Cream rises in Euro qualifiers
Source: Agencies |
October 10, 2010, Sunday
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THE cream began to rise to the top of the Euro 2012 qualifying groups with world and European champion Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Portugal all winning their matches in style on Friday.
Spain saw off Lithuania 3-1 in Salamanca to take its tally to six points from two games and move to the top of Group I with all three goals coming from headers - two by Fernando Llorente and one from David Silva.
Germany stayed top of Group A with a 3-0 win over Turkey in Berlin with Miroslav Klose scoring twice to take his tally for Germany to 57 goals, while the Dutch won 1-0 in Moldova to take over first place in Group E with a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar strike.
Klose, who moved to within 11 goals of Gerd Mueller's all-time national record of 68, said he seemed to have more luck scoring for Germany than for Bayern Munich.
"It's never been my aim to catch up with Gerd, he is a phenomenon," added Klose.
Forty thousand Turkish fans made it a lively atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium and they booed every time Mesut Ozil, who opted to play for Germany rather than Turkey last year, touched the ball. The midfielder had the last laugh, though, scoring Germany's second in the 79th minute.
Portugal beat Denmark 3-1 in Porto with Nani scoring twice in two minutes and Cristiano Ronaldo adding the third to jump from fourth to second in Group H behind surprise leader Norway.
Although most of the contenders for the European crown at the finals in Poland and Ukraine have only played three matches, it was largely business as usual across the continent.
Former world champion Italy bucked the trend by being held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland in Belfast but remained top of Group C with second-placed Serbia slumping to an unexpected 1-3 defeat at home to unfancied Estonia.
France and England, hoping to put their World Cup failure behind them by the time of the Euro finals, were not in action.
France plays Romania in their Group D match later yesterday at the Stade de France and England will look to maintain its unbeaten start in Group G against surprise unbeaten leader Montenegro on Tuesday at Wembley.
Montenegro, which has only been playing as an independent nation for three years and has a tiny pool from which to chose its team, maintained its unexpectedly excellent start by beating Switzerland 1-0 to preserve a 100 percent record.
Norway, like Montenegro another surprisingly successful package, maintained its place at the head of Group H. It took its tally to nine with a 2-1 win in Cyprus with goals from John Arne Riise and John Carew.
There were few surprises on the night but there was an upset for Slovakia, which lost 1-3 away to Armenia in Group B, with Russia holding on to beat Ireland 3-2 in Dublin in the same group.
In friendly matches yesterday, it was: Australia 1, Paraguay 0; and New Zealand 1, Honduras 1.
Spain saw off Lithuania 3-1 in Salamanca to take its tally to six points from two games and move to the top of Group I with all three goals coming from headers - two by Fernando Llorente and one from David Silva.
Germany stayed top of Group A with a 3-0 win over Turkey in Berlin with Miroslav Klose scoring twice to take his tally for Germany to 57 goals, while the Dutch won 1-0 in Moldova to take over first place in Group E with a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar strike.
Klose, who moved to within 11 goals of Gerd Mueller's all-time national record of 68, said he seemed to have more luck scoring for Germany than for Bayern Munich.
"It's never been my aim to catch up with Gerd, he is a phenomenon," added Klose.
Forty thousand Turkish fans made it a lively atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium and they booed every time Mesut Ozil, who opted to play for Germany rather than Turkey last year, touched the ball. The midfielder had the last laugh, though, scoring Germany's second in the 79th minute.
Portugal beat Denmark 3-1 in Porto with Nani scoring twice in two minutes and Cristiano Ronaldo adding the third to jump from fourth to second in Group H behind surprise leader Norway.
Although most of the contenders for the European crown at the finals in Poland and Ukraine have only played three matches, it was largely business as usual across the continent.
Former world champion Italy bucked the trend by being held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland in Belfast but remained top of Group C with second-placed Serbia slumping to an unexpected 1-3 defeat at home to unfancied Estonia.
France and England, hoping to put their World Cup failure behind them by the time of the Euro finals, were not in action.
France plays Romania in their Group D match later yesterday at the Stade de France and England will look to maintain its unbeaten start in Group G against surprise unbeaten leader Montenegro on Tuesday at Wembley.
Montenegro, which has only been playing as an independent nation for three years and has a tiny pool from which to chose its team, maintained its unexpectedly excellent start by beating Switzerland 1-0 to preserve a 100 percent record.
Norway, like Montenegro another surprisingly successful package, maintained its place at the head of Group H. It took its tally to nine with a 2-1 win in Cyprus with goals from John Arne Riise and John Carew.
There were few surprises on the night but there was an upset for Slovakia, which lost 1-3 away to Armenia in Group B, with Russia holding on to beat Ireland 3-2 in Dublin in the same group.
In friendly matches yesterday, it was: Australia 1, Paraguay 0; and New Zealand 1, Honduras 1.
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