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Live – Euro 2012 qualifiers
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2003: First shot on target for Northern Ireland, on the run, from number 10 Grant McCann. The keeper comfortably palms it behind and, from McCann’s corner, Gareth McAuley gets up to head it down and it’s cleared.
2002: Blimey, almost a dream – and completely flukey – start to his debut for Phil Jones, the right back bursting down the right and then watching on as his wayward cross is fumbled narrowly over the bar by Montenegro keeper Mladen Bozovic. Close.
Former England boss Graham Taylor on BBC Radio 5 live: “I do believe England will win this game and I hope I’m proved correct.”
1959: Decent work from Wales now, but a great ball in from Bellamy from the left of the area is headed wide by Darcy Blake despite poor marking from the Swiss. Moments later Aaron Ramsey’s long-ranger is held – and yet the Swiss are probably bossing this.
1958: Another decent effort on target for Estonia, who are putting pressure on Lee Camp’s goal. A dipping effort from 25 yards by Middlesbrough forward Tarmo Kink is only just pushed round the post by Northern Ireland’s gloveman.
Former England boss Graham Taylor on BBC Radio 5 live: “Against better international sides I’m convinced have to play with three midfield players. If everybody was fit I would go with Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker and Jack Wilshere. We’ve had situations in past when we have had two central midfield players and opposition sides can keep the ball from us.”
Chief football writer Phil Mcnulty in Podgorica reports: “So Manchester United teenager Phil Jones wins his first England cap at right-back, confirming the widely held suspicion that Fabio Capello is utterly unconvinced by Micah Richards. Gary Cahill keeps his place alongside John Terry in central defence and Darren Bent partners Wayne Rooney in attack. Montenegro have made four changes to the team which beat Wales, with Milan Jovanovic on the bench. Captain and top scorer in qualifying Mirko Vucinic starts up front.”
1953: As we near kick-off in Podgorica, let’s hear again from our man on the scene…
1952: Over in Wales, it’s been a fairly even start to proceedings, Switzerland enjoying a fair amount of the ball but Welsh frontmen Craig Bellamy and Gareth Bale already looking dangerous.
1949: A chance inside the first three minutes for Estonia at Windsor Park as Dmitri Kruglov’s cross from the left byeline causes havoc in Northern Ireland’s area, and it takes the home defence three attempts to get it properly cleared.
1943: WALES v SWITZERLAND (1945)
Bruce Pope reports: “Wales hand Swansea midfielder Joe Allen his first start in the injury absence of Joe Ledley, Andy King and Jack Collison, while forward Craig Bellamy returns after suspension. Switzerland also have former West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami available again, but Arsenal defender Johan Djourou is banned. Twenty-two-year-old FC Basel midfielder Fabien Frei makes his international debut.”
1942: NORTHERN IRELAND v ESTONIA (1945)
Richard Petrie reports: “Celtic striker Pat McCourt and Rangers forward Kyle Lafferty return to lead the Northern Ireland attack after missing last month’s qualifiers at home to Serbia and away to Estonia, with Niall McGinn and David Healy the players to make way. With Aaron Hughes and Jonny Evans out injured, Lee Hodson gets the nod at right-back and Chris Baird drops back to centre-back.”
James S via text: “At a beer festival in Manchester. Should I really be sacking it off for the game? There’s an oompah band and everything.”
1938: CZECH REPUBLIC v SPAIN (1945)
Clive Lindsay reports: “Scotland’s hopes of finishing second – and claiming a play-off spot – from Group I could rest on the attitude of group winners Spain in Prague. The Czechs are two points ahead of the Scots as they host the world champions – but Spain no longer need the points and are without Barcelona midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta through injury. The Scots face Liechtenstein in Vaduz on Saturday evening before finishing their campaign in Spain on Tuesday, while the Czechs face Lithuania on the same night.”
1937: Talking of Scotland…
1935: EURO 2012 QUALIFIERS R-UP: Macedonia have done the Republic of Ireland no favours tonight, suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to Armenia. An erratic performance combined with midfielder Velice Sumolikoski’s sending off helped the Armenians to a comfortable win, moving them level with Russia on 17 points in Group B, ahead of Giovanni Trapatonni’s men, who are currently third on 15.
1932: WALES v SWITZERLAND (1945)
Wales: Hennessey, Gunter, Blake, Ashley Williams, Taylor, Bale, Crofts, Ramsey, Allen, Bellamy, Morison. Subs: Myhill, Matthews, Nyatanga, Vaughan, Edwards, Robson-Kanu, Church.
Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Von Bergen, Klose, Ziegler, Frei, Inler, Shaqiri, Xhaka, Behrami, Derdiyok. Subs: Wolfli, Degen, Rodriguez, Emeghara, Fernandes, Mehmedi.
Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland)
1930: MONTENEGRO v ENGLAND (2000)
Montenegro: Mladen Bozovic, Zverotic, Djudovic, Savic, Kascelan, Vukcevic, Pekovic, Vladimir Bozovic, Beciraj, Jovetic, Vucinic. Subs: Blazic, Jovanovic, Batak, Djalovic, Damjanovic, Cetkovic, Delibasic.
England: Hart, Jones, Terry, Cahill, Cole, Walcott, Barry, Parker, ng, Bent, Rooney. Subs: Carson, Jagielka, Baines, Lampard, Downing, Welbeck, Zamora.
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)
1928: NORTHERN IRELAND v ESTONIA (1945)
Northern Ireland: Camp, Hodson, Cathcart, McAuley, Baird, McCourt, Clingan, Davis, McCann, Brunt, Lafferty. Subs: Taylor, McGivern, Evans, Healy, Feeney, McGinn, Little.
Estonia: Pareiko, Piiroja, Klavan, Jaager, Stepanov, Kruglov, Dmitrijev, Puri, Vunk, Kink, Ahjupera. Subs: Londak, Reintam, Zenjov, Purje, Vassiljev, Saag, Teniste.
Referee: Manuel Grafe (Germany)
ScouseMick via text: “Re Dave (below): Tell her are bidding on a ring for her on an online auction. Make sure tell her lost though, or might end up with an accidental engagement.”
1925: ANDORRA v REP of IRELAND
Alvin McCaig reports: “Republic manager Giovanni Trapattoni says he has no problem selecting Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan, who will be suspended for the crucial final qualifier against Armenia if he picks up a booking in Andorra. ‘I was a player, I was a midfielder and I was also always up against great stars, but I never made a foul. have to put on the brake sometimes.’” Tightrope.”
Chief football writer Phil Mcnulty in Podgorica reports: “England coach Fabio Capello refuses to discuss Euro 2012 until qualification is assured, saying: ‘I’m superstitious. After this game I will talk to about it. I need to qualify.’ One man willing to talk about Capello, mind, was his oppo number Montenegro boss Branko Brnovic, who said: ‘I admire and respect everything that Fabio Capello did in his career and he must be a role model for every ng coach.’”
1918: NORTHERN IRELAND v ESTONIA (1945)
Richard Petrie reports: “Northern Ireland may only retain faint hopes of qualifying from Group C, but manager Nigel Worthington insists he and his team are still right up for the fight ahead of the visit of Estonia: “ have to look at every permutation and while there’s a glimmer of hope, we’ll go for it,” he said. “There’s no point being in football if don’t think have a chance.’”
Bruce Pope reports: “Switzerland hammered Wales 4-1 in their previous meeting but coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is expecting a tougher test, saying: ‘Wales are very strong, our victory in Basle last year was not a true reflection… but we have to win as we don’t want to rely on England beating Montenegro.’ For Wales boss Gary Speed it’s all about keeping confidence going: ‘We had a good result against Montenegro and a good performance against England. It’s good there is expectation.’”
Dave in Cambs via text: “I’ve just got back together with my fiancee after a 2 month break. In the excitement I made a date to go for dinner tonight. How many times can I refresh this page before I get “the look”?”
Republic of Ireland: Any one of Russia, the Republic of Ireland, Armenia and Slovakia can win this group still. After today’s trip to Andorra, the Republic face a tricky game at home to Armenia next week – a match about as tricky as Russia’s trip to Slovakia this evening. Should the Russians win that, top spot is all but guaranteed with just a home tie with Andorra to come – leaving the Republic to concentrate on a play-off, at best.
Northern Ireland: Nigel Worthington’s men could yet qualify for next summer’s Championship in Ukraine and Poland – but their chances are slimmer than a supermodel’s ankles if we’re honest. With Italy already group winners, Northern Ireland must win their last two matches – including away against the Italians next Tuesday – and hope Serbia lose both of theirs. And then, of course, it would be the small matter of a final qualifying play-off. Tall order.
England/Wales: Basically, England have it all to play for, Wales have just pride to play for. Avoid defeat in Montenegro and
England win the group. Lose and they will be forced into a play-off if Montenegro go on to also beat Switzerland away in their last game. Wales need a positive result from one or both of their last two games to avoid bottom spot in the group.
1908: A reminder, then, of where England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Wales stand in their groups ahead of tonight’s matches…
1904: More on that stat from 1830, by the way. Of England’s 899 international matches to date so far, 546 have been competitive and 353 friendlies. They have won 510, drawn 215 and lost 172. They have scored 1996 and conceded 902. And yes I say this stuff to girls. It’s a wonder I’m not beating them off with a stick, it really is.
1901: ANDORRA v REP of IRELAND (2030)
Alvin McCaig reports: “The Republic have struggled against European minnows in the past but tonight’s tie in Andorra should be three points in the bank before Tuesday’s crunch clash against Armenia in Dublin. Group B’s joint leaders Russia lie two points ahead of the Irish but they face a tough away game against Slovakia tonight – though with four teams in the hunt, the Republic must still win their remaining two qualifiers to guarantee even a play-off spot.”
Richard Petrie reports: “Northern Ireland go into their final Euro 2012 qualifier with the future of manager Nigel Worthington very much under scrutiny. Worthington was the subject of criticism from some fans, as well as former boss Lawrie Sanchez, after a 4-1 defeat by Estonia last month and a record of just two wins in their last 22 internationals tells its own story for Worthington’s men. Suffice to say, the heat is on this evening.”
1853: SWITZERLAND v WALES (1945)
Bruce Pope reports: “Group G bottom side Wales face Switzerland having beaten them just once in six meetings, a 3-2 friendly win back in 1951. A tough task tonight, then, even for Gary Speed’s improving side. Watch out for the team-lists, by the way – should Joe Allen be picked alongside Ashley Williams and Neil Taylor, it will be the first time Wales have started with three Swansea players since 1982.”
1852: Now then, let’s hear from our reporters…
Vernon Evans-Davies, Aberffraw, Anglesey, Wales, via text: “Who cares about qualifying? Spain are going to win by a mile anyway.”
Tell a lie, that is now confirmed. England team v Montenegro: Hart; Jones, Terry, Cahill, Cole; Walcott, Parker, Barry, ng; Bent, Rooney.
1847: RUMOUR MILL I can tell , by the way, that word is spreading that Darren Bent has got the nod up front for England in Montenegro alongside Wayne Rooney, with Phil Jones starting at right back. That is unconfirmed at the moment, though.
1839: So, yes, it’s a Friday. Yes, probably have a host of party invites to hand and a temptation to wave goodbye to the working week with a drop or two of the falling down water. But might I suggest postpone anything remotely social for the night, because tonight’s line-up is far too tantalising to miss. Sit back, surround rself with goodies, and watch the drama unfold right here.
— ’re ’s , . : A ‘Malign Intellectual Subculture’ – George Monbiot Smears Chomsky, Herman, Peterson, Pilger And Media Lens.
