCO SKILLS
He’s played a piss-poor pass towards Maguire, easily
intercepted by Muriqi, that’s what. Suddenly Kosovo are two on one!
Muriqi slips a simple ball down the inside left for Berisha, who opens his body
and sidefoots powerfully past Pickford and into the bottom left!
Barkley hits the corner long. Keane rises high above
Rrahmani, heading deliberately back across goal, where Sterling is able to
expertly guide a header past Muric from six yards. What a start!
This is a wonderful goal. Sterling turns and wriggles out of
trouble in the centre circle, an electric eel, then barrels down the middle. He
slips a pass to Kane on the left. Kane enters the area, takes a touch to get
rid of Vojvoda, and slams a low shot between Muric’s legs and into the net from
a tight angle!
Little Alexander-Arnold come together on the halfway line.
Aliti comes off worse, and goes down. England don’t put the ball out
- they’re not obliged to - and off goes Sancho down the right. He reaches the
byline, amid a cacophony of irate Kosovan whistling, and fires a low cross
across the face of goal. Vojvoda, a couple of yards out, is taken by surprise,
can’t sort his feet out, and diverts the ball into the net.
Rice breaks up a Kosovan attack inside his own half. The
ball breaks to Henderson, who immediately slides a pass down the left to
release Sterling into acres. Suddenly England are four on two. Sterling slips
the ball right for Sancho, who scores his first goal for England by taking a
touch before sliding it past Muric in the fuss-free style
Chilwell clips a pass down the left for Sterling, who
knocks it past Rrahmani and zips into space. He makes it all the way to the
left-hand edge of the six-yard box, then carefully dinks the cutest of crosses
over the outstretched Muric towards Sancho, who can’t miss from six yards.
Rice needlessly gives the ball away in midfield,
allowing Kosovo to pour forward. Muriqi powers down the right before
scooping a wonderful cross towards the left for Berisha, who takes a touch
inside to see off Henderson with ease, then curls an unstoppable effort into
the top right!
Space for Berisha
down the right. He rolls the ball into the box for Muriqi, who takes a touch on
the edge of the box. Maguire slides in. He should intercept, but misses the
ball, and hanging his leg out for a second time, taps Muriqi on the ankle
Muriqi slots the ball into the top right. Just. It wasn’t
tight in the corner, and Pickford got a good hand to it. But not a strong one.
Look at this preposterous scoreline!
MY
OPINION
So many goals this can be seen
as a blessing and a curse but you have to ask why England played such a poor second
half as this was not one of the better teams in the group. I guess they can
learn how to defend better and what to do in practice
GROUP C
NI 0-2 GERMANY
HAPPY HASTENBERG
Germany silence Belfast. Déjà vu as Gnabry dances through
the spine of the absent Northern Ireland midfield, the ball breaks
wide this time to the right, where Klostermann spins a ball in towards the back
post. Marcel Halstenberg picks it up, with Stuart Dallas caught in no man’s
land and the left-back hammers a volley across goal and beyond Peacock-Farrell.
Sweet finish.
A beautifully crafted goal, with the substitute Kai
Havertz supplying Serge Gnabry, who races on to a slipped pass ahead of Craig
Cathcart and the forward slides the ball through the legs of Bailey
Peacock-Farrell. A cheeky finish to round off a good night for Germany in
Belfast.
MY
OPINION
This was not a good result as I
think it will be the one to put NI out as they needed at least a point after
Germany losing to the Netherlands. Games and goals will change this game I
could say that and what I mean is that NI could not score in the first half and
now they regret that
GERMANY 2-4 NETHERLANDS
MA MA MALEN
Klostermann makes a fabulous run down the right channel that
is picked out by Kroos' even better ball...Cillessen blocks...but it drops for
Gnabry, who fires into the far corner. Germany utterly clinical: that was their
first major attack of the match.
Babel hugs the left touch line, gets the ball across...Tah
can't reach it, De Jong nicks it away from Schulz and then fires over the
advancing Neuer to level. That has been coming!
At a corner, Van Dijk dominates in the air...Neuer makes a
world-class save to deny the Liverpool defender, but when the ball is played
back in, Babel forces the ball over the line. Germany can't cope with the Dutch
right now.
Kroos is just the sort of man you want in this sort of
situation...and he proves it as he sends Cillessen the wrong way. We're all
square again!
The Dutch win the ball back high up the pitch...Depay slips
a lovely ball into Wijnaldum, he lifts as pass into the path of Malen, who
sidefoots a volley past Neuer to stun the hosts. As painful as it is to say it,
that was a beautifully worked goal.
Depay is released into the Germany half...Tah
jockeys...Wijnaldum is charging up on the right, and is found by Depay before
he dispatches a low shot past Neuer. That was a devastating counter-attack and
surely the game is now up for Germany.
MY
OPINION
This result shows to me that the
Dutch are back in a big way and the fact is I think they are ready for this
massive challenge. The Dutch seem to be ready for anyone which is a huge
problem for NI
GROUP E
WALES 2-1 AZERBYJAN
BANG BALE
Ryan Giggs' side took a first-half lead in comical fashion
as the ball looped high into the air from a deflected Bale shot and hit an
unsuspecting Pavlo Pashayev before rolling past a wrong-footed Salahat Agayev
in the Azerbaijan goal.
But that only papered over the cracks of a sloppy display
from Wales, who conceded a dismal equaliser as Neil Taylor gave the ball away
and saw Mahir Emreli score on the rebound after Wayne Hennessey could only
parry his weak first effort.
However, with a little over five minutes left, Wales captain
and all-time leading goalscorer Bale came to their rescue once again as he
headed in from close range, via the crossbar, to spark wild celebrations
MY
OPINION
Wales needed this win for sure
as there is so much can still happen in this group and nothing is certain as it
is a very tight group and this win can change Wales prospects massively. They
now are the only team in the group with a game in hand but are 3 points behind.
This is definitely one of the strongest Wales teams they have had
SLOVACKIA 0-4 CROTIA
PERISIC PERFECTION
The Croatians hit the woodwork three times in the first half
in Trnava and Slovakia keeper Martin Dubravka pulled off several good saves
before Nikola Vlasic fired the visitors ahead in the 45th minute with his first
international goal.
Ivan Perisic, who hit the crossbar and the post in the first
half, made it 2-0 less than a minute after the break when his heavily-deflected
shot from 25 metres left Dubravka stranded.
Striker Bruno Petkovic added the third with a
simple close-range finish after a flowing move as Croatia kept their feet on
the pedal while Slovakia could only muster a pair of shots from Robert Mak at
the other end.
Defender Dejan Lovren put the icing on the cake
for Croatia with a diving header from a tight angle in the 89th minute.
MY
OPNION
Croatia looks like they are on fire
during this match and they looked like they had a real chance of qualifying as Slovakia
were one of the other counters for the 2 spots in this group. This is not the
big match but it did look like Croatia could beat anyone
HUNGARY 1-2 SLOVACKIA
BOSENIK BALECIMO
AZERBYJAN 1-1 CROTIA
KHAILZADE KREATES
Dejan Lovren, Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic all started
for Croatia and they led through Luka Modric's penalty.
The Azeris had lost all four games so far but Tamkin
Khalilzade's stunning solo goal gave them a famous result.
MY OPINION
This is the one bad result that Croatia
did not want to have going forward as it keeps them in the hunt for one of the
2 spots available. I am surprised at the fact that a stroke of genius changed
the game as this changes everything
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