Euro 2004 play-offs

Very very close to actually getting the draw there, and 1-2 is an OK result considering the Spaniards will come to an Oslo at 0 degrees Centigrades, they may not like it all that much.

Heroic efforts from the Norwegian team - they showed a fighting spirit which was better than in a long time, just like predicted.

Boring, Peter?! You can't have been watching the same game as I was. There were goalscoring opportunities all the time. Norway had 4 very good chances, Spain must have had 4 times that. Espen Johnsen in goal was out of this world. He saved 3 or 4 very clear chances which an "average" goalie at this level would have conceded.

Steffen Iversen scored again against the Spanish. We need one more magic effort from him on Wednesday and we're through to the championships. And the players who were interviewed after the game all believe it is possible to win overall after this result. There's a world of difference between 1-2 and 0-2. That away goal could prove crucial, as we only need to win 1-0 at home. This could be really good.

Roll on Wednesday.

The 33 year old body of Brattbakk will be over the moon to discover his shoulders haven't been around quite so long.

Anyway,good result for Norway.And what's happenig with Carew?I mean,I know the reason,but is there any chance that Carew plays in the rematch?

[edtkh]

Does anyone have any idea where odds are still obtainable on 'Who to Qualify'? Betfair only have that on for Wales and Scotland - wonder if anyone's got odds available on the other 3 clashes... :hat

For those interested, odds are Betfair are as follows as I write :
Wales : 1.95 to qualify | 1.85 NOT to qualify.
Scotland : 2.84 to qualify | 1.45 NOT to qualify

Great game by Johnsen. Cant believe Rosenborg almost shipped him off to Brondby not so long ago!!

Norway got all the luck needed to get past this tricky encounter with a fair result. Or rather - the Spanish were just as wasteful as they have been throughout the campaign...

Unbelievable some of the chances Raul blew

Spain are still big favourites for this - with the current squad, it will be tough for Norway to come at the Spanish. But OK - the Spanish backline isnt the most defensive sound around, so with another dose of luck, a lot of hard work and an inspired effort from Iversen, who knows?...

Anyway - congratulatios

[MickeyPaul]

What a pity about Jaap Stam. If he'd never played in British footy he'd never have made that sliding tackle and wouldn't have got booked and would be playing for Holland on Wednesday. Damn you Alex Ferguson and your sliding ways!

:o Sorry, I'm a bit drunk and can't make out what I mean either. That Fletcher chap looks a bit good though eh?

is there any chance that Carew plays in the rematch?

I've learned to never say never, but the real answer to that question is no, he won't play.

Henning Berg will be out of the return leg because he was booked. Roar Strand will also be out due to injury. These absences will weaken the Norwegian team in the return leg...

Will Hills go:

Scotland 13/8 to qualify
Holland 4/9 to qualify

Russia 8/11 to qualify
Wales 1/1 to qualify

Latvia 13/8 to qualify
Turkey 4/9 to qualify

Spain 1/7 to qualify
Norway 4/1 to qualify

Croatia 1/1 to qualify
Slovenia 8/11 to qualify

[PompeyPunt]

I could be tempted by the 4/1 on Norway.

Of course Spain should go through, but that price seems a little big to me?

I would of thought at Evens, anyone with the confidence might wanna take Wales as well (were the Russians anything special? and their away record is poo)

[edtkh]

Couldn't agree more. Norway looks very tempting indeed considering Norway have got that away goal and would be playing in a freezing climate - the Spaniards looked piss poor throughout the whole match in Mestella(by their standards and the quality of those playing) and if they're going to put in another similar performance like they did yesterday, Portugal looks no more remote a destination for Spain than Norway. Those are massive odds really, even if Norway have since added to their list of absentees for the return leg. :b

The Dutch and the Turks are definitely too short IMO. Wouldn't really be surprised if one of them should fail to make Portugal given the lack of an away goal for both those teams - don't see much value in such short odds there.

Perhaps, there could also be value in Croatia as I believe most would agree that they are a more quality side than Slovenia, albeit more inconsistent. Should they perform at their erratic best, then what's on offer at the moment must make decent value for them to qualify. :b

Not going to touch the Welsh having got on them at better prices earlier as their odds now are pretty much what it should have been and what I'd expect - a 50-50 clash there IMO. :p

After as much respected as unexpected defeat of Italy I sincerely believed the next match should be easier and quite certain to predict - Poland only.
But reluctantly as I'm going to admit this current events do not inspire my confidence. First - Polish midfield continues to be non-existent (no quality first-team regular players available for numerous reasons) which paradoxically helped in Italy clash as we were forced to develop attacks through the wings only which normally would not have been the case (the midfield was patched up with two defensive midfielders and not very brilliant players, Lewandowski and Kukielka - but who would dare to say that after the win ?) and both Kosowski and Krzynowek seemed to have had their day. And defence was as reliable as rarely before.
But for today all other things unchanged our defence has been seriously crippled - Bak and Glowacki will not play as well as Zewlakow (but he was not good on Wednesday anyway). These seem to me vital losses. And Dudek maintained tradition of underperfoming in Poland's appearances - out of his 2-3 interventions he let in one goal and almost procured the other. Wingers need to maintain the crazy pace they demonstrated against Italy to make for the loss in defence power and I hardly can see it (they won't be fresh to keep up the speed again). So the real scenario I'm contemplating for this meeting is either Poland will be able to score relatively quickly at least 2 goals (which I cannot see two times in a row - not our team) or they're not going to benefit much from this match.
S&M win at 3,5 could be worth trying (or better x2 double result at 1,75 could be placed with betfair).
And I've decided to go for it (double result I mean with medium stakes).

Good Luck

Quote
I have 6/5 for Poland to beat Serbia&M on a freezing night in Warsaw,
Hate to say I told you so Kojic
I think that the match was never really in doubt (the score is deceiving), I was just as surprised as the poster above that Poland could string two good performances together considering their recent form. Actually on these two showings, its a real shame they will not be in Portugal in the summer. Two great wins for me from Poland, Fantastickna or however say it in Warsasw!!

Hate to say I told you so Kojic...
...its a real shame they will not be in Portugal in the summer

Oh,come on! The score was 4:3 and this match could go in both ways.You should be a real.S&M didn't deserve to play in EURO2004,because they have played too relaxing in some matches.The same is with Poland.There is no shame here.Both teams got what they have deserved and end of the story.There is no point to make euphory after some good results in friendlies,because Italy played with 2nd team and S&M has been without 12 players.
With a new coach Ilija Petkovic,S&M plays excelent and a very beautyfull football again.

Yes it was 4-3 but it was 4- 2 after 89 minutes!!!!:b
Poland were 2-0 up after half an hour, your lot didnt score until 20 minutes from the end, then Poland took just 3 minutes to keep there two goal advantage, even when you scored again, Poland replied again within three minutes. I never said Poland deserved to be in Euro 2004, just that its a shame they are not on there current form especially sice they were the most dissapointing team (except France) at the World Cup.
But no use crying over spilt milk, Croatiz v Slovenia was as tight as we expected, What do you expect from the return leg, the bookies slightly favour Slovenia, can you see Croatia getting anything out of that match?

Croatiz v Slovenia was as tight as we expected,What do you expect from the return leg, the bookies slightly favour Slovenia, can you see Croatia getting anything out of that match?

No bet for me here.

But for God's sake,where did you saw a tight match!There was 13 corners for Croatia and 0 for Slovenia! Slovenia had only one shot and has scored a lucky goal. :p They don't play football,but I must admit that Slovenian players have a bigger heart.Croatia is the best home team in Europe and relaxing play by them after 1:0 is the only reason why Slovenia took a draw.And Slovenia's "10 mens" defense,of course! 8o

[edtkh]

Croatia is the best home team in Europe? Which planet are you from kojic? :p

Maybe you'd take like to take heed of a small little team called France which has won its last 13 matches(home and away)...

Sorry Kojic, I didnt mean that the game was tight, just the result! I had heard that there was a Croatia onslaught, but that the Slovenians coped quite well.
Looking at the return leg Croatia are 2-1 to win, I think that is worth a bet. especially as Slovenia are only 6/5.
But any result wouldnt be a surprise, the draw also at 9-4 looks temping, but as I said before predicting draws is really hard.
Any match whic is as difficult to call as this is alwasy worth a bet at 2-1....

Merson,I agree with you! Croatia is much better team and they should go on EURO2004!I will place my money on away win too.But you should cover it with a draw,because Slovenia will play strong defense again.Hosts will be without Siljak(their top scorer),who scored they only goal vs.Croatia.Also there is a fact that Slovenia has never beaten Croatia.They played three matches in Slovenia,and Croatia won in all 3!So I think that (X)2 is goo choice here!Cheers!

Croatia is the best home team in Europe? Which planet are you from kojic?

You really have the problems with your head,edtkh! :rolleyes
You should check before you write something(like "young Brattbak" ).My friend,Croatia has never lost any official match at home!I know that France is strong at home and to be honest I didn't see their record.Maybe I wrote wrong.I should say "one of the best".But France isn't important factor for this match between Croatia and Slovenia.

Certainly you did not watch the Croatia-Slovenia match, kojic. While it is true Croatia dominated most of the second half (although only Slovenia had a REAL scoring chance this half), Slovenia was slightly better in the first.

Both teams had only 2 serious chances, and both teams scored only 1 goal. Croatia lost the midfield battle all game until their 3 substitions, coupled with a tiring Slovenian team, turned the game around. Possession only started to go into Croatia's favour 10 minutes into the 2nd period. Notice how Slovenia's coach didn't even make a single substitution until his team was desperate for fresh legs. Why? Slovenia has ZERO depth beyond their first 11. However, that first 11 is a much better *team* than Croatia's 11. I don't know if this is because they have a lot of experience playing together, have more heart, or simply a better coach, but they are better no doubt..certainly this has been the case since Euro 2000 (which Croatia didn't even qualify for). Croatia doesn't have better players, just MORE quality players. E.g. There's no depth behind Siljak and Cimiroti. No backup player comparable to Sokota who is replacing Croatia's suspended Olic.

As for the game in Ljubljana this Wednesday, I believe Croatia will win...maybe 2-0. Unless, of course, the Slovenians somehow manage to score first. I don't see this happening simply because their team is now devoid of any skill up front with Cimirotic injured, Osterc banished, and the top goal scorer of Euro 2004 qualifying (Siljak) suspsended. They have no other forwards. Count on Croatia winning unless Slovenia gets a flukey goal first (if this happens, it is all over consider Slovenia's very strong defense headed by Kauserlautern's captain (Knavs).

[edtkh]

kojic, I wonder if you've even got a head to use for a start. Or maybe your head is as useful as your command of English, huh?

First, you said Wales had 'no chance'(let's face it, since when was there any event with a probability of 1 in football which the bookies still offer bets for?)

Now, you're harping about Croatia being the 'best team in Europe' - oh, and now you just realised there's a team which is as good, if not better :b Now, the bollocks you sprout is simply ludicrous beyond reason - Croatia have a 'massive' 3-1-0 home record for Euro 2004 Qualifiers, which is only better than Bulgaria's on goal difference but funny how Bulgaria still topped the group on the virtue of better h2h France have a 100% home record, Czech Republic have a 100% home record including a win over Holland, Holland's home record is as good, if not better(on goal difference anyway), as Croatia's. Similarly Turkey has a same point tally with Croatia and have a better goal difference than Croatia. Germany, Scotland, England, Switzerland got as many points as Croatia did at home, with a worse goal difference though. Even the 'mighty'
Russia had a 100% home record! :p If you still decide to blatantly insist that Croatia's still the best home side in Europe based on those facts, you might as well pack up and watch paint dry - may be more suitable for you anyway. They're probably 'one of the best teams in europe' - that's if you consider 'best' to include more than a tenth of the 52 confederations registered with UEFA. For fcuk's sake, get a life and stop asserting your bigoted opinions formulated using your selective memory. :b

Now, you're harping about Croatia being the 'best team in Europe'...
...Croatia have a 'massive' 3-1-0 home record for Euro 2004 Qualifiers

Man,you really have the problems!

I didn't say that Croatia is the best team in Europe!I said that Croatia is strong home team,because she has never lost any official match at home!Do you even know where is Croatia? 8o

(let's face it, since when was there any event with a probability of 1 in football which the bookies still offer bets for?)

You should check yor comment for Scotlan - Holland!