European Championship Results
Qualifying Group Scores for Tournament in Austria and Switzerland
Further qualification games for next summer's competition: England fall behind but Poland,Germany, Czech Republic, France,Greece,Croatia and Romania make further progress
Vital qualifying games were played in all of the groups for next summer’s European Championships which will take place in Austria and Switzerland.
Group E:
Croatia, Israel and Russia took advantage of England not playing to consolidate their position at the top of Group E. Croatia are the leaders, on sixteen points, Israel and Russia are level on fourteen with England a further three points behind. England meet Estonia in midweek while the match between Croatia and Russia could be significant in determining which country progresses to the finals next summer.
Group A:
Poland the leaders in Group A had a 3-1 win in Azerbaijan but it needed three goals in the last half hour to secure victory after they fell behind to an early goal. Krzynowek scored twice including in the final minute. Poland have nineteen points, five ahead of Portugal who won 2-1 in Belgium. Nani who has signed for Manchester United scored just before half-time and Postiga, the former Tottenham Hotspur player scored the winner after the home team had equalised. Serbia maintained their battle for a qualification place by winning in Finland who had started the game in joint second place, level on points with their opponents and Portugal.
Group B:
France moved to the top of Group B with a two goal home win over Ukraine, ahead of Italy, Ukraine and Scotland. Frank Ribery and Bolton Wanderers' Nicolas Anelka scored the second half goals. France have fifteen points, two more than Italy who are a point ahead of Ukraine and Scotland.
Group C:
Greece are at the top of Group C after their two goal win over Hungary. It takes them two points ahead of Turkey who lost in a five goal thriller to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Turkey led twice in the first half but the home team pulled them back on both occasions, including a goal in the final minute of the first half. The winner was also late, the ninetieth minute and deprived Turkey of their top spot in the group. Norway are level with Bosnia-Herzegovina after a four goal home win over Malta but it took three goals in the last fifteen minutes to secure victory.
Group D:
Germany continue to progress at the top of Group D after their six goal win over San Marino. They moved two points ahead of the Czech Republic who took a point from a scoreless draw in Ryan Giggs’ final international for Wales. The Republic of Ireland are a further point behind on thirteen points.
Group F:
Northern Ireland retain top place in Group F but the teams are closing in as Spain defeated Latvia by two goals. They are a point behind the leaders and level with Sweden who drew 3-3 in Denmark. The home team had fought back from three goals down but a penalty was awarded against them in the final minute and their defender sent off. However, the game was abandoned with the penalty untaken when a spectator tried to attack the referee. Sweden may claim top place if they are awarded the three points by UEFA.
Group G:
Romania share top place in Group G with Holland after their 2-1 win in Slovenia. Bulgaria are two points further behind after Dimitar Berbatov scored twice in the first half in Belarus.
A further series of qualifying games take place in the coming week and will go some way to determining who will be participating in next summer’s tournament.
