UEFA Euro Qualifiers 2020

[kevin04]

Believe if Ireland win tonight they'll qualify for the Euros.

Big Mick with some record - undefeated.

Oops, just seen it's 1-0 the Swiss. Still not to fear Ireland, as a draw would be a decent result and keep Swiss 4pts behind with 2 games to go.

[Jonathan]

Best you can say is Ireland were plucky

[Shedboy]

Faroe Islands v Malta game didn't live up to the hype but the Faroes march on after a 1-0 win.

[Two Crows]

Switzerland 2 Republic of Ireland 0.

Switzerland are on 11pts and with games against Georgia and Gibraltar to come they will likely end on 17pts.

Denmark are on 12pts with a game against Gibraltar to come before they face Ireland in Dublin are likely to be on 15pts by then.

Ireland who also have 12pts at the moment only have the Denmark game remaining, so qualification is all down to a straight shoot-out between Rep Ireland and Denmark next month. Ireland must win to qualify on head-to-head between the two, first match in Copenhagen finished 0-0.

Not unprecedented. The last time Ireland played Denmark at the Aviva in a winner takes all scenario following a 0-0 draw in Copenhagen was the qualifiers for the 2018 WC two years ago. Denmark won 5-1, oops!

[kevin04]

We've got the final few game(s) in four weeks time to confirm the 20 Euro 2020 teams, followed up by March's Playoffs.

Grp A - England top with 15pts ; Czech Rep 12 ; Kosovo 11. That England loss in Czech may well pip Kosovo to the second spot, after England gave them their first defeat in 2 years in that 5-3 game last month, they then beat Montenegro 2-0 in the last set of games. Looking at the fixture run in - Czech : Kosovo (h) Bulgaria (a), think Kosovo will be just short of a top two spot - but they've got a playoff to look forward to from their Nations League campaign.

B - Shevchenko has been working some magic with Ukraine(19pts) and they are undefeated in their group (6 wins and a draw - 4pts from Portugal) and qualified for the Euros in their last game by beating Portugal 2-1. They won the U20s World Cup last year and so no doubt will be a very decent side in the next few years, although they've still got that Dave Beasant lookalike Pyatov in the goals - tends to flog the odd goal. Portugal 12 pts, Serbia 11 and with Portugal's last two games : Lithuania and Luxembourg, barring a shock couple of draws, Portugal - the current Euro and Nations League Champs will be at Euro 2020. Serbia will play in the C League Playoffs.

C -Netherlands and Germany are joint top of the group on 15pts having both beaten each other. Northern Ireland are in third place on 12pts and were incredibly unlucky not to get something from Amsterdam last week, were 1-0 up going in to the 88th minute and shipped three quick goals to lose 3-1. NI have Holland to come to Windsor and away game in Germany ; they have an incredible team spirit (they beat Czech Rep 3-2 in a friendly on Monday) so I'd never say never that they can get some points and put a spanner in the works ; but realistically, it'll be Holland and Germany straight through with NI most likely being in the Playoffs (more on that at the bottom ; if anyone can be bothered

D - The proverbial duck's erse. Ireland 12, Switzerland 11, Denmark 11. The Swiss have two games to go - Georgia and Gibraltar so you'd imagine they'll be an automatic qualifier - although the Georgians have 8 pts and are a decent side -the only side they've lost to at home was the Swiss. Denmark play Gibraltar at home - basically 3 pts in the bag - would then move them to 14 and Ireland 12 setting up a winner take all game in the Aviva. More than likely the third place team will be in the Playoffs though and so will Georgia.

E - A very close group. First to fourth (there's only five in the group) can all qualify. Croatia 14, Hungary 12, Slovakia 10, Wales 8. Wales go to Azerbaijan and then would set up a similar cup final to the Irish have in their group, albeit the Welsh against Hungary in Cardiff. I fear Wales will draw one of their games and either Slovakia/Hungary will go through with Croatia ; but it could any way - Croatia could still go out yet having a 6pt lead with 2 games to go. Although Wales will most likely have a Playoff to look forward to if they are just short.

F - Spain haven't been great to watch. Really dull but grinding out results ; two late draws in the double-header in Oslo and Stockholm was enough for them to qualify. Sweden (15) have pretty much secured an auto spot as well - although first up is Romania (14pts) so if they can avoid defeat, Sweden then can secure qualification by beating the Faroes.

G - Poland are through on 19pts, Austria are on 16, Slovenia/Israel/Macedonia 11. So unless Austria capitulate an they have hapless and pointless Latvia to play, it'll be the top two going through. Macedonia will have a playoff to look forward to whilst Israel may well have to rely on the results in other games (and a possible Bulgarian ban?) to secure a playoff ; but there are highly likely to be in the Playoffs.

H - France 19, Turkey 19, Iceland 15, Albania 12. It's not impossible, but looking very hard for Iceland to qualify. Iceland play Turkey in Istanbul and even if they win that they will still be a point behind but the Turks who then play Andorra in their final game so unless there is some major fireworks here, it'll be the top two going through automatically, Iceland lost badly in Tirana 4-2 to Albania and that result is really their only flaw in a decent campaign (along with Turkey taking 4pts of the French whilst France taking 6pts of Iceland).

I - Belgium and Russia romped the group 24 and 21 pts. Russia have impressed me the most, 9-0 in their last two games (4-0 and 5-0 vs Scotland and Cyprus) and the Belgians need to go there next Both are well through and qualified, but have a wee feeling they'll beat them to top the group. It doesn't matter though, these two are streets ahead of Cyprus, Scotland and the rest. Scotland are lucky that they won their Nations League group and that playoff in March to look (well maybe not) forward to.

J - Italy are through with maximum points. Mancini living the dream there and an impressive start to an Italy who have been a bit meh of recent 4-5 years. Finland are second with 15pts, 4pts clear of Bosnia-Herz. Bosnia beat Finland 4-1 on Saturday, but the Finns picked themselves up and pulled off a very decent 3-0 win over Armenia (who have beaten Bosnia and Greece) so whilst Bosnia have a very good squad, they've been in bipolar form and the Finns even affording themselves that lost in Sarajevo are all but through - they have Liechtenstein in Helsinki to secure their place (in the first of the double headers). Finland have been on some run of late - they also won their Nations League group, so they would have had a playoff to rely on ; but there's a 95% chance they will be there outright.

I'll maybe do a Playoffs thread a bit later - need to finish my PhD in it first to fully understand it - but basically most of the teams who were in the A and B pots for the Nations League should have a Playoff to look forward to e.g Wales, Ireland and NI will very likely be in the playoffs.

Iceland had a hard Nations League - 0pts and drew Belgium and the Swiss ; NI also 0pts with loses to Bosnia and Austria - yet NI have had a very good Euro campaign and Bosnia won their Nations League group, but an inconsistent Euro qualifying campaign will most likely both be in the Playoffs.


I'll maybe post up the outlook for the Playoffs later one if anyone wants it

[Carlos J]

I do. Great read, Kevin. Think I've got my head round the play offs then get confused again.

[kancutlawns]

Racism at Haringey Borough today. Doesn’t auger well with the ongoing fallout from the Bulgaria match when we can’t get our own house in order does it?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50111754

[The Ghost of Alex Higgins]

Superb post Kev

[Carlos J]

Bump for the 1000th England game. Wonder if ITV will show much of the pre-match stuff or just shit talk and adverts?

[Basualdo]

Bump for the 1000th England game. Wonder if ITV will show much of the pre-match stuff or just shit talk and adverts?

JOHN LEWIS XMAS ADVERT! JOHN LEWIS XMAS ADVERT! JOHN LEWIS XMAS ADVERT! JOHN LEWIS XMAS ADVERT! JOHN LEWIS XMAS ADVERT! JOHN LEWIS XMAS ADVERT!

[Carlos J]

Ashley Cole on the panel with Mentalist Keane and docile Dixon. Interesting.

[Carlos J]

Interesting when on with Boozil earlier, Sven said he had not been invited to the game. Surely for the 5-1 alone.

[Carlos J]

Montenegro looking lively. At least hopefully not gong to sit back.

[Shedboy]

I'm struggling to find any Montenegrin heritage in my family tree.

Never mind, though

[Carlos J]

They have some err nice little passing triangles going on, but too often giving it away, which is a downfall, I like their spunk so far. England attacking seems flaccid as always.

And then goal from Ox. Nice move and pass.