Germany first to reach finals
Source: Agencies |
September 4, 2011, Sunday
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GERMANY became the first team to join co-hosts Poland and Ukraine in next year's Euro 2012 finals when it thrashed neighbor Austria 6-2 in Gelsenkirchen on Friday to seal top spot in Group A.
Although no other team joined it, the Netherlands and Italy are almost there. The Dutch crushed San Marino 11-0 in Eindhoven in Group E to record their record international victory while Italy had to work harder to beat the Faroe Islands 1-0 in Torshavn in a Group C match.
It was also a good night for England, which won 3-0 in Bulgaria to pull clear at the top of Group G; France, which beat Albania 2-1 in Group D; and Portugal, which prevailed 4-0 in Cyprus in Group H.
In other significant results, Greece and Croatia set up a head-to-head battle to qualify from Group F after Greece, the 2004 European champion, beat Israel 1-0 in Tel Aviv and Croatia won 3-1 in Malta.
That left Greece top of the group on 17 points, followed by Croatia on 16 and Israel on 13.
Russia went to the top of Group B after a 1-0 win over Macedonia in Moscow while Ireland and Slovakia, which was level with Russia on 13 points, drew 0-0 in Dublin.
Germany demolished its neighbor and rival with two goals from Mesut Ozil and one each from Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski, Andre Schuerrle and Mario Goetze.
That gave the three-time European champion its eighth win from eight and kept it on course to finish with a 100 percent record in the qualifiers for the first time.
Germany was not the highest scorer on the night though as the Netherlands ran riot against tiny San Marino with Robin van Persie scoring four times as they recorded their biggest win since a 9-0 win over Norway in 1972.
Having won all seven games, the Netherlands position at the top of the group was further strengthened with third-placed Hungary beating second-placed Sweden 2-1 in Budapest thanks to a late winner.
Hungary is now level with the Swedes on 15 points and involved in a two-way tussle for the runner-up spot with the Dutch going to Finland on Tuesday where a win will effectively take them into the finals, although if Sweden beats San Marino it will retain a remote mathematical chance of overhauling the Dutch.
Although no other team joined it, the Netherlands and Italy are almost there. The Dutch crushed San Marino 11-0 in Eindhoven in Group E to record their record international victory while Italy had to work harder to beat the Faroe Islands 1-0 in Torshavn in a Group C match.
It was also a good night for England, which won 3-0 in Bulgaria to pull clear at the top of Group G; France, which beat Albania 2-1 in Group D; and Portugal, which prevailed 4-0 in Cyprus in Group H.
In other significant results, Greece and Croatia set up a head-to-head battle to qualify from Group F after Greece, the 2004 European champion, beat Israel 1-0 in Tel Aviv and Croatia won 3-1 in Malta.
That left Greece top of the group on 17 points, followed by Croatia on 16 and Israel on 13.
Russia went to the top of Group B after a 1-0 win over Macedonia in Moscow while Ireland and Slovakia, which was level with Russia on 13 points, drew 0-0 in Dublin.
Germany demolished its neighbor and rival with two goals from Mesut Ozil and one each from Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski, Andre Schuerrle and Mario Goetze.
That gave the three-time European champion its eighth win from eight and kept it on course to finish with a 100 percent record in the qualifiers for the first time.
Germany was not the highest scorer on the night though as the Netherlands ran riot against tiny San Marino with Robin van Persie scoring four times as they recorded their biggest win since a 9-0 win over Norway in 1972.
Having won all seven games, the Netherlands position at the top of the group was further strengthened with third-placed Hungary beating second-placed Sweden 2-1 in Budapest thanks to a late winner.
Hungary is now level with the Swedes on 15 points and involved in a two-way tussle for the runner-up spot with the Dutch going to Finland on Tuesday where a win will effectively take them into the finals, although if Sweden beats San Marino it will retain a remote mathematical chance of overhauling the Dutch.
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