The greats begin the qualification for the Eurocup with a firm step

by time news

The first day of group A left no surprises. Spain defeated a Norway diminished by the loss of Haaland (3-0) with a brace from Joselu, while Scotland obtained the same result against Cyprus. The Spaniards and Scots faced each other on the second date with the leadership of the group at stake and there came the big surprise of the break. A very serious Scotland won with a double from McTominay against a Spain that suffered from the same problems it has been dragging for too many years. In the remaining game Norway tied (1-1) against Georgia from Kvaratskhelia.

Group B:

The first day of group B left us a power to power match between France and the Netherlands, a priori, the two teams that should tie up the two qualifying places. The Frenchmen prevailed 4-0, in a match that makes it clear to Koeman that he still has a lot of work to do if he wants the Oranje to aspire to win the Eurocup. Meanwhile, in the other game, Greece won 0-3 against Gibraltar. On the second day, France visited Ireland, in a match that has always been controversial since Henry’s handball in 2009 that left the Irish without a World Cup. Those of Deschamps won by the minimum with a goal from Pavard. In the remaining match, the Netherlands defeated Gibraltar 3-0.

Group C:

Like group B, group C has two first-rate teams. Italy and England faced each other on the first day, with victory for the English (1-2). In the other match, North Macedonia beat Malta (2-1), with a closer result than expected. Precisely, it was the Balkan team who left Italy out of the last World Cup, a situation, being left out of a great tournament, that the transalpines cannot afford again. On the second day, England achieved another victory (0-2), this time against Ukraine, with goals from Kane and Saka. Italy beat Malta by the same result with a goal from Mateo Retegui, an Argentine nationalized Italian striker, who received Mancini’s first call after two good seasons at Tigre, and who landed on his feet at the Azzurri.

Group D:

Armenia and Turkey opened the first day of group D, in a match that ended in a 1-2 Turkish victory. Croatia and Wales drew 1-1 in the other match. Both teams won on the second day, which puts them in the lead with four points. Wales, already without Gareth Bale, beat Latvia by the minimum (1-0), while Croatia beat Turkey at home 0-2 with a brace from Kovacic.

Group E:

The Czech Republic and Poland should theoretically have a clear path to qualifying in view of their rivals. They faced each other and the Czechs prevailed 3-1, a team that was not in the last World Cup, but that left good feelings in the Euro Cup played in 2021. Moldova and the Faroe Islands tied one in the other match. On the second day, Poland received the only team that could threaten their pass, Albania, but they managed to win 1-0. The Czech Republic surprised by failing to draw (0-0) against Moldova, although they remain leaders of the group.

Group F:

Austria and Sweden will fight for the pass in a group F whose favorite is Belgium. The renewed selection of Domenico Tedesco has only played one game in this break, but it left a good feeling. They beat Sweden (0-3) with a Lukaku hat-trick. The call for the new coach shows that, despite the fact that the great Belgian generation is already advanced in years, other good footballers are picking up their baton. In the other match, Austria thrashed Azerbaijan (4-1) with a brace from United’s Sabitzer. On the second day, the Central European team won again, this time against Estonia (2-1). Sweden, meanwhile, avenged their initial defeat with a hand to Azerbaijan.

Group G:

With the exception of Lithuania, all the countries in group G are located in the Balkan area. Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Hungary are fighting to qualify for the next Euro Cup. On the first day Serbia defeated the weak Lithuania, while Montenegro prevailed by the minimum against Bulgaria. On the second day, it was the turn of Hungary, who beat Bulgaria with a resounding 3-0. Serbia, for its part, faced off against its neighbors in Montenegro, with whom they formed a common country between 2003 and 2006. The Serbs won by two goals, which places them as group leaders.

Group H:

Denmark are the big favorites in Group H, but who will take second place is anyone’s guess. The Danes beat their neighbors Finland 3-1 on matchday one, with a hat-trick from Højlund, the young Atalanta striker they compare to Haaland. Northern Ireland beat San Marino (0-2) and Slovenia beat Kazakhstan (1-2). The big surprise came on the second day, when the Kazakhs defeated Denmark. They also had to overcome a two-goal deficit, both by Højlund. The triumph is the demonstration of the development that is being experienced in many European countries with little football tradition, a very healthy circumstance for the king of sports. In the rest of the matches, Northern Ireland fell to Finland (0-1), while Slovenia, currently the group leader, beat San Marino 2-0.

Group I:

In group I Switzerland has shown its credentials. In the initial match they thrashed Belarus (0-5), while on the second day they defeated Israel 3-0. The Israelis came from drawing against Kosovo (1-1) in the first match. The other match faced Andorra and Romania, with a 0-2 victory for the Romanians. In the second game they beat Belarus (2-1) which leaves them tied with Switzerland on six points. Andorra, for its part, added a creditable draw against Kosovo (1-1) although its chances of qualifying remain slim.

Group J:

Roberto Martínez’s Portugal could not have started qualifying for the Euro Cup better. Two victories with ten goals for and zero against, although the truth is that he has faced the two weakest rivals in his group. First it was Liechtenstein (4-0) and then Luxembourg (0-6). Cristiano showed he was still in top form, with a hat-trick in the first game and a brace in the second,

Bosnia beat Iceland on the first matchday (1-2) but fell to Slovakia on the second matchday (2-0), which had just drawn 0-0 against Luxembourg. The Icelanders recovered from the initial defeat with a win against Liechtenstein (0-7), in a group whose second place promises to be hotly contested.

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