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Irish, Czechs, Croats on track
Source: Agencies |
November 13, 2011, Sunday
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IRELAND and Croatia erased bad memories with stunning football and seven goals on Friday as they made preliminary bookings for the Euro 2012 finals by crushing Estonia and Turkey away, respectively.
In the other playoff first legs, Czech Republic overcame Montenegro 2-0 in Prague where Vaclav Pilar scored after 63 minutes and Tomas Sivok in added time while Bosnia and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal slugged out a goalless draw on a poor surface in Zenica.
Ireland, seeking to forget the disappointment of its infamous 'Henry handball' playoff defeat by France in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, won 4-0 in Estonia in their first leg while Croatia beat the Turks 3-0 in Istanbul.
For Croatia, it was a satisfying triumph as goals from Ivica Olic, Mario Mandzukic and Vedran Corluka went some way to exacting revenge for its quarterfinal defeat by the Turks in the 2008 finals. They struck early and silenced the home crowd.
"It is virtually decided," Turkey coach Guus Hiddink said. "It was very difficult for us after they scored in the second minute - I guess I will make changes for players who will play for their honor now."
Ireland, seeking to reach its first major tournament since the 2002 World Cup finals, galloped to victory in Tallinn thanks to a Keith Andrews header after 13 minutes and second-half strikes from Jon Walters and two from Robbie Keane, his second an 88th-minute penalty.
By then, the home team was down to nine men having lost Andrei Stepanov, who was sent off after 34 minutes, and Raio Piiroja, after 77.
This left Giovanni Trapattoni's side with a straightforward task in Tuesday's playoff second leg in Dublin as it extended its unbeaten run to 10 games.
Ireland was devastated two years ago when French striker Thierry Henry handled the ball in setting up a goal bundled in by William Gallas as France won to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
Both sides missed chances in Bosnia but Portugal will be the happier ahead of Tuesday's second leg though its coach Paulo Bento was less enthused by the playing surface. "Portugal played on a pitch which UEFA should not have allowed, but we tried to do the best we could," he added.
On a busy night of friendlies for teams which had already reached Euro 2012, Mario Balotelli justified his place as leader of Italy's attack by scoring its opening goal in a 2-0 win in Poland - co-hosts with Ukraine of next year's tournament.
Ukraine almost produced an upset, but after leading Germany 3-1 it had to settle for a 3-3 draw in Kiev where the 2010 World Cup semifinalist was rescued by a 77th-minute goal from Thomas Mueller.
Elsewhere, it was: France 1, United States 0; Mexico 2, Serbia 0; Netherlands 0, Switzerland 0; Greece 1, Russia 1; and Denmark 2, Sweden 0.
In the other playoff first legs, Czech Republic overcame Montenegro 2-0 in Prague where Vaclav Pilar scored after 63 minutes and Tomas Sivok in added time while Bosnia and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal slugged out a goalless draw on a poor surface in Zenica.
Ireland, seeking to forget the disappointment of its infamous 'Henry handball' playoff defeat by France in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, won 4-0 in Estonia in their first leg while Croatia beat the Turks 3-0 in Istanbul.
For Croatia, it was a satisfying triumph as goals from Ivica Olic, Mario Mandzukic and Vedran Corluka went some way to exacting revenge for its quarterfinal defeat by the Turks in the 2008 finals. They struck early and silenced the home crowd.
"It is virtually decided," Turkey coach Guus Hiddink said. "It was very difficult for us after they scored in the second minute - I guess I will make changes for players who will play for their honor now."
Ireland, seeking to reach its first major tournament since the 2002 World Cup finals, galloped to victory in Tallinn thanks to a Keith Andrews header after 13 minutes and second-half strikes from Jon Walters and two from Robbie Keane, his second an 88th-minute penalty.
By then, the home team was down to nine men having lost Andrei Stepanov, who was sent off after 34 minutes, and Raio Piiroja, after 77.
This left Giovanni Trapattoni's side with a straightforward task in Tuesday's playoff second leg in Dublin as it extended its unbeaten run to 10 games.
Ireland was devastated two years ago when French striker Thierry Henry handled the ball in setting up a goal bundled in by William Gallas as France won to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
Both sides missed chances in Bosnia but Portugal will be the happier ahead of Tuesday's second leg though its coach Paulo Bento was less enthused by the playing surface. "Portugal played on a pitch which UEFA should not have allowed, but we tried to do the best we could," he added.
On a busy night of friendlies for teams which had already reached Euro 2012, Mario Balotelli justified his place as leader of Italy's attack by scoring its opening goal in a 2-0 win in Poland - co-hosts with Ukraine of next year's tournament.
Ukraine almost produced an upset, but after leading Germany 3-1 it had to settle for a 3-3 draw in Kiev where the 2010 World Cup semifinalist was rescued by a 77th-minute goal from Thomas Mueller.
Elsewhere, it was: France 1, United States 0; Mexico 2, Serbia 0; Netherlands 0, Switzerland 0; Greece 1, Russia 1; and Denmark 2, Sweden 0.
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