Something Completely Different

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Thought I'd follow this, as it's basically almost another Euros, as such. From what I can see and know of the competition, the difference is that every nation qualifies. I mean, JJ can tell me if I'm wrong, but with 54 teams in the competition - would have been 55 but for you-know-who, who were automatically disqualified as their president should be disqualified from the human race, and personally I think Israel should have been kicked out too -  I think that looks right.

In the UEFA Nations League, teams are seeded or ranked according to how well, or badly, they've done in previous competitions, such as the Euros and World Cup. A high ranking, however, does not guarantee opposition of the same quality, as teams are selected randomly.

Another difference between both the Euros and the World Cup is the length of time involved. Rather than complete the competition over the course of a month or so, the Nations League will go on into next year, with the finals taking place in March. As well as this, there's an element of a kind of international Premier League about this tournament, as teams can be promoted to a higher group and also relegated to a lower one. Add to that the fact that a good performance and a high placing in their league will assure that country's team of qualification for the World Cup in 2026, and there really is a whole lot to play for.

Numbers shown below in brackets after teams refer to their worldranking/seeding level (the higher the ranking, obviously, the better the team is reckoned to be).
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I thought I was getting in on the ground floor here, so to speak, but it seems I've already missed two days of matches, so I'll have to watch highlights and summarise those. Matches after these will be more detailed.

DAY ONE

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Scotland (48) v Poland (28)
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Result: Scotland 2 - 3 Poland

Kicking off the entire tournament, Scotland, the eternal underdogs, could not have been feeling particularly confident off the back of their poor performance in the Euros. Memories of that 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany must have been hard to banish from their heads, and coming up against Poland, ranked twenty places above them, would not have helped. What might have helped was playing before a home crowd: if there's one thing you can say about Scotland, it's that they have some of the best and most loyal and dedicated supporters in football, and they'd be raising the rafters (well, you know what I mean) from the very first kick, in hopes of cheering their team on to a win and a good start to the competition.

Unfortunately, despite this it was Poland who went ahead on 7 minutes but Scotland equalised with a scrappy goal from Scott McTominay on 23 minutes. Suspicion of offside led to the goal actually being ruled out for handball, so 1-0 it remained to Poland, until they won a penalty in the 43rd minute, Lewandowski, showing no signs of being tired from what was expected to have been his last international appearance at the Euros, blasted the ball into the bottom corner to give his country a 2-0 lead at the break. Not looking good for the Scots!

Scotland opened the second half in style, halving the deficit within the first minute as Billy Gilmore gave them hope. It was all Scotland now as they pressed for an equaliser, McTominay taking his chance and this time no hint of any decision and the goal stood. All level with 15 minutes to go! Scottish hearts were to be broken though as Poland got a penalty at the death, almost saved by the Scottish keeper, but Poland ran out 3-2 winners.

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Portugal (eight) v Croatia (12)
Benfica Stadium, Lisbon
Result: Portugal 2 - 1 Croatia

While they may not exactly have set the Euros alight, and questions remain over Ronaldo's future, Portugal remain eighth in the world and must be seen as one of the favourites to contest the final. Croatia aren't far behind them, and with Luka Modric in your side you always have a chance. Portugal were of course on the front foot from the off, with Bruno Fernandes going close but his effort beaten away by the Croatian keeper. A minute later though it was a Manchester United team effort on the Croatian goal as Diego Dalot did what Fernandes could not, and put Portugal ahead.

Modric had a great shot in the 14th minute but it went wide, Portugal missed another but then that man would of course not be denied, and Ronaldo got his team's second goal in the 33rd minute. He also made history for the umpteenth time, netting the 900th goal of his career! That's incredible. He's the only male player in world football to have achieved that. Croatia hit back before the break, making it 2-1 as the second half began, and that was how it ended.

League A, Group 1 Table
Poland top Group 1 with 3 points
Portugal are just behind them, also with 3 points but a lower goal difference (2 to 1)
Scotland take third place with 0 points but 2 goals while Croatia, with just the one goal and also 0 points are bottom of the table.

(Annoyed note: Have to write in eight as every time I use the number with brackets it gives me a damned emoticon, and I can't seem to find a way around it).

League A, Group 4 (A4)
Denmark (21) v Switzerland (15)
Parken, Copenhagen
Result: Denmark 2 - 0 Switzerland

After having been knocked out of the Euros on penalties by England, Switzerland must have been fired up, while Denmark obviously wanted to improve on their performance in that tournament. You wouldn't know it though; it took almost 30 minutes before there was any sort of a shot on goal, and a staggering 81 before Denmark finally scored, claiming a second in extra time to run out 2-0 winners in what really was a game that didn't come to life until almost the dying moments. Not what you would have expected, though I'm sure the Danes were happy with the result. To add to the Swiss's woes, petulant firebrand Granit Xhaka was sent off after a second yellow card, which won't help their cause.

League A, Group 4 (A4)
Serbia (32) v Spain (3)
Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade
Result: Serbia 0 - 0 Spain

Even playing in front of their home fans, nobody could have expected that Serbia would get much change out of the third-ranked team in the world, current European champions for the fourth time, the only country ever to achieve such an honour. Serbia had punched above their weight in the Euros, but surely they couldn't stand against the mighty Spain?

Well, as it happened, they squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead in the 33rd minute but shot wide. The word "sitter" was bandied around, and Serbia were left to rue their missed chance. They held on though, and fought out a nil-all draw, no doubt much to Spain's disgust and the delight of the home fans.

League A, Group 4 Table
Denmark's victory over the Swiss places them at the top with 3 points, while Serbia take second place with the one point, Spain below them in a very embarrassing and surely not at all expected third place, while Switzerland are bottom of the group with 0 points.

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Northern Ireland (74) v Luxembourg (84)
Windsor Park, Belfast
Result: Northern Ireland 2 - 0 Luxembourg

You'd have to call Northern Ireland underdogs too: they never do well, and that's not a Republican bias, just the truth. 1 win out of 16 games tells its own story. Mind you, again, we're talking a team playing at home and also taking on a much lower-ranked opponent, and you couldn't imagine they were worrying too much about Luxembourg, more famed for its radio stations and politics than its football.

As it goes, Northern Ireland struck first, and early, with a fine shot on 10 minutes to give them the lead, and five minutes later they were two to the good, holding this lead as they went into the break. Luxembourg came nowhere near the Northern Irish goal. Maybe stick to the radio, guys?

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Belarus (99) v Bulgaria (82)
Zte Arena, Zalaegerszeg
Result: Belarus 0 - 0 Bulgaria

Oh man! Just look at those seedings! You couldn't expect this to be any sort of goalfest, now could you? I can't be sure, but I don't think Belarus have ever been in any international competition before, other than this (I mean one you have to qualify for) and Bulgaria don't exactly have a star-studded football history, now do they? Maybe bring a book if you were going to the match?

Despite dominating the possession, Bulgaria found themselves unable to open the scoring, and in addition their lack of discipline led to one of their men being sent off. Could this be the chance Belarus had been waiting for? Still 18 minutes and extra time to go... Well, no. They tried, and had a shot saved, but the best that could be said was that neither team lost, and it ended another nil-nil draw, which was about all you could expect really.

League 3 Group C Table

Northern Ireland top the table with 3 points, Belarus behind them on second with 1, also with one Bulgaria at third and bringing up the rear it's Luxembourg with 0 points.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Azerbaijan (111) v Sweden (29)
Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku
Result: Azerbaijan 1 - Sweden 3

This surely looked like an easy win for the Swedes, almost 100 places separating the two countries in the seedings. Even so, the Azerbaijanis held them till the second half, 64th minute in fact, Newcastle's Alexander Isak getting his second in the 70th and then creating the opportunity for the third as he was taken down in the penalty area (ooer!) Sweden were three up seven minutes later.

Azerbaijan didn't completely disgrace themselves, netting a fine header in the 81st minute, but they were well beaten by the Swedes who took the match 3-1.

League C , Group 1 (C1)
Estonia (123) v Slovakia (44)
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn
Result: Estonia 0 - 1 Slovakia

Again a huge gap in quality here, or at least standing, with more than eighty places between Slovakia and its East European neighbour. After their heroics against England in the Euros they must have been on a high; nevertheless the first half remained goalless and it was almost the seventieth minute before they netted, Estonia missing the chance late on to equalise, leaving Slovakia with the win.

League C, Group 1 Table

Sweden, as expected, lead the line with 3 points while Slovakia, also with three points but just the 1 goal to Sweden's 3 take second. Estonia are third with 0 points and Azerbaijan make up the numbers, also pointless, at the bottom of the table. So no surprises there.

League D, Group 1 (D1)
San Marino (210) v Liechtenstein (199)
San Marino Stadium, Serravalle
Result: San Marino 1 - 0 Liechtenstein

Oh talk about the battle of the underdogs! When your seeding is as low as Liechtenstein's, you can only hope you come up against opposition lower than you, and they literally don't come any lower than San Marino, ranked 210th and last in the world. Thrills, spills, chills, goalmouth action, dodgy decisions, penalties, sendings-off: expect none of these in what must surely have been a drab, hum-drum, boring affair between what must be considered two of the very worst teams in Europe.

Yeah, about that. San Marino had NEVER scored in a single international competition. Not once. Ever. So imagine their delight when they took the lead (yes, yes, only against Liechtenstein, but let them have their moment of glory, for fuck's sake!) on 52 minutes when a quite excellent lob bounced past the Liechtenstein keeper and into the net, giving them an undreamed-of 1-0 lead! No doubt the team got the freedom of the city when they got home, as they held on for a historic win. Well, shut my mouth!

League D, Group 1 Table

This group has only three teams in it, so to everyone's surprise San Marino top it with an unheard-of and first-ever 3 points, Gibraltar are second with 0 points and poor old Liechtenstein prop up the table in their familiar position of last with 0 points. Hold on a mo! Three teams? Who plays the Rock then? No, I don't mean Dwayne Johnson! Who do Gibraltar play, and is it possible for them to be second without even playing a match? Oooh Liechtenstein! That's gotta hurt!

Day Two

League B, Group 4  (B4)
Wales (30) v Turkey (26)
Cardiff Stadium, Cardiff
Result: Wales 0 - 0 Turkey

Another of the "Home Nations" kicked off day two of the tournament, with Wales taking on what has been a resurgent Turkey, and with only four places between them this could have gone either way. Wales almost opened the scoring on 5 minutes but the shot went over the bar, another effort going close on 14. A sitter missed on 17 showed that though Wales were having all the possession they weren't putting it in the back of the net, and they almost paid for it when Turkey had a penalty shout on the half hour, the Turkish player deemed to have dived instead and picking up a yellow card.

Goalless then as the second half began, with Wales keeping up the pressure but still failing to score, though they came very close on 55 minutes. On 61 minutes the Turkish player who had dived for the penalty got another yellow and so he was off. Surely the Welsh could capitalise on this? In fact, they were almost made to pay for all those missed chances in the dying minutes as Turkey began to play, but another shot going wide at the death left it a goalless draw.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Iceland (71) v Montenegro (73)
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavik
Result: Iceland 2 - 0 Montenegro

While Iceland surprised everyone - especially England - at the last World Cup, they'd been virtually non-runners before that, and their performance at the Euros leaves little doubt that their famous victory was an isolated incident, even a flash in the pan. Still, Montenegro are hardly world-class opposition, so on balance, though they're evenly matched seeding-wise, you would probably have gone for the guys whose name was taken for a supermarket.

They took the lead on 38 minutes with a fine header from a corner, then duplicated that on 58 to double their lead. Montenegro, to nobody's surprise, were little trouble for the victorious Icelanders and they ran out 2-0 winners.

League B, Group A Table

Iceland top the table with 3 points, while Wales are second with 1, Turkey third, also with 1 and Montenegro, without a single point, prop up the table. Maybe the new Ireland manager might have seen this as a sign? He's from Iceland, in case you didn't know or care.

League A, Group 2  (A2)
Belgium (6) v Israel (78)
Nagyerdei Stadium, Debrecen
Result: Belgium 3 - 1 Israel

Not wishing to bring politics into sport, but as I said above, if you're going to kick one nation out for invading another and murdering thousands or millions in an unjustified war, then why let another rogue state that is doing what it likes, whose leader is now a war criminal and whose actions rival that of the man who tried so hard to exterminate his own race, take part? But there it is: whether it's due to their backing from America (shouldn't be anything to do with it as USA are not involved in UEFA) or just double standards, but the Israel team is allowed to take part, and here they took on one of the European footballing powers who, though they took their time to get going in the Euros, are still ranked sixth in the world.

Their talisman, Kevin de Bruyne, opened the scoring on 20 minutes with a fine shot, but a lucky own goal fifteen minutes later had Israel level. Belgium regained the lead almost as soon as the second half began, then a few minutes later got a penalty, taken and converted by De Bruyne. A second Belgian penalty was missed, though it didn't matter as Belgium won comfortably 3-1, and to my mind at least, justice was done.

League A, Group 2 (A2)
France (2) v Italy (10)
Parc des Princes, Paris
Result: France 1 - 3 Italy

Two footballing titans met, but Italy's failing fortunes on the world stage must be reflected in a relatively low seeding of tenth compared to high-flying France, who are second in the world. Showing why, they scored after thirteen seconds (!) which must be some sort of record. Italy were back in it on the half-hour, and then took the lead five minutes after the restart. Surprisingly, it was the Italians who again scored in the 73rd minute to take the match 3-1, a shocked France probably wondering qu'est que c'est que'ca? Or something.

League A, Group 2 Table
Quite a shock really. Italy lead with 3 points and 3 goals, Belgium come second with the same tally while Israel, with nil points, are third and amazingly the mighty France occupy the last slot, with no goals and no points. Sacre bleu!

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Slovenia (52) v Austria (22)
Stozice Stadium, Ljubljana
Result: SLovenia 1 - 1 Austria

The match between Slovenia and Austria got going with a penalty awarded to the former on 14 minutes. Unlike their Euros penalty shootout against Portugal, where they scored nary a single one, this was converted and Slovenia were ahead. Their lead didn't last long though, as Austria pounced to level the game on 28, and take the score 1-1 into the break.

The second half is probably better forgotten; it was certainly forgettable, with just the one decent chance near the end for Slovenia, missed though, so the match ended 1-1.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Kazakhstan (109) v Norway (50)
Almaty Ortalyk Stadium
Result: Kazakhstan 0 - 0 Norway

Quite a gulf here too, over fifty places between the two teams. Even with the mighty Erling Haaland in the Norwegian team it was scoreless at the break, and so it remained to the end, which has to be a compliment to Kazakhstan. After all, when you have a goal-scoring machine in your side you expect to at least have your keeper make more than one save, yet in fact a last-gasp dive near the end by the Kazakhstan keeper was the ONLY save in the entire match! Nil-nil at the end then, surely an unexpected result.

League B, Group 3 Table
Again, something of a surprise, with Austria topping the group with a single point and goal, Slovenia duplicating that result and coming second, Norway down at third with one point and no goals, and Kazakhstan, despite their heroics in holding the Norwegians to a scoreless draw, at the bottom with one point and no goals.

League C, Group 2  (C2)
Kosovo (106) v Romania (45)
Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina
Result: Kosovo 0 - 3 Romania

Seldom see Kosovo in action, and with Romania fresh from a decent performance in the Euros, all eyes would have been on them. They were ahead on 40 minutes, adding a second when they got a penalty just after the start of the second half. A third netted in the last ten minutes left Kosovo with nine men and Romania with a 3-0 win.

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Lithuania (135) v Cyprus (127)
Marijampole Football Arena
Result: Lithuania 0 - 1 Cyprus

Although there was little between these two teams, they were both around the same seeding, down in the low hundreds, so again a goalfest not expected. A good goal for Cyprus was about all that happened in either half until Lithuania had the chance to equalise right at the death, but the Cyprian keeper saved, giving his team the victory.

League C, Group 3 Table

More or less as expected, Romania top the group with 3 points and 3 goals, Cyprus also have 3 points but only 1 goal, still gives them second place. Lithuania have 0 points and 0 goals and take third while Kosovo languish at the bottom with 0 points and 0 goals.

Day 3
Note: For some reason there are no highlights available to me on the telly, and YouTubes do my head in basically. You're never sure if you're watching the right match, there's usually no commentary, and they are, as we say in football, a pain in the hole. So the only one I managed to get that ran properly for me was the Germany-Hungary match. For the rest, other than Ireland-England, which I obviously watched live, you'll have to do with the scores. Soz. Well look, I'll glean what I can from the match reports, best I can do. Yeah, I'm good at gleaning.

League A , Group 3 (A3)
Germany (13) v Hungary (31)
Merkur-Spiel Arena, Dusseldorf
Result: Germany 5 - 0 Hungary

The Germans remain one of the powerhouses of European football, even if their ranking has slid slightly, and Hungary were no doubt still stinging from the thrashing they took at their hands in the Euros, but Germany were in no mood to be gentle this time out either. They were already 1-0 up on 27 minutes, netting their second soon after the restart, and things didn't get any better for the Hungarians on the 65 minute mark, when Germany scored their third. This was turning into another rout.

Twelve minutes later it was 4-0, the Hungarians looking shell-shocked, seemingly having had not a shot on goal, though I can't say for sure, as these YouTube videos are not great on details. Even so, Germany were definitely in total control and added their fifth in the eightieth minute when they were awarded a penalty, which was duly converted. Poor old Hungary must have thought it was Groundhog Day!

League A , Group 3 (A3)
Netherlands (7) v Bosnia & Herzegovina (75)
Philips Stadion, Eindhoven
Result: Netherlands 5 - 2 Bosnia

Although I of course would have expected Netherlands to, um, run all over Bosnia, they must have put up a decent fight as they got two goals of their own, and in fact it looks like they levelled the game at 1-1 on 27 minutes, holding the Dutch till extra time in the first half, pulling it back to 3-2 in the second half but then the Netherlands scored twice again and the game was won. A good effort though, it would seem.

League A, Group 3 Table
No real surprises here. Germany top the group with 3 points, with Netherlands in second place, also with 3 points. Perhaps a slight surprise is that Bosnia take third place thanks to a better goal difference than poor Hungary, who are shattered and last in the group.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Georgia (70) v Czech Republic (47)
Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi
Result: Georgia 4 -1 Czech Republic
Georgia, who came of age in their first Euros this year, stormed into the lead with a penalty on 33 minutes, then led the scoring as they added another three over a thirteen-minute period from minute 55, with the Czechs only able to pull one back in the 80th minute. This score would not have been expected. Watch these guys.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Ukraine (25) v Albania (66)
Stadion Letna, Prague
Result: Ukraine 1 - 2 Albania
Just one example of how seeding doesn't always make the difference, as Albania, who impressed in the Euros too, came back almost immediately from a second-half Ukrainian goal to take the match 2-1.

League B, Group 1 Table
Probably quite a surprise to see Georgia head the group after that 4-1 thumping of the Czechs, giving them 3 points, and equally unexpected to see Albania take second place after knocking Ukraine down and also gaining 3 points. Speaking of Ukraine, they're at third with 0 points and the bottom of the table is occupied by the Czech Republic also with 0 points.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Greece (54) v Finland (63)
Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus
Result: Greece 3 - 0 Finland
Looks like Finland did themselves no favours, scoring an own goal in the 37th minute after having gone down one already 14 minutes previous. Greece then added a third in the 76th minute and it was all over.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Ireland (58) v England (4)
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Result: Ireland 0 - 2 England


Nobody will be surprised to hear this is a real grudge match, with England expected to far outclass Ireland on our home ground. No Irish or English person - or, indeed, anyone from any other country, surely need be told why this is seen as a match between bitter rivals. With such a massive gulf in seedings, you wouldn't have given much for our chances.

And you would have been right.

Despite what could charitably perhaps be called a half-decent start by Ireland, it was of course England who scored early, 12 minutes into the match when Trent Alexander-Arnold passed to Declan Rice, the Irishman almost embarrassed to score before the Irish fans. But soon after Ireland had a free and should have done better; unfortunately, attack turned into defence as England went on the break and almost scored again down our end. They didn't have to wait long for their second though, as almost on the 26th minute mark Jack Grealish showed why Manchester City wanted him from Villa, and a poor Irish defence let him score after a fine pass from the previous scorer, Declan Rice, giving England the lead 2-0 and the match wasn't even a quarter of the way through! Not looking good for the Boys in Green!

Ireland came close in the 32nd minute, though not really. It was a good cross but needed a better conversion and really went nowhere. A few moments later Kane was denied a penalty, which perhaps he had a case for, and a rare Irish attack in the last few minutes broke down and came to nothing despite the running of Ogbene. And so we headed into the end of the first half with Ireland 2-0 down, and honestly, not looking likely to halve that deficit, never mind overturn it. In fact, the only thing you could expect would be that England would strengthen their lead and put more balls into the back of the Irish net.

And they started the second half as they had ended the first, putting Ireland, as the great Jack Charlton used to say, under pressure, forcing a corner in the opening minute, not giving Ireland a chance to settle into the game. Perhaps worryingly, given that this was an Irish home game, there were a lot of empty seats by now in the Aviva. Not quite COYBIG, I have to say. Ireland completely outclassed, not really to anyone's surprise, and we couldn't even use the "excuse" that we are bedding in a new manager, as England are doing that too. We're just not good enough, and frankly I'm surprised we're as high up the rankings as we are. Hopeful long balls, shots to nowhere and nobody, poor defence, bad tackles - Ireland were just out of ideas, if they ever had any. This was looking like a walkover for England. They were hardly breaking a sweat.

Finally, a shot on goal! Ah, but it went wide. Well, at least we could say we tried. And again as the clock hit sixty, but the shot was snatched at and went high over the bar. I suppose we were getting closer? If there was, let's see, 90 minutes extra time we might have a chance? Hah! Lee Carsley (English manager) looked to me like Ross Kemp (British TV tough guy) on the touchline! Do wot? Shut it! I guess, given how poorly we played, being beaten 2-0 would not be the worst result, but we still had a half-hour and extra time to go, and honestly, I could see the English scoring again. Certainly didn't help that we kept giving possession away. You know, England were good enough against us - they didn't need any help from us!

A raft of English substitutes around the 77-minute mark at least eased the pressure for a few minutes, but the replacements were straight at it once they got on the field, and Ireland seemed to have no answer as we headed into the last ten minutes of normal time. Two amusing moments then, firstly when the board wouldn't work and England couldn't get their next two subs on (bloody technology, huh? Used to be just printed cards, I don't know, kids these days etc) and then as Kane went off and handed the captain's armband to Rice, the Irishman didn't want it! Nah, you're all right mate: give it to someone else. I'm embarrassed enough as it is, never be able to show me face in an Irish pub again!

5 minutes extra time did nothing but draw out the agony for Ireland, with England coming close to a third, but it finished 2-0, which, given how poor we were, has to be seen as something of a small achievement that we weren't battered by a lot more. Yeah, that's about all you can say about Ireland: we were beaten but not thrashed. Hardly a ringing endorsement, is it?

The Irish commentator said it best at the end: men against boys.

League B, Group 2 Table
Probably to England's annoyance, Greece take top spot due to superior goal difference. England are second with 3 points and we're third with, um, no points and no goals. That leaves Finland to bring up the rear, but at least we're not last. Um.

League C, Group 4  (C4)
Faroe Islands (138) v North Macedonia (72)
Torsvollur, Torshavn
Result: Faroe Islands 1 - 1 North Macedonia
A game of two penalties, looks like, the first scored in the opening ten minutes by the Faroes, with a corresponding one awarded to North Macedonia as the second half got going. Points shared, doesn't look as if this was anything to get terribly excited about.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Armenia (97) v Latvia (137)
Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan
Result: Armenia 4 - 1 Latvia
This seems to have been more like it! A storming performance from Armenia, as they scored in the first six minutes, helped out their opponent by then scoring an own goal three minutes later, Latvia repaying the favour by scoring an own goal themselves on 35 minutes, and then Armenia going on to take the match by netting twice more (both in the opposition goal, I should stress!) in the second half. Must have been quite funny in a way.

League C, Group 4 Table
After a performance like that, no surprise to see Armenia top the group with 3 points, while North Macedonia take second spot with 1 point, the Faroe Islands are in third, also with 1 point, and poor shell shocked Latvia are recovering down at the bottom with not a single point.

League D, Group 2 (D2)
Moldova (152) v Malta (172)
Stadionul Zimbru, Chisinau
Result: Moldova 2 - 0 Malta
Looks like Moldova had this one wrapped up from the start, with two goals in the first half, the second a penalty awarded in extra time, and no reply at all from Malta.

League D, Group 2 Table
Only three teams in it, so Moldova top the group with 3 points. Andorra, despite having yet to play, are second thanks to Malta's poorer goal difference, and they prop up the table as last.

Tomorrow's Matches

League A , Group 1 (A1)
Croatia v Poland
Portugal v Scotland


League A, Group 4 (A4)
Denmark v Serbia
Switzerland v Spain

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Slovakia v Azerbaijan
Sweden v Estonia

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Luxembourg v Belarus
Bulgaria v Northern Ireland

League D, Group 1 (D1)
Gibraltar v Liechtenstein

Day Four

League A , Group 1 (A1)
Croatia v Poland
Opus Arena, Osijek
Result: Croatia 1 - 0 Poland
What would, or will, Croatia be without their talisman? Luka Modric shows no sign of being ready to retire, but he must be getting there soon. He's so important to his national team, like a Ronaldo or a De Bruyne or even a Haaland, perhaps. He had his chances in the first half, but it was after the restart that he again came to Croatia's rescue, scoring the only goal from a free, doing what he does, making it look effortless. Poland did have Lewandowski, though, and he came close, rattling the crossbar on the 70th minute, but it wasn't to be his day. That belonged to Croatia's legendary Modric.

League A , Group 1 (A1)
Portugal v Scotland
Estadio de Luz, Lisbon
Result: Portugal 2 - 1 Scotland

With Portugal's main man looking for his 901st goal, and a gritty and tough Scottish side determined not to be just there to make up the numbers, there must have been a lot of heart in this. Still, you'd have to think Scotland were on a hiding to nothing, even with the surprise news that Ronaldo was not starting, though no doubt we'd see him at some point.

I must say, it was heartbreaking to see, among the Portuguese mascots, three little girls, two of whom were in wheelchairs and the third using a stick like my sister used to have to employ to walk. I'm sure this was or will be one of the greatest memories of their young lives, but I don't mind saying my face was wet watching them. No details as to whether they were born that way or it happened in an accident, but either way, tragic and so sad.

As you'd expect, Scotland were totally outclassed and Portugal bossed the possession, giving the Scots not a ... well now, not quite. Although Diogo Jota had a gilt-edged opportunity to open the scoring on 5 minutes, he didn't hit the target, and two minutes later Scotland were in front, that man McTominay again! Surprised and unexpected is an understatement; the stadium didn't exactly go quiet, but you could sense the shock. Jota went close again, as did Leao, only a superb diving save from the Scottish keeper Gunn preventing him from levelling.

On the bench, no doubt Ronaldo was fuming and itching to get on, but though surely he'd see action I guess the manager couldn't invalidate his own decision by bringing him on too soon. Anyway, it wasn't exactly panic stations: plenty of time to show the Scots how it was done. They certainly had the lion's share of attacks, but they weren't making them count.

Scotland weren't hanging around either though and they had a great opportunity on 30 minutes, just barely missing out while a moment later Portugal almost scored down the other end, foiled only by the man between the Scottish posts. They really were lining up, the battle between Leao and Gunn ongoing, with the Scot coming out on top each time, and still the score remained 1-0 to Scotland as we reached the end of the first half.

And there he was, as the second half got underway, no real surprise. Would the presence of their golden boy give Portugal the killer edge they seemed to have been missing? He'd surely have something to prove, and would be anxious not only to score asap but also to show his manager how wrong he had been to leave him out, show how indispensable he is, or believes himself to be.

His innate selfishness and cockiness worked against the team though; he could have crossed for Jota early in the first minutes of the half but decided to take it on himself, firing way wide and high, a wasted shot. It was in fact Fernandes who broke the deadlock, scoring on 53 minutes to level the match. So after all that, it wasn't Ronaldo who was their saviour, though no doubt he'd claim he had something to do with the shot, even though he hadn't.

Scotland came close on 65 minutes, and literally seconds later Jota squandered another chance for Portugal. Things were heating up! 15 minutes to go and still all square. A draw would of course be a great result for Scotland, but you'd imagine if nothing else Portugal's standing and the expectation on their shoulders would not allow them to take such a result and they'd have to go for the win.

Gunn redeemed his error that led to the goal from Fernandes with a lovely save from Joao Felix in the 77th minute, very acrobatic, and you could see the frustration building on Ronaldo's face as the Scottish keeper stubbornly refused to let him in. Well, to be honest, Gunn wasn't to blame; Portugal's star player just wasn't cutting it, mostly through refusing to pass to anyone else. No, I'm not a fan of his, how did you guess?

Double save in the 81st minute, first from Dalot and then Ronaldo, and a moment later Ronaldo must have thought he had scored with a classic header but it hit the post. The main man swore it crossed the line but the tech said no, Felix ready to nod it home but Gunn clawed it away and 1-1 it remained. Six minutes and extra time remaining, Scotland surely worth the draw if they could just hold on.

Another super save from Gunn as Portugal got a corner in the 85th minute, another corner on the far side played short and going nowhere, eventually lobbed over the top of the net. Sadly, Scottish hearts were broken with three minutes to go and yes, it was him. A wonderful cross from Mendes and Ronaldo stuck out a toe and poked it past a despairing Gunn.

A familiar story for the Scots: played well, deserved so much more, beaten in the last few minutes and no points taken from the match. Then again, it would be fair to say Portugal had not played their usual game, and may have been fortunate to have won. For the Scots though, it's a case of another year, another tournament, another disappointment.

League A, Group 1 Table
Portugal of course top the table, as expected, despite a scare against Scotland, with 6 points, while Croatia are second with 3 points, Poland third, also with 3 points and poor Scotland look very forlorn down there in last with still not a point to their name.

League A, Group 4 (A4)
Denmark v Serbia
Parken Stadium, Copenhagen
Result: Denmark 2 - 0 Serbia
Almost an early start for the Danes as Christen Eriksen headed but wide. They scored on 35 minutes though and added a second in the 60th with an overhead kick.

League A, Group 4 (A4)
Switzerland v Spain
Stade de Geneve, Geneva
Switzerland 1 - 4 Spain
Spain came out of the traps all guns blazing, and were almost ahead within the first two minutes but blazed over the bar. One minute later it looked like the Swiss keeper, having clawed the ball off the line from a flying header had kept his team in it, but the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line, and so Spain were on their way. End to end stuff, as they say, and Switzerland hit back on the seventh minute, but the goal was ruled out for a handball.

It only took another six minutes before Spain doubled their lead, but on the twentieth minute they lost a man as a red card was produced, and Spain were down to ten. Not that it made any difference. The resultant free crashed off the crossbar, the keeper beaten all ends up, but 2-0 it remained, the Swiss not giving up and trying again on 40 minutes, narrowly missing the goal. A minute later and they had scored, halving the deficit.

The second half had hardly begun before Switzerland scored again, levelling the match, or so they thought. The goal was ruled out and Spain took the opportunity to increase their lead, scoring on 76 minutes to crush any chance of the Swiss coming back. One more goal sealed it for the Spanish, and they got it after a breakaway attack in the 80th minute.

League A, Group 4 Table
Who would have expected Spain to top the group? Only everybody, but in fact they're second, with 4 points to Denmark's 6, leaving the Danes to take first place. Third is Serbia with one point and bottom of the group Switzerland, without a single point.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Slovakia v Azerbaijan
Kosicka futbalova arena, Kosicke
Result: Slovakia 2 - 0 Azerbaijan
A penalty in the 21st minute had Slovakia on their way, duly converted, and four minutes later they were two ahead, and never really looked like losing that lead, or the game. In fact, as the game wound down they fluffed a chance to net a third, but the game was still theirs.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Sweden v Estonia
Friends Arena, Solna
Result: Sweden 3 - 0 Estonia
Nothing much for half an hour before Sweden scored on the rebound after their first effort had come back off the post, and ten minutes later they fired in their second, Alexander Isak again. The half was completed with a third goal. As if that wasn't bad enough for Estonia, they had a man sent off, so had no chance of getting anything out of the game. Nor did they.

League C, Group 1 Table
To nobody's surprise, Sweden top the table with 6 points, also with 6 are Slovakia, at second, while Azerbaijan are third with no points and also without a point is Estonia, in fourth and last place.

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Luxembourg (84) v Belarus (99)
Stade de Luxembourg
Result: Luxembourg 0 - 1 Belarus
Nothing much seems to have happened here, Belarus leaving it till the last quarter hour to score the only goal, taking them top of the table.


League C, Group 3 (C3)
Bulgaria (82) v Northern Ireland (74)
Hristo Botev Stadium, Plovdiv
Result: Bulgaria 1 - 0 Northern Ireland

Top of the table after what could hardly be termed tough opposition, Northern Ireland faced the equally unimpressive Bulgaria, who were unable to score against Belarus last time out. You'd probably fancy the Nordys for this one, and they did have most of the play in the opening 25 minutes, not that there was all that much of it. A handful of half-chances, nothing to talk about. Nearly a goal on 21 minutes when Northern Ireland gave it away with a sloppy pass, but Bulgaria could not convert, shooting wide. Still, a scare for a maybe complacent Northern Ireland side. Time to wake up, lads.

Though there were quite a few of them, set pieces seem to be neither team's forte, as free kicks went wide, over, or were intercepted by opposition players. Bulgaria came closest with a really atypically brilliant free kick that just clipped the top of the post, definitely the best shot so far, with the clock ticking towards the 30th minute. Never mind the teams needing to wake up, I felt my own eyes slipping closed.

Northern Ireland had their moment in the first half in the 38th minute when they were straight through, but again finishing in the final third proved their undoing and the ball went wide. Two minutes later they were behind, a howler by the keeper who passed inadvertently to a Bulgarian, his own defender missing the pass and Bulgaria taking full advantage of the mistake, Northern Ireland surely now rueing that missed chance. Guess that sparked them into life, as they started to play, narrowly missing equalising a minute or two later, and putting the Bulgarian team under pressure. 1-0 it ended at the break, though you might say Northern Ireland were in the ascendancy (sorry) as they headed down the tunnel.

Whether or not they would do anything with that momentum in the second half was anyone's guess. Well they got a corner in the first minute, but it didn't go anywhere. A few good crosses but nobody on the end of any of them, showing again how poor Northern Ireland are at finishing. Bulgaria, for their part, seemed to be of the "what we have we hold" frame of mind, desperate to hang on to their one-nil lead and just keep the Northern Irish out.

The danger with that sort of strategy of course is that you invite the other team onto you, and a lucky shot or bad tackle down your end and you could be looking at a leveller. Mind you, Northern Ireland didn't look likely to be doing that, no real threat and Bulgaria happy to let them make a mess of things when they had the ball. Having the possession is one thing, doing something with it is quite another.

Then again, at least having it is something, but Northern Ireland seemed determined to keep giving possession away, which was certainly not going to help their cause. Even when they were straight through, only the keeper to beat, they shot right at the goalie and we moved into 70 minutes with no change in the score. Six minutes of extra time just dragged out the boredom really. Very poor match.

League C, Group 3 Table
As I just said, Belarus top the table with 4 points, Bulgaria are second also with 4 points, Northern Ireland third with 3 points and Luxembourg make up the numbers at last place with zero points.

League D, Group 1 (D1)
Gibraltar v Liechtenstein
Europe Sports Park, Europa Point
Result: Gibraltar 2 - 2 Liechtenstein
Nobody really would have expected such a score in the league of un-death, the lowest ranked teams who can't even muster four of them for the table, but it looks to have been something of a surprise thriller. Gibraltar scored on 7 minutes with a direct shot from a corner, nobody touched it and it sailed in to give them the lead. If that spooked Liechtenstein they didn't let their heads drop, and came back after the break with a fine goal of their own to level the score.

Gibraltar then got a penalty and must have thought that was it, but it didn't go in (I imagine they're not exactly familiar with taking spot kicks) however they were ahead in the 96th minute and must have surely thought they had taken the game, with only three more minutes to play. However somehow 9  extra time minutes went on to 13, and the visitors got a penalty for a handball in the 13th minute! Unlike those from the Rock, they converted it and it was all square, surely the most exciting game ever played between these two, and their best individual performances. Bravo, ye minnows!

League D, Group 1 Table
Now that all three teams have played, San Marino's famous victory keeps them top with 3 points, while Gibraltar and Liechtenstein's individual heroics, which really should have led to better things, cancel each other out and leave Gibraltar on second with 1 point while Liechtenstein are last, also with one point.

Tomorrow's Matches

League A , Group 2 (A2)
France v Belgium
Israel v Italy


League B, Group 3 (B3)
Norway v Austria
Slovenia v Kazakhstan

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Montenegro v Wales
Turkey v Iceland

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Cyprus v Kosovo
Romania v Lithuania

Day Five

League A , Group 2 (A2)
France v Belgium
Parc Olympique Lyonnaise, Decines-Charpieu
Result: France 2 - 0 Belgium

Time for a stunned France to come back roaring like the twice world champions they are, though Belgium had a lot to prove too. With two footballing powerhouses though,  how could this not be a thriller? And it was, action right from the off as Belgium were unlucky not to get a free in the first few minutes when their man was pulled down, then did get the free a minute later, but missed. Argy-bargy in the goalmouth as two men got yellow, one from each side, and the Belgians were definitely having the better of it, keeping France penned in to their half, though the French did manage a couple of breakaways and even came close to scoring, but twenty minutes in, despite all the goalmouth action, the game remained scoreless.

Two minutes later and it was all France, as they twice blasted straight at the keeper, starting to show their teeth. Not so much a game of two halves as a game of two halves of a half, if you understand me. France definitely looked the more likely, and as we hit thirty minutes they scored, something that would have been considered earlier as being against the run of play, but with the way they had come into the ascendancy in the last ten or fifteen minutes you couldn't see any other result than France scoring.

Belgium tried to hit back right away, but the pass had too much pace on it and ended up in the keeper's arms. 38th minute and France could have been two up, but again the ball was caught by the Belgian keeper. Belgian attacks breaking down now as we moved into the final minutes of the first half, France dictating the play after a slow start.

1-0 at the break then, and the French picked up where they had left off, putting pressure on a Belgium side increasingly looking less comfortable than they had been, especially as France scored a second in the 56th minute, which you might think would be the end of any chance Belgium had to get anything out of the match. Couldn't see the French putting a foot wrong now. Belgium came close to scoring from a corner a few minutes later, in fairness, but 2-0 it remained as things got even worse for the Belgians with the introduction of Mbappe to the field. Two good efforts in the 70th minute could have changed the whole complexion of the game, but Belgium shot wide and into the keeper's arms.

Mbappe almost made it three mere minutes later, but his shot was saved; a free then went wide and in a reversal of the opening half of the first half, the Belgians couldn't get out and all the action was taking place down near their goal. Another chance for Mbappe on 77 but the angle was too acute, even for him. Belgium then had a go but no dice as 80 minutes clicked up on the clock. Even with extra time it would be asking a lot for Belgium to get back into it now. A third attempt by Mbappe with four minutes to go, still no goal, but his attacks were ensuring that France maintained the momentum.

Belgium kept trying, to I guess their credit, but you'd have to wonder how, with all the possession they had in the early stages of the game, with all the pressure they were putting on France, they had ended up in this position, chasing a 2-0 lead with only extra time - four minutes - left to go. Was it that Belgium were a poorer team than they had been, or that France had just taken time to get going? Probably a bit of both, but what can be said is that Kevin DeBruyne looked absolutely lost out there, the only Belgian player keeping their attack alive, but unable to do so alone. Where are Lukaku and Hazard when you need them? Belgium a spent force? If so, France had shown that they were anything but, and they march on.

League A , Group 2 (A2)
Israel v Italy
Bozsik Arena, Budapest
Result: Israel 1 - 2 Italy
The first half was almost winding to a close before Italy scored their first, just on 37 minutes, and nearly another half hour, deep in the second half when they took a 2-0 lead, scoring on the rebound. Israel managed a last-gasp goal to retain some pride but the day was Italy's. No doubt Netanyahu will complain that the Italian team were anti semitic for not allowing Israel to win.

League A, Group 2 Table
Italy remain top with 6 points while France are now second with 3 points, Belgium are third also with 3 points and Israel are bottom without a point.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Norway v Austria
Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo
Result: Norway 2 - 1 Austria
Norway had pride to regain against Austria, so were no doubt happy to score early, in the ninth minute, although it wasn't their talismanic striker who got the goal. Austria replied, but shot wide in the 28th minute, but 8 minutes later they were level. Haaland can't be held down for long though, and he scored on 80 to take the match for his team.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Slovenia v Kazakhstan
Stozice Stadium, Ljubljana
Result: Slovenia 3 -  0 Kazakhstan
Slovenia took what must have been an expected lead in their game against Kazakhstan in the 25th minute, adding another 5 minutes later, and a third in the 62nd, all scored by the same player.

League B, Group 3 Table
Slovenia take first place with 4 points, Norway below them on second with the same points tally while Austria are in third with just the one point, same as Kazakhstan, who end up last.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Montenegro v Wales
Gradski Stadion, Niksik
Result: Montenegro 1 - 2 Wales
Thirty-eight seconds. Thirty-eight seconds. One more time: thirty-eight seconds. That's how long it took Wales to open the scoring, and they were at it again in the second minute, 2-0 up already. Montenegro were nearly back in it on the seventh minute when they broke away but they shot wide, then an amazing almost-goal in the 14th when they shot from the halfway line, catching the keeper off his line, but just clipping the top of the net. Had it gone in, it would have surely been the goal of the tournament. Montenegro certainly weren't lying down and they had another shot, this time cleared off the line as we hit the 30th minute. After a dream start, Wales doing well to hold on to their two-goal lead as we went into the break.

Played in pouring rain (more like Ireland) the game found the Montenegrans still trying in the 68th minute, again just the width of the post saving Wales from conceding. Next shot went wide from them, but you could see they were getting closer, and on 72 their efforts bore fruit, Wales just the one goal ahead now. It was enough though for the Welsh to take the game.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Turkey v Iceland
Gursel Aksel Stadium, Izmir
Result: Turkey 3 - 1 Iceland
Another quick start in this match - not quite Wales speed, see above, but within the second minute Turkey were ahead. Iceland came back in the 37th minute, and despite some acrobatics by Turkey it took them till the second half to pull ahead again, in the 51st minute, and put the seal on their victory with a hat-trick on 87.

League B, Group 4 Table
Turkey's impressive win lifts them into first place with 4 points, above Wales, also on 4 points. Iceland are third with 3 points and Montenegro, despite their valiant efforts, prop up the table with nil points.

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Cyprus v Kosovo
AEK Arena - Georgios Karapatakis, Larnaca
Result: Cyprus 0 - 4 Kosovo
Cyprus were fancied for this one, but did it ever turn out differently to how they imagined! A penalty conceded in the 7th minute allowed Kosovo to pull ahead early, and they never let their lead slip, adding a second on 21 minutes, with a third coming just as the second half got going. 54 minutes and they were four goals up, with no reply at all from Cyprus. Maybe complacency undone the Cypriots?

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Romania v Lithuania
Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest
Result: Romania 3 - 1 Lithuania
Another early goal in this game, only 4 minutes on the clock and Romania were ahead. Lithuania levelled on 32 though, then a penalty for Romania at the death let them take the lead, and one more in extra time sealed a good victory for them.

League C, Group 2 Table
Romania top the group with 6 points, Kosovo a perhaps surprising second with 3 points. Cyprus, equally surprising, third with also 3 points and Lithuania, pointless at the foot of the table.

Tomorrow's Matches

Tomorrow we play the last matches in this round, with both Ireland and England in action (definitely being generous using that word in our case!). After this it's a month's break till any of the teams meet again.

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Hungary v Bosnia & Herzegovina
Netherlands v Germany


League B, Group 1 (B1)
Albania v Georgia
Czech Republic v Ukraine

League B, Group 2 (B2)
England v Finland
Republic of Ireland v Greece

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Latvia v Faroe Islands
North Macedonia v Armenia

League D, Group 2 (D2)
Andorra v Malta

Day Six

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Hungary v Bosnia & Herzegovina
Puskas Arena, Budapest
Result: Hungary 0 - 0 Bosnia
Definitely seen as the weaker teams in the group, there really wasn't much to separate the two sides, though Hungary had most of the possession and the attacks, none of which came to anything, neither side able to score.

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Netherlands v Germany
Johann Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam
Result: Netherlands 2 - 2 Germany
Who can stand in Germany's way? Well, Netherlands were certainly going to have a shot, and they did, literally: a shot on 2 minutes sending them into the lead. 10 minutes later they had a free but this one went wide, then surviving a German corner on 20 they broke away and almost scored themselves. Germany levelled on 37, some poor Dutch defence and the Germans scored on the rebound. In literally the last seconds of extra time in the first half they were ahead, turning the match completely around. Never count the Germans out, as someone once said.

High-energy football all the way as the second half opened with another goal for Netherlands to draw them level. Germany nearly pulled ahead almost immediately but over the bar it went, Germany applying all the pressure now but unable to make the breakthrough, and honours were shared at the end.

League A, Group 3 Table
Germany remain top with 4 points, Netherlands second also with 4 points, while Bosnia are third with just the one point and Hungary in a similar situation, make up last place.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Albania v Georgia
Arena Kombetare, Tirana
Result: Albania 0 - 1 Georgia
Albania had a long shot on 11 minutes but it didn't trouble the Georgian keeper, and shots more or less were aimed hopefully until a fine shot from Georgia on 70 showed why they were a team to watch in the Euros a few months ago.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Czech Republic v Ukraine
Fortuna Arena, Prague
Result: Czech Republic 3 - 2 Ukraine
More exciting was this game, where on 20 minutes the Czechs opened the scoring, Ukraine taking another 15 minutes to reply with a fine header into the back of the net to square the match. As the first half wound down the Czech Republic reestablished their lead, and extended this when they got a penalty in the 77th for a handball. Could have been a nervy ending when Ukraine scored in the dying moments of the game, but Czech Republic held on for the win.

League B, Group 1 Table
Georgia top the group with a perhaps unexpected 6 points, Albania with 3 take second. The Czech Republic are third also with 3 points and Ukraine, pointless, languish at the foot of the table.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
England v Finland
Wembley Arena, London
Result: England 2 - 0 Finland
Riding high after their demolition of us at the weekend, on home ground and with Harry Kane awarded the Gold Cap for 100 appearances for his country, not to mention an emotional tribute to the late Sven Goran Eriksson, England must have been full of confidence for this match. Finland are not exactly world-class competition, though in their current form you'd imagine Lee Carsley's boys could take on Brazil almost.

It was, of course, written in the stars for Kane to be the star of the show, and so it proved, as he got both goals though his cross to Saka could have set England off in the first three minutes. 20 minutes later and he was at it again, missed this time but it was only a matter of waiting for the right ball. Finland were limited to a few chances, didn't come to anything, Saka again coming close on 21 minutes, the Finnish goal under siege. How long could it hold?

As the first half drew to a close Alexander-Arnold shot wide, and another shot from Kane, this time from a free, just as the second half got underway. But he would not be denied and in the 56th minute he netted his first of the night, putting England - it must be said deservedly - ahead. Alexander-Arnold to Kane in the 75th minute and England were two ahead and not likely to be caught. Definitely Harry Kane's night, which only seems right.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Republic of Ireland v Greece
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Result: Republic of Ireland 0 - 2 Greece
Sometimes it's like some sort of divine punishment from above, having to watch Ireland play. Look, we've had our moments, but those moments are long in the past, our glory days - such as they are - well over now and the era of Charlton, McCarthy and O'Neill distant memories. What we have now just about barely qualifies as a football team, and I must admit, I was tempted to switch over to the other side and watch the English game, which surely would be better than this. Couldn't possibly be worse. But hey ho: you support your national team, even if they hardly deserve the description. After the English pissed all over us at the weekend, surely this couldn't be as bad, could it? Worse? Is that possible? Well, for 20 minutes we had the usual Irish performance - long hopeful balls hoofed upfield, shots back to the keeper, poor tackles, bad possession, our first real effort coming from a corner but as usual fluffed. To be fair, Greece weren't any great shakes either, but then, they weren't expected to be. Hell, neither were we, let's be honest. Expectations low, certainly being fulfilled.

Greece had the best effort on 25 minutes, the shot pushed behind for a corner, which went nowhere, but at least it was a little bit of excitement in a game which, so far, was very short on thrills or even spills. Maybe chills, but we're used to that. We had a decent shot on 41 minutes but it was ruled offside, another shot blazed over the bar, so scoreless into the break we went. At least we were beginning to actually play, which is something.

A bad start to the second half as an elbow was used and a Greek player went down, but there didn't seem to be any intent behind it and no card resulted, the Greek soon back on his feet. Feckin' Greeks! They scored first, 50th minute, terrible, absent Irish defence. Now we were up against it. A half chance five minutes later but not enough contact made with the ball, and a corner in the 65th was equally squandered. A minute later we were lucky not to be two down, as Greece also hit it high over the top, but again, where was our defence? If anyone spots them, please do not approach as they are believed to be unarmed and useless.

Greece continued to pile on the pressure, and a free in the 68th minute almost gave them their second, but again too high and we breathed a sigh of relief. Sort of. Still a goal behind and not too much hope we were going to level, never mind turn the game our way. Another Irish free, another wasted opportunity, the clock ticking down as we entered the final 15 minutes of the game. I'd actually be surprised if we didn't concede again before the final whistle. Certainly didn't see us scoring. Oh well, a decent shot on 85 that could have gone in, but didn't, but then as usual the resultant corner was wasted. The sands of time, guys, the sands of time...

... ran out in 87 as Greece broke away and scored their second, and we were toast. What a terrible start to the competition for us: two defeats - and two bad ones - and not a single point as we end the first stages of the tournament. No more than we deserve, of course, but I really had hoped that we could have mustered some pride, some sense of wanting to fight back and vindicate themselves after the thrashing England gave us, but, well, nah. We're just - what's that old footballing term? Oh yeah. Shit. We're just shit.


League B, Group 2 Table
Greece remain on top, thanks to thrashing us (should be getting used to this by now) while England are second, both with 6 points. The zero-point club is made up of us and Finland, our only saving grace - if you can call it that - being that we're not last.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Latvia v Faroe Islands
Skonto Stadium, Riga
Result: Latvia 1 - 0  Faroe Islands
Wouldn't have expected a rain of goals here, and in fact there was just the one. A few shots all right, but it took till the second half before Latvia scored - suspicion of handball but not given. The Faroes came close to levelling twice, but the game ended in a victory for the East Europeans.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
North Macedonia v Armenia
Tose Proeski Arena, Skopje
Result: North Macedonia 2 -  0 Armenia
Not a good omen, you would have thought, for North Macedonia when one of your men is sent off just before the end of the first half, but they came back and even with ten men were able to score from a great free kick on 70 minutes, eight minutes later they had their second and Armenia must have been embarrassed to have been trounced by a ten-man side.

League C, Group 4 Table/u]
That victory put North Macedonia top of the table with 4 points, Armenia below them at second with 3 points, also with three points and at third place Latvia, with the Faroe Islands isolated (sorry) down there at the foot of the table with just the one point.

League D, Group 2 (D2)
Andorra v Malta
Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella
Result: Andorra 0 - 1 Malta
As you might probably expect in a game between minnows, nothing much happened here until the last minute of the first half, when Malta scored, taking the game.

League D, Group 2 Table
Moldova top the table with 3 points, Malta now second also with 3 points and Andorra down there in last with nary a point to their name.

Okay that's it for now. See you in October.
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A month later and we're back with the surviving teams, all of whom hope to go through to the quarter-finals, and this week's matches will decide who does progress.

Day One

League A , Group 2 (A2)
Israel v France
Bozsik Arena, Budapest
Result: Israel 1 - 4 France

Already destined for relegation to League B after coming last in the League A table, Israel faced a tough game against world-champions France, who, despite their pedigree, have failed to shine in this tournament as they would have expected to, yielding top place to a perhaps lucky Italy. No Mbappe for France but they were still ahead on six minutes when the keeper failed to hold the ball and it squirmed past him. Won't want to see that one again! Israel were level on the 24th minute, but their lead lasted four minutes and again it was France who were ahead. They placed the seal on it in the final minutes when they netted their third and fourth in the 86th and 88th minute respectively.

League A , Group 2  (A2)
Italy v Belgium
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Result: Italy 2 - 2 Belgium

Despite topping the table, nobody could say Italy deserve to be there, but some last-minute fireworks in their performances last time can't be denied and they now sit at the head of League A, while Belgium, who very definitely failed to impress, need to do much better, occupying third place in the "Group of Death" and looking at the possibility of being themselves relegated if they lose the upcoming play-off match. Interesting to see De Bruyne didn't bother this time; he certainly seemed very frustrated with his team last round, as if he was the one carrying them, which he kind of was. How would they do without him, and also without Lukaku?

Italy scored in the first minute, almost saved but a stumbling header had the ball in the goal. 22 minutes later and Italy had a second, Belgium looking very ordinary. However as the half wound down a yellow card turned to red and Italy were one man down, the resultant free kick allowing Belgium to claw one back before the break. Was this the beginning of a fight back against ten men? Still 45 minutes and extra time to go. And indeed on 61 minutes the Belgians were level, Italy finding it hard to keep them back with a man short. Belgium went in search of the winner, their confidence surely rising now, but 2-2 it ended, a far better result for Belgium than would have been expected.

No change in the table then, with Italy top, France second, Belgium third and Israel propping up the standings in last.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
England v Greece
Wembley Stadium, London
Result: England 1 - 2 Greece

After much naysaying (including by me) England have made it through to the next round and now faced top of the table Greece, who are already assured of promotion to the top league, League A. England may also be promoted, but that depends on their play-off game. Greece were ahead in the 49th minute but though England scored at the death to level the match, it was Greece who came back in the last minute of extra time to score again and take the victory.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Finland v Republic of Ireland
Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki
Result: Finland 1 - 2 Republic of Ireland

With a pretty abysmal record in the league, it's no real surprise to see Ireland so low in the table, already looking at relegation to Group C if we don't win our own play-off match. Finland, though, are below us, and doomed to relegation no matter what. The architects of our own downfall, we gave it away in the 17th minute and were duly punished. I'm sure no Irish fan was surprised. Might have been surprised three minutes later when we scored from a free, but they needn't have worried: the ball had gone out of play and the goal didn't count.

Much of the pressure coming from Ireland, to be fair, but we weren't doing anything with it. Long shots from outside the box, hopeful swipes, but finally in the 57th minute we scored - the first goal for our new manager, which tells its own story - and the game was level. But for how long? Next goal would surely decide it. Amazingly, it was Ireland who scored, after coming close to having let Finland in several times, and with only three minutes of normal time to go, that looked like it: Ireland to get their first victory in this league? Well, we almost added a third in the dying seconds but held on to take all three points, no doubt confusing Irish fans, who had the boos ready and had to change the chant. Ireland win. Those two words just don't go together.

B2 table looks the same as it did before today, with Greece top, England second, us third and Finland last.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Austria v Kazakhstan
Raiffeisen Stadium, Linz
Result: Austria 4 - 0 Kazakhstan
A similar situation for these two, with Austria, third in the table, needing to win their play-off match to avoid relegation, while Kazakhstan are already bound for League C, due to coming last in the table. Austria scored first in the tenth minute, but it was in the second half that they really began to play, netting their second and third within minutes of each other near the start of the second half. A fourth in the 79th minute gave Austria a convincing win.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Norway v Slovenia
Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo
Result: Norway 3 - 0 Slovenia
Slovenia are looking at the giddy heights of League A, thanks to their performance in the first round allowing them to top the table, while Norway may be able to join them if they win their promotion play-off match. No real surprise to see them score - any team with goal machine Erling Haaland is always going to have a chance, and he put them ahead in the seventh minute, Norway going two up in the 52nd minute, and Haaland was at it again, netting their third ten minutes later.

It's all change then in League B3 - Norway top with Austria second, Slovenia in third and poor old Kazakhstan down the bottom.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Latvia v North Macedonia
Skonto Stadium, Riga
Result: Latvia 0 - 3 North Macedonia
In the same vein as the previous teams, North Macedonia are to be promoted to League B, having come first in the table, while Latvia occupy third place and their fate rests in the hands of the Faroe Islands. A taste of things to come for North Macedonia when there was almost a rare goal by their keeper - talk about a long shot up to the front! - but the Latvian keeper spared his team's blushes, and his own. For now. Luck was not with Latvia though as they were down 1-0 in the 34th minute, and two down in the second half, another long ball but this time finished off by a striker. Their third goal came almost on the stroke of time, 90th minute, and Latvia were probably glad to hear the final whistle.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Faroe Islands v Armenia
Torsvollur Stadium, Torshavn
Result: Faroe Islands 2 - 2 Armenia
Depending on how they did tonight, the Faroes might be relegated to the depths of League D, or might have a chance to avoid that fate via a relegation play-off match, if they qualified. Armenia were already on their way to League B, coming second in the table. It was deep into the first half, the 37th minute in fact, before the Faroes scored, though Armenia came back with one of their own before half time, Faroes winning it in the 85th minute, or so they thought, until Armenia popped up with an equaliser deep into injury time.

Group C4 table then looks like this: North Macedonia at the top, with Armenia second and Latvia third, while the Faroe Islands failed to win their match and remain at the bottom. At the moment, that allows Latvia the chance to play a relegation play-off match to avoid dropping to the lowest league.

League D, Group 1 (D1)
Gibraltar v San Marino
Europa Business Park, Europa Point
Result: Gibraltar 1 - 0 San Marino
Who would have thought it? Tiny little San Marino, the butt of every European football joke that isn't an Irish or Liechtenstein one, are promoted to the rarefied heights of League C. Gibraltar may be able to emulate them if they win their promotion play-off match.  The Rock scored the only goal in the 62nd minute to take the game 1-0.

D1 table shows Gibraltar first, with San Marino second and Liechtenstein last.

League D, Group 2 (D2)
Moldova v Andorra
Stadionul Zimbru, Chisinau
Result: Moldova 2 - 0 Andorra
Moldova are also headed for League C status, but what happens to Andorra I confess eludes me. They're bottom of the table, but there's no League E, so where do they go? Stay where they are? Moldova scored on the 30 minute mark and again in the dying seconds of extra time.

D2 shows Moldova in first place, with Malta second and Andorra as I say down the end.

Tomorrow's Matches
Iceland v Wales
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Germany
Hungary v Netherlands
Czech Republic v Albania
Ukraine v Georgia
Turkey v Montenegro
Estonia v Azerbaijan
Slovakia v Sweden

QuoteAfter much naysaying (including by me) England have made it through to the next round and now faced top of the table Greece, who are already assured of promotion to the top league, League A. England may also be promoted, but that depends on their play-off game.

Nobody is assured of promotion yet, there are three games to go?

Yeah I know. I got confused cos everyone keeps shouting at me. SO many responses!  :laughing:
That's what I get for thinking I'm a pundit.  ::)
Good games coming up tonight though.

[b[Day Two[/b]

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Germany
Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica
Result: Bosnia 1 - Germany 2

I asked the question before, and it bears repeating: can anyone stop Germany? Undefeated in the tournament so far, they surely would not have been fearing a match with Bosnia, and indeed they scored on the half-hour, adding a second five minutes later and surely putting the Bosnians in fear of the kind of drubbing the Germans handed out to Hungary in the first round. They came back though, scoring themselves in the 70th minute, so though they lost at least they weren't thrashed. Germany, as expected, march on undefeated.

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Hungary v Netherlands
Puskas Arena, Budapest
Result: Hungary 1 - 1 Netherlands

The giants of European football were out tonight, as the rampant Dutch took on a Hungarian team who had yet to win a single match. It was however they who had the first shot on 16 minutes, the ball just whizzing past the near post, Hungary, as they say, a coat of paint from opening the scoring. Whether shaken out of their complacency by that unexpected turn of events or not, Netherlands had a shot of their own stopped in the 27th, only to see the player who had missed earlier take his opportunity to put the ball in the back of the net a few minutes later. Would this be a springboard Hungary could build upon? Could they hold Netherlands off till the break?

Well, the answer to the second question is yes, they could, however a free in the 58th minute had the Dutch threatening again, and they nearly went level when Hungary gave the ball away on 61, all the pressure coming from the team in orange (well, blue, but you know what I mean). Hungary were desperate for their first win though, and when a Dutch player was sent off with a straight red surely they must have thought this could be it? As the clock ticked down though, Netherlands got a free and proved you can never count them out as they equalised. 1-1 it ended, but what could have been for Hungary, who still wait for their first victory.

A3 table: Germany still top with Netherlands second, Hungary third and Bosnia last.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Czech Republic v Albania
Stadion Letna, Prague
Result: Czech Republic 2 - 0 Albania

It only took the Czechs two minutes to go ahead in this match, poor Albanian defending almost letting them in for a second in the 18th, though they almost managed a goal themselves in the 24th. A wasted effort though as the Czech Republic added a second in the 63rd minute to take the game.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Ukraine v Georgia
Poznan Stadium, Poznan
Result: Ukraine 1 - 0 Georgia

Not quite sure what it was tonight about teams not being able to score til the half-hour, but Ukraine had to wait till the 35th minute before they netted their first and only goal in the match, despite both sides coming close on occasion.

B1 table has Georgia top, despite their loss tonight. Czech Republic is second with Albania third and, again, despite their victory, Ukraine prop up the table.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Iceland v Wales
Laugardalsvollur, Reykjavik
Result: Iceland 2 - 2 Wales

Wales weren't feeling the cold when they travelled to the world's most northern city and took only ten minutes to score, adding a second in the 29th. Not to be humiliated on their home soil though, Iceland hit one of their own on 69, levelling the match three minutes later. A game of two halves indeed.


League B, Group 4 (B4)
Turkey v Montenegro
Samsun 19 Mayis Stadium, Samsun
Result: Turkey 1 - 0 Montenegro

Nothing much to speak of in the first half here, but Turkey went ahead in the 69th minute, the only goal of the game giving them the victory.

B4 table sees Turkey top with Wales second, Iceland third and Montenegro still with a mountain to climb. Sorry.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Estonia v Azerbaijan
Lillekula Stadium, Tallinn
Result: Estonia 3 - 1 Azerbaijan

Another first goal on the half hour deal, as the Estonian striker left the keeper for dead, went around and past him and banged the ball into the empty net for the first of his country's three goals tonight. Azerbaijan pulled one back via a penalty in the 44th minute, but one minute later Estonia were at it again, Azerbaijan behind again as we went into the break 2-1 to the Estonians. In the 70th they got their third and that was that.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Slovakia v Sweden
Tehelne pole, Bratislava
Result: Slovakia 2 - 2 Sweden

Sweden were first to score in this match, netting in the 27th minute, adding a second 7 minutes later, Slovakia halving the deficit just before half time, and levelling the match in the 71st, and so honours were shared.

CI table sees Sweden top with Slovakia just behind them, Estonia third and Azerbaijan bringing up the rear.

Tomorrow's Matches
Croatia v Scotland
Poland v Portugal
Serbia v Switzerland
Spain v Denmark
Lithuania v Kosovo
Cyprus v Romania
Bulgaria v Luxembourg
Belarus v Northern Ireland

Day Three

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Croatia v Scotland
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Result: Croatia 2 - 1 Scotland

Currently languishing at the bottom of the table without a single point, Scotland needed to do well tonight. The absolute best they could achieve was to go level with Croatia and Poland, but that would only happen if both those teams lost. Poland losing to Portugal seemed a likely prospect, but even so, Scotland's future looked bleak. With a win, Croatia would remain at second - even if Portugal lost (unlikely) they'd still be top. Continuing the trend from last night of goals not coming until just after the half-hour, it was minute 33 when Scotland struck after a mistake by Croatia, but their lead lasted less than two minutes, and so it was level as the teams went in for the half-time cup of tea.

Modric almost did it again in the 65th minute but shot wide, Croatia keeping up the pressure to net their second on 70. Scotland had a chance to draw level on 77 but another wide of the goal, and again in the last minute of normal time. They got their reward in literally the last seconds when Croatia were forced into an own goal, and a draw was the result. Except the goal was ruled offside, so Croatia took the match.

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Poland v Portugal
Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw
Result: Poland 1 - 3 Portugal

Everyone would expect Portugal to take all three points here, remaining at the top of the table, while even with an unlikely win the Poles would still be in third, due to an inferior goal difference against Croatia, and Portugal would still remain top, so in effect not a lot for the Poles to look forward to. Ronaldo's shot hopped off the crossbar on 10 minutes, but Portugal were ahead ten minutes later and added another on 36, goal 133 for Portugal's star man.

Poland managed to make the scoreline a little less one-sided when they scored on 77 but back came the Portuguese in the last minutes, forcing an own goal to confirm their win.

A1 table: Portugal remain top with Croatia second, Poland third and Scotland remain bottom with zero points.

League A, Group 4  (A4)
Serbia v Switzerland
Dubocica Stadium, Leskovac
Result: Serbia 2 - 0 Switzerland

Desperate times for the Swiss, for whom only a win would do. A draw against third-placed Serbia would be no use to them, leaving them remaining rooted at the bottom of the table with a massive six goals against them and looking at certain relegation. A third own goal of the night (not in this match, of course, but overall) didn't help Switzerland's cause, especially as it came on the stroke of half-time, never a good time to go one down. Serbia turned the screw in the second half, scoring again on 61 minutes. Not even a penalty could save the Swiss, as they missed the spot kick on 72, and things are looking black for them. Is it unfair to call this a Swiss miss? Maybe, but I've said it anyway.

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Spain v Denmark
Nueva Condomina, Murcia
Result: Spain 1 - 0 Denmark

Spain were planning to overtake Denmark in the top slot, only two points between them. If Denmark won though, or even drew, their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals looked a lot better. An even match really, which didn't come alive with a goal till almost ten minutes from time, when Spain scored the only goal.

A4 table sees a change at the top as Spain take the lead with Denmark second, Serbia third and Switzerland still waiting for their first point, rooted to the bottom of the table.

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Lithuania v Kosovo
Darius and Girenas Stadium, Kaunas
Result: Lithuania 1 - 2 Kosovo

Also rooted at the foot of the table with no points, it didn't look good for Lithuania as they faced the team sitting two spaces above them, Kosovo looking to improve on their three points so far. 20 minutes in and they had their first goal, adding a second in the 65th, though Lithuania didn't disgrace themselves, netting in the last few minutes of normal time. It wasn't enough though and Kosovo march on.

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Cyprus v Romania
AEK Arena - Georgios Karapatakis, Larnaca
Result: Cyprus 0 - 3 Romania

Cyprus faced the mighty Romania, who top the table with six points. The Cypriots looked unlikely to progress even with a win, due to an inferior goal difference against second-placed Kosovo. It only took the league leaders 16 minutes to score, then a poor tackle in the box led to a penalty for them in the 25th, putting them two ahead, the game decided on 36 with a third. Cyprus never touched them.

C2 table remains the same then, with Romania ahead with a perfect 9 points from 3 games, Kosovo behind them with 6 and Cyprus third with 3, while Lithuania, at the foot, have yet to earn a single point.

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Bulgaria v Luxembourg
Hristo Botev Stadium, Plovdiv
Result: Bulgaria 0 - 0 Luxembourg

Nobody is surprised to see tiny Luxembourg at the bottom of the league table, and with no goals and three against, they couldn't even overtake Northern Ireland in third place if Belarus beat the nordies. Bulgaria were looking to go top if somehow league leaders Belarus lost. Despite seven yellow cards, indicating a bad-tempered game surely, neither team could score.


League C, Group 3 (C3)
Belarus v Northern Ireland
ZTE Arena, Zalaegerszeg
Result: Belarus 0 - 0 Northern Ireland

Due to their involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine, though not banned from the league Belarus have to play their games behind closed doors (i.e., no spectators) and in other countries, tonight it's Hungary. A win for Northern Ireland would put them top after Bulgaria had drawn against Luxembourg. Could the Northern Irishmen take their chance and come up with a famous victory? It looked like the perfect start for them as they scored in the tenth minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside, Northern Ireland applying all the pressure and again coming close six minutes from the break.

Perhaps disheartened both by the disallowed goal and their failure to score in the first half, Northern Ireland matched this in the second, and the chance was gone as they drew 0-0, remaining where they are in the table.

C3 table remains as is, with Belarus top, Bulgaria second and Northern Ireland third, Luxembourg sitting at the foot, but it should be noted there is only one point in it for the three teams, with Belarus and Bulgaria on 5 points and Northern Ireland on 4.

Tomorrow's Matches
Armenia v North Macedonia
Faroe Islands v Latvia
Liechtenstein v Gibraltar
Malta v Moldova
Finland v England
Greece v Republic of Ireland
Kazakhstan v Slovenia
Austria v Norway

It is quite amusing that people hounded Southgate out and then ended up with Carsley and the Greece result.

We came disgustingly close to glory twice which is the best we've done in half a century and nobody would give him an ounce of credit.

I fear a long period of decline for England now.

Going to be awkward if the bald cunt Pep gets the job when Carsley leaves. I genuinely don't know how I'd feel.

Day Four

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Finland v England
Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki
Result: Finland 1 - 3 England

England had a point to make, having been defeated - much to their own surprise and that of their fans - by Greece in the previous match. Harry Kane, fresh from his frustrated efforts to neutralise Villa in the Champions League and therefore surely spoiling for a fight, with much to prove, again captained the side. It was however the Finns who had the first attack on 6 minutes, shooting wide. Ten minutes later Jack Grealish had almost a tap-in after a perfect pass and England were one ahead, nerves perhaps settled.

Back came the Finns eight minutes from the end of the first half, almost levelling but again missing, this time shooting over the top, and another shot, this time directly at the keeper, as the half came to a close, England in the ascendancy but all the play coming from Finland. The English were on the attack again as the second half began, Cole Palmer narrowly missing doubling their lead. Five minutes later Finland had yet another opportunity to equalise but blazed the ball high over the bar. Getting closer, but would they rue all these missed chances?

The game was certainly nowhere near safe at 1-0, Rice having a go on 58, attempting to put a better complexion on the game, but right into the keeper's waiting arms it went. A free on 72 led to England's second, directly in by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who took the free, and Lee Carsley's boys could breathe a little easier. Seven minutes of normal time to go and Watkins passed to Rice, England now secure with three goals, and all three points. Finland did pull one back at the death, but it was England's night, and they are back on track.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Greece v Republic of Ireland
Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus
Result: Greece 2 - 0 Republic of Ireland

It's absolutely hilarious and also very very sad to hear the way we Irish suddenly had this great idea our team was going to come out of first gear after an, admittedly, decent win against Finland. Of course, even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then, and a stopped clock is right twice a day, and any other cliche you wish to quote which explains how fortunes can seem to change. But how many people believed it of Ireland? How many of us really thought that they were going to go on and build on that one single victory, the first for our new manager from Iceland? Well, those that did were brought sharply back down to earth and returned to reality with a bump as Greece walked all over us.

An indication of how poor we were going to be was evident when the goalkeeper kicked the ball long up the field in the first three minutes, so long in fact that it reached his opposite number, and not an Irish player to be seen trying to get on the end of it. Oh dear. Okay in fairness a minute or two later we had a go, but it went nowhere, rather like our team's fortunes over the last few years really. Our favourite pastime of giving the ball away could have led to disaster on 7 minutes, but luckily the Greek shot wide. A warning though, and one we were not going to heed. Do we ever?

All the pressure coming from Greece as we struggled to keep them out, no real inventiveness in the team or even anything you could call passion; we already looked like we were hanging on for the draw, and the match was only 18 minutes old! A long way to go, and the longer it went with no effort from Ireland the more chance the Greeks would score, which of course they did; having what could only be called survived the first half, we were undone almost instantly as they scored a fine goal in the first two minutes of the second.

To our credit, Ireland almost managed to reply, though it was well into the half before we headed over the bar, but at least it was something. As the match wound down it looked like we might have a chance from a corner but again no dice. In fact, it was well into injury time before once again we gave it away, our keeper gifting Greece a sitter, their second goal, a chance they did not waste, unlike us. Well beaten. Like England, but in a totally different way, normal service has been resumed.

B3 table: Greece then remain top with maximum points, England below them at second, us at third and Finland at the bottom without a single point to their name.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Kazakhstan v Slovenia
Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty
Result: Kazakhstan 0 - 1 Slovenia

A superb goal in the 55th minute took this one for Slovenia. Nothing more to say about that really.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Austria v Norway
Raiffeisen Stadium, Linz
Result: Austria 5 - 1 Norway

An unlikely victory for Austria, especially against a team with Erling Haaland, but it was the Austrians who struck first, only seven minutes in. Norway were back in it just before the break, after a free kick, but that was to be their last goal, as Austria got a penalty in the second half, scoring to again take the lead. After that, they went on the hunt and it became something of a rout as they scored in the 56th from a corner, six minutes later to add their fourth and Austria finished in fine style with a fifth on 70 minutes, Halland completely neutralised. A famous victory for Austria.

B3 table: Despite that heavy loss, Norway remain top while both Austria in second and Slovenia in third now match them on points, seven apiece, while Kazakhstan look up from the foot of the table with just the single point.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Armenia v North Macedonia
Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan
Result: Armenia 0 - 2 North Macedonia

This was surely a game in which it looked like nothing was going to happen, as the two Eastern European teams fought out a nil-nil draw, but in the 71st minute a superb goal lit up the match and North Macedonia were one ahead, adding a second five minutes from time.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Faroe Islands v Latvia
Torsvollur, Torshavn
Result: Faroe Island 1 - 1 Latvia

Points shared in this one as a poor error from the Latvian keeper allowed the Faroes in and it was deep in the second half before Latvia replied, to end the game in a draw, and no doubt save their goalkeeper's blushes.

C4 table: North Macedonia top, Armenia second with Latvia third and the Faroes down the bottom. At least everyone has some points on the board, unlike other groups in other leagues.

League D, Group 1 (D1)
Liechtenstein v Gibraltar
Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz
Result: Liechtenstein 0 - 0 Gibraltar

Not quite between a rock and a hard place, unless you consider it being a hard place to score? Neither could, and the match ended scoreless, though honestly we weren't exactly expecting a goalfest, were we? Liechtenstein did get a rare penalty, but even then, they couldn't put it away. Maybe they hadn't practiced enough, or even at all, not anticipating such an award? A pity, as it could have lit up a very dull match, coming in the final seconds of the game, but it wasn't to be.

D1 table: Gibraltar on top while San Marino are second and Liechtenstein probably feel comfortable and familiar down there at the bottom.

League D, Group 2 (D2)
Malta v Moldova
National Stadium, Ta'Qali
Result: Malta 1 - 0 Moldova

Another boring match heading for a nil-all draw until Malta scored in the dying moments. Rather like their tiny land-locked neighbours, they too had a penalty right at the end, but unlike poor old Liechtenstein they were able to convert it to take the match.

D2 table: Moldova top while Malta are second, both with six points, but Andorra can't buy a point and remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Day Five

League A, Group 2 (A2)
Belgium v France
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
Result: Belgium 1 - 2 France

Still De Bruyne-less, Belgium also faced a France team minus their star man, and put the French under pressure from the off, coming close to scoring against a pretty shaky French defence on 12 minutes, the ball going wide. Six minutes later the only way a France team seemingly devoid of ideas could stop the Belgians was to foul their man in the box, which led of course to a penalty, but what a terrible spot kick! Kicked right over the bar. What a waste.

8 minutes to the break and this time it was France who were awarded the penalty, and they showed the Belgians how to do it. Against the run of play maybe, France now ahead. Belgium were not to be denied though, and came back in the last seconds of extra time, the goal ruled offside. VAR disagreed though, and the sides were level.

France thought they had retaken the lead a few minutes into the second half, but this time handball was the decision and the goal did not stand, so it remained one each as we headed into the 60th minute, neither team able to get the better of the other, until France settled it, no mistake this time. A free for Belgium 15 minutes from time reduced the French to ten men, but they held on for the win.



League A, Group 2 (A2)
Italy v Israel
Stadio Friuli, Udine
Result: Italy 3 - 1 Israel

Nothing much happened in this match until almost the end of the half, when Italy got a penalty and put it away as only Italy can, adding a second as the game resumed. Israel scored themselves just after the hour mark but Italy restored their two-goal lead ten minutes later and added a fourth just to seal it in the 78th minute.

A2 table: Italy top the group, France second (though there's only a point in it now, 10 to 9) with Belgium in third and Israel pointless at the bottom, with a massive 13 goals against them.

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Hungary
Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica
Result: Bosnia 0 - 2 Hungary

The first half was looking to be ending scoreless until Hungary put the ball in the net with seven minutes to go, a penalty as the second half opened allowing them to double their lead, leaving them clear winners.

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Germany v Netherlands
Allianz Arena, Munich
Result: Germany 1 - 0 Netherlands

A well-matched game as neither could break the deadlock until the 63rd minute, when Germany scored the only goal.

A3 table: Germany at the top, no surprise there, followed by Netherlands then Hungary at third with Bosnia at the bottom with just the one point.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Georgia v Albania
Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi
Result: Georgia 0 - 1 Albania

An early shot from Georgia went wide on four minutes, again in the tenth, but Albania weren't sitting back either, having a shot saved on 13 minutes. More action in the first half here than in some of the bigger matches! The half ended though without a goal and it was Albania who took the lead three minutes into the second period, almost adding a second shortly afterwards, but they held on for the win. A real example, it would seem, of a team having all the possession and attack but still losing.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Ukraine v Czech Republic
Wroclaw Stadium, Wroclaw
Result: Ukraine 1 - 1 Czech Republic

Another match with an early effort, Ukraine almost scoring on 4 minutes, but it was the Czechs who ended up opening the scoring in the 18th minute. A penalty for Ukraine early in the second half levelled the game, and despite efforts by the Czech Republic, a draw was the outcome.

B1 table: Czech Republic top the table, but only one point behind them are Georgia, and indeed Albania, both with 6 points to the Czechs' 7. Ukraine are at the bottom of the table with 4.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Iceland v Turkey
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavik
Result: Iceland 2 - 4 Turkey

When they began the highlights the score already showed 2-3 in favour of Turkey, so I'll have to refer to Wiki to get some idea of how that went. Excuse me just one moment. Okay it seems Iceland scored in the third minute, and kept the Turks at bay for the entire first half, a reply only coming in the 62nd minute, but closely followed up by a penalty which then gave them the lead. Iceland shot back seven minutes from time but five minutes later Turkey were ahead again, and scored a fourth in the last seconds of extra time. I have no idea why they didn't show that; sounds like it was one of the more exciting matches.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Wales v Montenegro
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Result: Wales 1 - 0 Montenegro

Unbeaten Wales must have fancied themselves against Montenegro, and came close to opening the scoring on 12 minutes, and again on the 20th. A third time, this time on 30, but still the Montenegrin net would not bulge. It took a penalty being awarded before Wales could net their first goal. Not much from Montenegro but they did almost score in the second half, with a shot that would have been a hell of a goal had it not clipped the top of the post. As it was, for all their dominance Wales could not add another, but they'll settle for 1-0 and three points, their undefeated record remaining intact.

B4 table: Turkey on top with Wales second, Iceland third and Montenegro pointless at the bottom.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Azerbaijan v Slovakia
Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku
Result: Azerbaijan 1 - 3 Slovakia

An early start for Slovakia, who scored on 15 minutes, although through an own goal, Azerbaijan making up for the error by scoring down the right end before the half came to a close. A bad tackle though robbed them of one of their players and from then on it was all Slovakia, as they added a second on 75 and sealed it 10 minutes later.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Estonia v Sweden
Lillekula Stadium, Tallinn
Result: Estonia 0 - 3 Sweden

Estonia held the Scandinavian side off for half an hour, but when Sweden scored it was only going to go one way. Another before the end of the half was followed by a third in the 65th minute, all too easy for the Swedes.

C1 table: Sweden and Slovakia are on equal points, 10 apiece, but Sweden's superior goal difference gives them first place, while Slovakia have to settle for second. Estonia are third and without a point in sight, Azerbaijan are looking at relegation in fourth.

Tomorrow's Matches
Poland v Croatia
Scotland v Portugal
Spain v Serbia
Switzerland v Denmark
Kosovo v Cyprus
Lithuania v Romania
Belarus v Luxembourg
Northern Ireland v Bulgaria

Day Six

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Poland v Croatia
Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw
Result: Poland 3 - 3 Croatia

A six-goal thriller saw Poland take the lead in the fifth minute, Croatia replying fourteen minutes later, and adding a second four minutes after that. By 25 minutes in it was three to Croatia, Poland pulling one back just before the break. They got the equaliser in the 67th minute, and with Croatia having a player sent off for a straight red card, Poland might have had a chance to take all three points, but 3-3 it ended.

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Scotland v Portugal
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Result: Scotland 0 - 0 Portugal

Have the Scots just been unlucky, or are they shite? Let's be kind and assume the former, but they haven't won a single match so far, and really, the last thing you want to see when you are facing a record like that is the red and green wave as Ronaldo and his team arrive in town. Like Northern Ireland, Scotland were playing at home, so perhaps the crowd could energise them? If they weren't all drunk. Hey, even if they were: who can belt out "I Belong Tae Glasgae" better than a pissed Scotsman? Or woman. But I digress, and there's a rather large Scottish gentleman looking at me funny and tapping a cosh into his palm, so let's get on with it.

A long shot upfield from a free in the third minute almost gave them the perfect start, but McTominay headed right into the keeper's arms. Ronaldo then threatened four minutes later when Scotland gave the ball away, but luckily their keeper was alive to the danger too. Going to be a long night. Portugal had a free in the 25th minute and it almost went in, but the Scottish keeper did well to keep it out.

Into the second half, still scoreless, and another shot from Ronaldo went awry, heading over the bar, but the Portuguese kept up the pressure, this time the shot was well over the bar, a really bad miss. You would have to say now though that Scotland were holding a defensive action, just hoping to see out the match without conceding, as Portugal had all the possession and all the chances, but nil-all it ended.

A1 table: Despite a poor result tonight against the Scots, Portugal remain top while Croatia are second, Poland third and poor Scotland are bound for relegation, with just the one point at the bottom.

League A, Group 4 (A4)
Spain v Serbia
Nueva Arcangel, Cordoba
Result: Spain 3 - 0 Serbia

The Spanish football machine was in fine form tonight, the first goal coming in the first four minutes, constant pressure on the Serbian goal, and Spain could have been four ahead by the break, but just had the one. Serbia didn't look likely to be replying though, and in the second half it was more of the same really, except the rather rare sight of Spain missing a penalty, which just went up into space, a truly awful miss, the more so because of who it was.

Serbia's relief didn't last long though, as Spain were on the attack again, giving the Serbs no chance to even get out of their own half. In the 62nd minute they nearly scored but missed the opportunity to level the game, and had cause to rue that miss two minutes later as Spain went two up. A free kick in the 74th gave them their third and the game was as good as won.


League A, Group 4 (A4)
Switzerland v Denmark
Kybunpark, St. Gallen
Result: Switzerland 2 - 2 Denmark

Switzerland still couldn't manage to score their first victory, despite netting twice as they faced Denmark and the very real prospect of relegation to League B. They scored on 26 but Denmark replied almost immediately to equalise, then a penalty in the last seconds of the half gave the Swiss the opportunity to retake the lead, a chance they did not spurn.

It was the 68th minute that broke Swiss hearts though, as Denmark hammered past the Swiss keeper to again level the match, and leave Switzerland staring at three points turned into one. They're surely going down now.

A4 table: Spain ride high at the top, which will be no surprise to anyone, Denmark take second place while Serbia fill the third slot, and Switzerland, with at least one point now, not that it will do them much good, are at the foot.

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Kosovo v Cyprus
Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Prishtina
Result: Kosovo 3 - 0 Cyprus

Kosovo continued their winning streak as they put Cyprus to the sword, scoring on the half hour and again just after the restart, sealing the win in the 70th minute with their third.


League C, Group 2 (C2)
Lithuania v Romania
Darius & Girenas Stadium, Kaunas
Result: Lithuania 1 - 2 Romania

Romania conceded a penalty after just three minutes for handball, allowing Lithuania to open the scoring, then believe it or not, another handball down the other end on 17 gave Romania the chance to equalise. Halfway through the second period Romania took the match with their second goal.

C2 table: Romania are top followed by Kosovo at second, Cyprus at third and Lithuania in last place, without a point.

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Belarus v Luxembourg
ZTE Arena, Zalaegerszeg
Result: Belarus 1 - 1 Luxembourg

Strange how Belarus, unbeaten up to now, couldn't find their way past lowly Luxembourg, who are foot of the table without a point, but even with a penalty given in the tenth minute they couldn't score, the Luxembourg keeper saving. Just going to be one of those nights, I guess! Seven minutes from the break and it could have got even worse for them as Luxembourg had a rare shot, but it bounced off the post.

Belarus did score as the second half opened, and probably thought they had done enough, but then they went and gave away a penalty 13 minutes from time, and fair play to them, Luxembourg showed them how to take a spot kick, levelling the match and leaving Belarus surely scratching their heads and wondering how that had happened?


League C, Group 3 (C3)
Northern Ireland v Bulgaria
Windsor Park, Belfast
Result: Northern Ireland 5 - 0 Bulgaria

Playing to a home crowd, Northern Ireland turned it on and showed their southern neighbours how it's done as they took Bulgaria in a five-star performance. They were ahead in 14 minutes, adding a second 14 minutes later. A penalty could have resulted, as a Northern Irish player was brought down in the box, but with the ball already in the net the question became academic.

Academic, too, the possibility of Bulgaria getting anything out of this match when Northern Ireland added a third on 31, the ball actually bouncing off the post but hitting the keeper and going in, so I guess an own goal then? They all count. As half-time wound down, Bulgaria had a chance to salvage something when they were awarded a penalty, but the ball hit the crossbar.

Ten minutes from time and Northern Ireland were in showboating form, a superb goal from distance making it 4-0, and they completed a perfect performance with their fifth with two minutes to go. Not only was this a fantastic score, but against Bulgaria, who had been unbeaten up to this, it has to rank as one of the nordies' best ever. What about ye lads?

C3 table: It's all change then, as, perhaps to everyone's surprise - certainly mine - Northern Ireland take it at the death, climbing to the top of the table and displacing Belarus, who are now second with Bulgaria third. Luxembourg remain at the end, but at least they now have another point to their tally, giving them two in all. Fab.*

* Very old joke. If you get it, you're as old as I am.

Confirmed results:
Germany, Spain automatically through to the quarter-finals.

Greece, Turkey, Sweden, Slovakia, Romania, Kosovo, North Macedonia likely to make it through, though may have to play a promotion play-off match.

Switzerland, Finland, Montenegro  likely to be relegated, but may be saved in a relegation play-off match.

That's it till November. Don't forget to check out my Champions League and FA Cup threads!
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The next round of the UEFA Nations League takes place from tonight (November 14) until Tuesday (November 19), after which the teams who end up lowest on the table in each Group and League will be eliminated, and in most cases relegated. Those left will enter the Knockout Stages, but those matches won't be played until March of next year.

So all to play for then as we look at the matches on
Day One

League A, Group 2 (A2)
Belgium v Italy
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels

Italy were top of their group going into this match, and a cert for qualification for the knockout rounds, while Belgium have failed to live up to their international reputation, perhaps missing their main man. Kevin De Bruyne has not played since the Euros, disillusioned with the effort of his teammates, and so his country has struggled. A match against the group leaders was probably the last thing they wanted right now.

Their mood was probably not helped by the early pressure they were under from the Italians, who scored in the first ten minutes, some very poor defending leading to the first goal. Eight minutes from the break Lukaku had a go, but the Italian keeper caught it easily. The Belgians came out and had a go in the second half, some decent shots but no result, in fact they almost went two down when they gave it away carelessly, but the ball went wide of the post.

Minutes later the Azzurri were at it again, this time the ball just cleared off the line, but they certainly looked to be the team most likely to score again. Two minutes later though it was Italy who were guilty of losing possession too easily, but their defence were able to keep Belgium out. The game certainly hotting up now. A period of calm then until 12 minutes from time when Lukaku again headed wide, spurning the chance to draw his team level.

In fairness, Belgium were a different team in the second half, and definitely had the lion's share of the chances, but in the end the one goal was enough for Italy to take the match, and despite all their efforts Belgium came away with nothing to show for them.



Result: Belgium 0 -1 Italy

League A, Group 2 (A2)
France v Israel
Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Israel remained pointless and surely facing elimination and relegation when they came up against high-flying France, but managed to hold the former world champions off to earn their first point, and perhaps embarrass the French.


Result: France 0 - 0 Israel

Group A2  table: Italy are top with 13 points, France second with 10, both due to go through, while Belgium at third have a mere 4 points, Israel as I say with their first point, but at the bottom of the table and due for League B relegation.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Greece v England
Athens Olympic Stadium, Athens

Determined to take revenge on the Greeks for the surprise defeat last time, England were in no mood to fuck around and hit the net within six minutes, Villa's Ollie Watkins with a lovely shot to put England in the driving seat early. On the half-hour Greece could have drawn level but the ball hopped off the upright. 1-0 at the break, and England had two chances to double their lead in the second half but the Greeks hung on, almost converting themselves just past the hour.

England kept up the pressure and again off the post on 77 minutes, but this time it bounced in, not out, and they were two goals to the good. 13 minutes left; seemed unlikely Greece could even level, never mind overcome that lead. Jones made it certain eight minutes from the end as he scored England's third. I guess revenge is sweet.

Result: Greece 0 - 3 England

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Republic of Ireland v Finland
Aviva Stadium, Dublin

We were just trying to avoid an embarrassing early exit and relegation here, but it was Finland who had the early shot on 15 minutes, though thankfully it went wide. After a second scare, this one banging off the crossbar, Ireland had an attack but it came to nothing as we headed towards half-time. It was Finland who come closest again though, the ball coming back off the post in the last five minutes of the half. Ireland's last attack of the half finally resulted in a goal one minute from time.

We went in search of a second as the game restarted - if there's one thing we've learned it's how to give away a match from a 1-0 lead - but it was Finland who almost levelled the match, Ireland now just hanging on desperately for the win. When the ref was sent to the monitor after the ball appeared to have hit the arm of an Ireland player, we knew what to expect. But what we did not expect - well, what I did not expect anyway - was for Kelleher to pull a "Packy Bonner" and save the penalty - twice!

With eight minutes to go, and the footballing gods perhaps on our side, could we make it to the end? It was close, but we held on for a pretty historic win I guess, certainly only the second victory for the new manager, and it keeps us in the competition, for now.

Result: Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 Finland

Group B2  table: England remain on top, on course for qualification and promotion with 12 points, level with Greece in second while we're third with 6, Finland bottom with zero points.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Kazakhstan v Austria
Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty

Austria took the lead 15 minutes in, adding a second 10 minutes later when one of the players from Kazakhstan was sent off for a straight red for a foul just outside the box. The resultant free kick was beautiful and put the game surely beyond the home side, even at this early stage. They could have made it safe just before half-time, but the ball came back off the post. Nevertheless, the two were enough and Austria took the win.

Result: Kazakhstan 0 - 2 Austria

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Slovenia v Norway
Stozice Stadium, Ljubljana

Norway went one better, scoring in the first four minutes to give themselves an early lead, but Slovenia proved a tougher opponent, almost levelling on 20 minutes when the ball came back off the bar, though in the process being awarded a penalty  after VAR review, which they duly converted, the game tied in the first 20 minutes. Haaland put his team in front just before the break, and Norway were three up on the hour, adding a fourth eight minutes from time.

Result: Slovenia 1 - 4 Norway

Group B3  table: Austria and Norway, with 10 points each, and first and second respectively, go through. Slovenia in third have 7 points, and may still make it, whereas Kazakhstan are on the way home and down to League C.

League C, Group 4  (C4)
Armenia v Faroe Islands
Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan

Armenia came closest on 7 minutes, the ball almost over the line but smothered by a grateful Faroes goalkeeper, but it was the Faroe Islands who scored first, a penalty on the half hour giving them the half-time lead. Keeping that lead was mostly down to their man between the sticks, who pulled off at least three decent saves in the second half to take the game.

Result: Armenia 0 - 1 Faroe Islands


League C , Group 4  (C4)
North Macedonia v Latvia
Tose Proeski Arena, Skopje

Both sides had a chance to take first blood in the opening 15 minutes, but North Macedonia shot high and wide and Latvia could only hit the side netting, but it was just before the hour mark that the home side scored the only goal of the game, assuring themselves of qualification and promotion to League B.


Result: North Macedonia 1 - 0 Latvia

Group C4  table: North Macedonia, top of the table with 13 points go through and are promoted. The Faroe Islands, in second with 6 points may get a play-off place, while Armenia and Latvia, in third and fourth place respectively, have 4 points each.

Tomorrow's matches
Portugal v Poland
Scotland v Croatia
Denmark v Spain
Switzerland v Serbia
Cyprus v Romania
Lithuania v Kosovo
Luxembourg v Bulgaria
Northern Ireland v Belarus
San Marino v Gibraltar

Day Two

League A , Group 1 (A1)
Portugal v Poland
Estadio de Dragao, Porto

Portugal were ahead just shy of the hour and 13 minutes later Ronaldo was on the scoresheet as he took the penalty awarded to the Portuguese for handball, no way back now for Poland. Their third goal came with 10 minutes of normal time to play, and was a real cracker, a rocket from outside the box, a fourth added two minutes later and an all but perfect performance rounded off with a fifth goal six minutes from time. Poland well beaten, though they gave their fans something to, perhaps ironically, cheer as they netted themselves in the 87th minute. The night though belonged to Portugal, who are well on course for qualification. Who would have doubted it?

Result: Portugal 5 - 1 Poland

League A , Group 1 (A1)
Scotland v Croatia
Hampden Park, Glasgow

9 minutes in and Croatia could have been ahead, but the keeper somehow kept it out when it looked bound for the bottom corner, then Scotland had their shot on 17 but the Croatian keeper was just as agile. As the half drew to a close Croatia lost a man for a second yellow. With 15 minutes to go Croatia could have taken it but scuffed the shot, then 5 minutes from time Scotland got their reward as McGinn fired high into the roof of the net to take the game for his country.

Result: Scotland 1 - 0 Croatia

Group A1  table: As expected, Portugal are top with 13 points, while Croatia come second with 7. Scotland are hanging on at third with 4 points, but Poland also have 4 at the bottom, though with a much inferior goal difference.

League A, Group 4  (A4)
Denmark v Spain
Parken Stadium, Copenhagen

Spain laid siege to the Danish goal from the off, scoring on 14 minutes, having come close two minutes earlier. On the hour the Spanish doubled their lead, and though Denmark pulled one back with 7 minutes to go, it was too little, too late.

Result: Denmark 1 - 2 Spain


League A , Group 4  (A4)
Switzerland v Serbia
Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich

Switzerland were desperate to avoid the drop and they started off well, but had still not scored before the break. Neither, though, had Serbia, who couldn't even score from a penalty, Switzerland netting 12 minutes from the end. Not to be outdone though, the Serbians scored with less than three minutes to go, to tie the match and rob the Swiss of their first victory.

Result: Switzerland 1 - 1 Serbia

Group A4  table: Spain, to nobody's surprise, remain top with 13 points and have already qualified, while Denmark are second with 7 points. Serbia take third place with 5 and Switzerland, having failed to win a single game, are relegated to League B.

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Cyprus v Lithuania
AEK Arena - Georgios Karapatakis,Larnaca

Lithuania had a chance to go ahead in the first minutes but spurned the chance, then compounded their error by giving the ball away in the box on 17 minutes, Cyprus gratefully accepting the gift and opening the scoring. The visitors pulled on back almost as soon as the second half had begun, to make this less of a walkover for them as Cyprus may have expected. Just after the hour though they showed their quality with a fine strike, to take the game and assure promotion and qualification.

Result: Cyprus 2 - 1 Lithuania

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Romania v Kosovo
Arena Nationala, Bucharest

No score in this match, and I don't mean a nil-nil. Showing the darker side of football, the match was abandoned after Kosovo players walked off the pitch in response to pro-Serbian chants from the Romanian fans.

Result: Match abandoned

Group  C2 table: Despite not playing a full match tonight, Romania remain top with 13 points and are assured of qualification and promotion, while Kosovo also have little to lose, 10 points putting them in second place. Cyprus with 6 are third and Lithuania bring up the rear with nada points.

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Luxembourg v Bulgaria
Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Bulgaria took first blood in the match, scoring halfway through the first period, the single goal enough to secure them the victory.

Result: Luxembourg 0 - 1 Bulgaria

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Northern Ireland v Belarus
Windsor Park, Belfast

Exciting times for Northern Ireland, who are top of their group and look to be headed for promotion, and qualification to the next round. Okay they're hardly in the group of death, but they're doing better than us, and they had a chance to go ahead 13 minutes in but over the bar it went. 13 minutes after that, another chance, but squandered. They kept the pressure up, another attack in the first minute, but again no goal, then Belarus got a free from a long way out, but proved as unable as the home team to score.

Five minutes into the second half Northern Ireland scored from a corner, a lovely header to open the scoring, and they added a second when handball in the box led to a penalty, Belarus in their rearview and unlikely to be seen again. They had a chance to take a third in the dying moments, but a 2-0 victory will certainly do.

Result: Northern Ireland 2 - 0 Belarus

Group C3  table: Northern Ireland with 10 points top the table, Bulgaria are second with 8, Belarus third with 6 and Luxembourg look likely to be heading home, and down, with a mere 2 points.

League D, Group 1 (D1)
San Marino v Gibraltar
San Marino Stadium, Serravalle

Surely the nail-biter everyone had been waiting for all weekend? Well it was yet another penalty on the night which led to the opening goal for Gibraltar on 10 minutes, though having held off the visitors for another eighty minutes San Marino had their grit rewarded when they themselves got a penalty in added time, earning a draw.

Result: San Marino 1 - 1 Gibraltar

Group D1  table: Gibraltar stay top with 6 points, San Marino are second with 4 and Liechtenstein, perennial underdogs, are last with 2 points.

Can't wait for the next update.  :devil:

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Come on! We wuz robbed! At least one stonewall penalty turned down, the other could have been one as well, and that fucking ref and his poxy cards! What, did he have to get rid of them all by the end of the game or something? Cunt.

Full report following...
:shycouch:

And here it is.

Day Three and Four

League B , Group 2 (B2)
England v Republic of Ireland
Wembley Stadium, London

Although we didn't really expect to have any real chance against an England team riding high at the top of the table and looking at promotion to the top League, any match against England is a matter for us to dream, though seldom if ever have our dreams been realised. Even with the two victories under our belt, we had to be seen as the underdogs going into this, especially with it being played at Wembley. In addition to this, it was the last game in which Lee Carsley was in charge before the new manager takes over, so the interim coach would want to make it count. There wasn't much at stake other than pride: England are already through and we could do no better than maintain third place, which we were not going to lose, so win lose or draw, it would make no difference.

Ireland can't claim to have any really good players, let's be honest. The days of being able to point to someone who can be a playmaker, never mind a goalscorer, are long behind us, and these days I don't even recognise many of the names in the team. We certainly don't have a Kane, a Rice or even a Maguire in our team, and we expected to be vastly outclassed, outplayed and for England to have the lion's share of the possession. What we did with the ball, when we had it, would shape how our night would go, but let's be honest, while every house in Ireland was willing our team on against "the auld enemy", in our hearts nobody expected much other than defeat, and personally I just hoped we wouldn't be slaughtered. No real harm falling in battle, but nobody wants the opposing army to come back and piss on your corpse. Figuratively speaking of course: UEFA frowns on that kind of behaviour on the pitch.

UEFA should also frown on the pretty disgraceful attitude - on both sides - to the playing of the national anthems. I don't enjoy hearing boos during anyone's national anthem - hell, even Israel and maybe Russia should be able to sing their country's song without interference. But if nothing else, the reaction shows how thin the line is between acceptance and tolerance between the two countries, and how old enmities - if only in a sporting sense (at least, let's hope so) - die very hard indeed. But after the reprehensible actions of the Romanian fans last night in the match against Kosovo, we don't need any more tensions on or off the field.

Unsurprisingly, it was the English who had the early chances, a corner five minutes in coming close, Ireland pretty much on the defensive, as we had expected to be. Three corners in the first twelve minutes told the tale of the English pressure, Ireland barely able to get out of their own half. A rare breakaway for us should really have led to a penalty as Ferguson was taken down in the box, but the ref waved it away. VAR were not interested either. I do have to wonder, had it been down the Irish end, with 70,000 England fans roaring for it, would the result have been the same?

You'd have to say the Irish defence was performing well, but we had hardly a shot on goal. Still, half an hour in and still scoreless was not a bad result. Could we last another 15 minutes and get to the break with a clean sheet? With 10 minutes left in the half we were denied a second penalty, though this one looked right; would have been soft had it been awarded. Not that we wouldn't have taken it, of course. It was heartening to hear, with five minutes to go, "Come On Ye Boys in Green" reverberate around Wembley, the England fans uncharacteristically quiet. An Irish break and a free kick in the dying minutes might have silenced them altogether, but a round of pinball in the box ended in a free for England, Ireland in the ascendancy as the half drew to a close.

Then it all kicked off in the last minute of extra time as Kane seemed to lose it, the ref calling him over after he bundled one of our players over. What colour would the card be? Well it's Wembley and he's Harry Kane, so you couldn't expect a red, nor was it. The England captain on thin ice now though.

So for all their possession, it was a case both of England not doing enough with it, and Ireland defending well. There were also the two penalty shouts to consider; should we have gotten two spot kicks, never mind one? The first looked like it should have been given - pulling the shirt in the box usually results in a penalty - the second, I thought not, but it could have been. Sort of case of on another day, another ref, another stadium, might have been given. England perhaps lucky to get away with not being at least one goal down at half time.

It all started to fall apart five minutes into the second half. England awarded a penalty after we had had two turned down - it was the right decision - and one of our men sent off for a second yellow. Kelleher had saved a penalty in the match against Finland a few days earlier; could he be a hero again and stop the mighty Kane? No, too much to ask for, and England were ahead and in the driving seat now against ten men. How would a surely dispirited Ireland respond to going one behind? Irish voices drowned out now by the England fans, nerves settled and aware their team were now on top.

Even more so when Gordon scored to put the home team two up, hardly any doubt of the outcome now, even with still over half an hour to go. For once, I can't fault Ireland: losing a man makes it almost impossible to win (or draw, if you're behind) and it was sad to see all our good work in the first half undone so quickly and so completely in the second. Just before the hour Gallagher netted to make it certain; just a case now of how many we would be beaten by. I had snorted to myself before the match that it would be 5-0, and that was unfortunately looking a real possibility now, maybe even a let-off for us. A long time to go to the final whistle.

15 minutes to go and substitute Jared Bowen made it four with a fine shot, the kind of goal he's been scoring for West Ham, and that prediction of mine was looking more and more likely, perhaps even conservative. Conservative indeed, as Ireland went five down ten minutes from time, my prophecy fulfilled, just hoping now that there wouldn't be any more. What had started out as a surprisingly decent night for us had ended in ignominy and total defeat, and even though it didn't affect our position in the table, well hell it still hurts. Not so much, had we been shite all the way through, but we had done so well, for the wheels to come off and everything just to go to Hell so badly. I think this goes down as our worst defeat to England, even if there were mitigating factors.

Result: England 5 - 0 Republic of Ireland

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Finland v Greece
Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki

Another match where, it seems, all the action took place after the restart. Greece scored both goals, as you can see, a mere four minutes between them.

Result: Finland 0 - 2 Greece

League B2 table: England march on with 15 points at the top, securing promotion to League A and qualification for the next round, Greece are second, also with 15 points, while we remain third with 6 and Finland are bottom with zero points.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Latvia v Armenia
Skonto Stadium, Riga

Everything seems to have happened in the second half here, Armenia scoring three minutes in and holding the lead until twenty minutes from time, when Latvia equalised. Eight minutes later Armenia scored again to take the match.

Result: Latvia 1 - 2 Armenia


League C, Group 4 (C4)
North Macedonia v Faroe Islands
Tose Proeski Arena, Skopje

The only goal scored in this match came just after the hour, and was enough for North Macedonia to take the game.

Result: North Macedonia 1 - 0 Faroe Islands

Group C4  table: North Macedonia top the table with an impressive 16 points and are promoted to League B. A long way behind, pointswise, is Armenia in second with 7, Faroe Islands in third with 6 and Latvia last with 4 points.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Georgia v Ukraine
Adjarabet Arena, Batumi

Things did not get off to a flying start for the Georgians when they scored an own goal in the seventh minute, and they looked likely to be on the losing side until 14 minutes from time, when they scored to level the match and take a point.

Result: Georgia 1 - 1 Ukraine


League B, Group 1 (B1)
Albania v Czech Republic
Arena Kombatare, Tirana

Nothing I can tell you here, as this was a nil-all draw.

Result: Albania 0 - 0 Czech Republic

Group B1  table: The Czechs top the table with 8 points, 7 each for Georgia and Albania, in second and third places respectively, and 5 points leaves Ukraine at the foot of the table.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Austria v Slovenia
Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna

The home side went ahead just before the half hour, and held that lead until almost the end when, nine minutes from time Slovenia netted to equalise and earn a share of the points.


Result: Austra 1 - 1 Slovenia


League B, Group 3 (B3)
Norway v Kazakhstan
Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo

Norway powered their way past Kazakhstan, scoring three times in the first half, and adding two more in the second, the visitors without a single goal, or, possibly, shot. Know how yiz feel, lads!

Result: Norway 5 - 0 Kazakhstan.

Group B3  table: Norway are top with 13 points, qualify for the next round and are promoted to League A. Austria come second with 11 points, Slovenia are third with 8 and Kazakhstan, pointless, are relegated to League C.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Wales v Turkey
Kadir Has Stadium, Kayseri

Another nil-all draw, so nothing I can tell you about this one.

Result: Wales 0 - 0 Turkey


League B, Group 4 (B4)
Montenegro v Iceland
Gradski Stadion, Nicksic

Montenegro held Iceland almost all the way through, the visitors only opening the scoring with 15 minutes left to go, then adding a second to make sure two minutes from time.

Result: Montenegro 0 - 2 Iceland

Group B4  table: Turkey are top of the table with 11 points, Wales second with 9. Iceland take third place with 7 and Montenegro, without a point, are relegated to League C.

Trolls I agreed with your pen analysis.

The shirt pull was a pen. The second one wasn't.

🦁🦁🦁

Day, um, something or other. I've lost track.

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Croatia v Portugal
Stadion Poljud, Split

Portugal were away within the half hour as Felix scored but just after the hour the ball was in the Portuguese net and Croatia levelled, the match ending in a draw.

Result: Croatia 1 - 1 Portugal


League A, Group 1 (A1)
Poland v Scotland
Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw

Villa led the way again as McGinn scored in the opening two minutes to give Scotland a precious lead in a game they needed to win. But could they hold on? A long way to go, Five minutes from the end of the first half they had the chance to go two up, but McTominay's shot came back off the post and Robertson's went over it. They almost lost the lead in fact when a Polish shot was saved on the line as the second half opened, but just before the hour the Poles were level, and now it would be all hands to the pumps for Scotland.

In the dying minutes of extra time Scotland made it safe when Robertson headed into the Polish goal to take all three points for his country.

Result: Poland 1 - 2 Scotland

Group A1 table: Portugal remain top with 14 points, already qualified, while Croatia are second with 8, Scotland one point behind at third with Poland bottom with 4 points and relegated to League B.

League A, Group 2 A2()
Israel v Belgium
Bozsik Arena, Budapest

Already relegated, Israel's first and only win in the competition couldn't save them and they are bound for League B. The game looked to be heading for another nil-nil, with Belgium continuing to look like a shadow of themselves without that man, but in the last six minutes it was the Israelis who scored, to perhaps take some small iota of pride back home with them. That's the last we'll be seeing of them anyway. Can't say I'm sorry.

Result: Israel 1 - 0 Belgium


League A, Group 2 (A2)
Italy v France
San Siro, Milan

A real top of the table clash produced four goals and a thriller of a game, as France set down an early marker, scoring in the first two minutes, then Italy did themselves no favours just past the half-hour when they netted past their own keeper to put France 2-0 up. They made amends two minutes later, pulling one back as this time they scored down the right end, but France made it safe in the second half, scoring their third just past the hour.

Result: Italy 1 - 3 France

Group A2 table: France are top with 13 points, level with Italy whose slightly inferior goal difference has them in second place. Well below this, on 4 points is the disappointing Belgium, and also with 4 points but a far worse goal difference, Israel are at the bottom and are relegated.

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Germany v Bosnia & Herzegovina
Europa-Park Stadion, Freiburg

The biggest thumping of any of the games so far, unless I miss my guess, Germany savaged poor Bosnia, scoring, like France, in the first two minutes then adding another halfway through the first half. Bosnia seemed to have no reply, and Germany went into testimonial mode, players lining up to take shots. Arsenal's Havertz got the third of the half eight minutes from the break, then Wirtz scored two in the second half, seven minutes apart, while 9 minutes after that Germany had their sixth, the last one going in ten minutes from time, which probably couldn't come soon enough for battered Bosnia. Deutschland uber alles, indeed!

Result: Germany 7 - 0 Bosnia


League A, Group 3 (A3)
Netherlands v Hungary
Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam

Not to be outdone by their Teutonic cousins, the Netherlands put four past Hungary without reply, a penalty opening the scoring after 20 minutes, a second coming a staggering twelve minutes into injury time at the end of the first half. The Dutch took their third just past the hour and finished off a commanding performance with a fourth four minutes from full time.

Result: Netherlands 4 - 0 Hungary

Group A3 table: Germany, as expected, storm on into qualification at the top of the table, with 13 points, while the Netherlands, with 8 points in second, also qualify. Hungary are third with 5 points and Bosnia are relegated to League B at the bottom of the table with a single point.

League A, Group 4  (A4)
Serbia v Denmark
Dubocica Stadium, Leskovac

Serbia and Denmark, both pushing for second place in the table, fought out a nil-nil draw that was certainly not short of chances, great saves and off-target shots, but in the end it was Denmark who secured second place and qualification.

Result: Serbia 0 - 0 Denmark


League A, Group 4 (A4)
Spain v Switzerland
Heliodoro Rodríguez López, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Switzerland have had a hard time of it in this league, while over in the Champions League the team which is their sole representative are having just as tough a passage. Coming up against league leaders Spain was not the best of ways to bring their campaign to an end, but they fought gamely, perhaps putting in one of the performances of their time in the tournament. They held Spain till the half-hour mark when a penalty opened the scoring, after three attempts, with a save by the keeper, the second shot cleared off the line and the third finally going in. Props to the Swiss keeper; not many manage to keep Spain out!

It was, of course, only a temporary reprieve, and even though Switzerland scored just past the hour to draw level, Spain were ahead again five minutes later. A penalty six minutes from time seemed to have given the Swiss a precious point, even if they are already relegated, but Spain weren't through with them and scored again in injury time when they were awarded a second penalty - the third of the game - and undid all the Swiss's hard work, taking all three points and leaving Switzerland to face the drop without even a consolation draw.


Result: Spain 3 - 2 Switzerland

Group A4 table: Spain, already assured of qualification, remain top with a staggering 16 points, Denmark with half that at second, while Serbia are third with 6 and Switzerland at the bottom with just the two points, and relegated to League B.

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Kosovo v Lithuania
Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina

Bowed but unbroken after the disgraceful behaviour of Romanian home fans a few nights ago, Kosovo were on friendlier ground tonight, at home, and they got the only goal of the match, scoring after just 5 minutes. They lost a man after a direct red just before the end of the half, and almost went behind twice, but the keeper saved one and the post saved the other as time ticked away for relegation-bound Lithuania. Kosovo held on for the win, memories of Sunday night surely receding now.

Result: Kosovo 1 - 0 Lithuania


League C, Group 2 (C2)
Romania v Cyprus
Arena Nacionala, Bucharest

Already through and promoted, Romania flattened Cyprus as they scored in the first minute, again five minutes from the half-time whistle, while Cyprus netted for the first and only time in the match just after the restart. Romania weren't long about re-establishing their two-goal lead though, scoring with ten minutes to go (after Cyprus had had a man sent off - never seen that happen before, a red card in each of the games in the group) and they made it completely safe two minutes later with their fourth.

Result: Romania 4 - 1 Cyprus

Group C2 table: Romania are top with 15 points, Kosovo behind then with 12, however there may be consequences after that abandoned game between the two, so nothing is sorted for sure yet. What is sorted is that Lithuania, without a win, a goal or a point, are relegated in fourth place, while Cyprus' position at third with 6 points is unlikely to be affected by any decision made by UEFA regarding the two teams above them.

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Bulgaria v Belarus
Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia

Stinging no doubt from their thrashing at the hands of Northern Ireland, Belarus were out for revenge, but fell behind instead within the first 12 minutes as Bulgaria took the lead, a position they maintained until 20 minutes from time when Belarus scored that all-important equaliser.

Result: Bulgaria 1 - 1 Belarus


League C, Group 3 (C3)
Luxembourg v Northern Ireland
Stade de Luxembourg

Surprising everyone, Northern Ireland are a cert for qualification and promotion at the top of the table, and they went into their last match against Luxembourg with nothing to lose really. They opened the scoring on 19 minutes, but if they thought they were going to breeze past Luxembourg like they had past Belarus, the home team gave them a sample of what they could expect when they almost scored on the half-hour from a free. The second half had barely begun though when Northern Ireland were two up, and Luxembourg, not known for scoring, much less coming back from a losing position,  looking well out of it.

But they weren't, and they pulled one back three minutes after the visitors had missed the chance to go three ahead, Northern Ireland not looking so secure now and beginning to wobble as Luxembourg followed that up three minutes later to level the game and deny the league table leaders all three points.

Result: Luxembourg 2 - 2 Northern Ireland

Group C3 table: Northern Ireland remain on top with 11 points and are promoted to League B, and go through to the next round. Bulgaria are second with 9 points and Belarus third with 7, while Luxembourg are at the bottom with just the 3 points.

League D, Group 1 (D1)
Liechtenstein v San Marino
Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz

Battle of the minnows as perennial whipping-boys Liechtenstein came up against, um, perennial whipping-boys San Marino at home, the game turning out to be a lot more interesting than would have been expected. Five minutes from the break the home side went ahead with a blistering strike that did not in any way have Liechtenstein written all over it, a real thing of beauty. However San Marino were looking at being promoted, for the first time ever, and they weren't letting that dream slip away without a fight.

Almost immediately after the restart they were level, and when they got a penalty just after the hour, Nanni wrote himself into the - admittedly short and less than chequered - history of San Marino football as he scored, putting his team ahead. He'll never have to pay for a drink in any pub at home again! Nor will Golinucci, who made it three with 15 minutes to go, ensuring San Marino's promotion was confirmed. 


Result: Liechtenstein 1 - 3 San Marino

Group D1 table: History is made for tiny San Marino, who will be playing in the heady heights of League C for the first time ever and also go through to the next round, their 7 points enough to ensure qualification. Gibraltar are second with 6 points, and despite scoring a goal, it's the same old song for Liechtenstein, who prop up the table with a mere 2 points.

So while it was a great night for Scotland and for Northern Ireland, and Germany did what Germany do and Spain did what Spain do, and France hammered Italy and Israel went home, there's really only one story of the night.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Flag_of_San_Marino.svg)

Congratulations, San Marino!

A country of just over 34,000, the fifth-smallest in the world, with an area of just over 23 square miles (64 square kilometres) - that's less than half the area of Dublin, one-fifth of London and one-third of the size of Brooklyn - just managed to score three goals in a match for the first time ever in its history and achieved promotion to a higher league AND has made it through to the quarter-finals of the Nations League for the first time ever.

As the Scots have it, lang may yer prawd standard glorious'ly wave!
There'll be euphoria on the streets of the City of San Marino tonight, and well deserved!

Final Day
(https://media.tenor.com/3frlx2sP4aUAAAAM/jumping-tv-screen-broken-tv.gif)
Oh lucky me! Schedule change on the telly meant the highlights failed to record, so I'll have to do the best I can with Wiki reports. Bear with me.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8a/5a/33/8a5a33aeb206369b7c9fa180ea7a137a.gif)

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Bosnia & Herzegovina v The Netherlands
Bilino Polje Stadium, Zeneca

Although relegated and out of the quarter-finals qualification or play-offs, Bosnia at least gave a decent account of themselves as they bowed out, drawing level just after the hour after the Dutch had taken an early lead halfway through the opening period.


Result: Bosnia 1 - 1 Netherlands


League A, Group 3 (A3)
Hungary v Germany
Puskas Arena, Budapest

Surely the shock of the night, as Germany, having hammered Bosnia 7-0 two nights ago were held to a draw by Hungary, who had also been battered by the Netherlands 4-0. It looks to have been a good one, scoreless until Germany netted fourteen minutes from time, and must have looked as if they had won it easily until nine minutes into injury time Hungary were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty. It was not a chance they wasted, surely scoring with the last kick of the game to equalise, presumably to Germany's shock and dismay.

Result: Hungary 1 -  1 Germany

League A3 table: Of course that result means little in the overall scheme of things, as Germany finish top of the table with 14 points and go through to the quarter-finals, as do the Netherlands, with 8. Hungary earn a place in a relegation play-off while Bosnia are sent home and were already relegated to League B.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Albania v Ukraine
Arena Kombatare, Tirana

Ukraine got off to a flying start, scoring twice within the first ten minutes, while a penalty with 15 minutes of normal time to go allowed Albania to get on the scoresheet, but it wasn't enough to level the game.

Result: Albania 1 - 2 Ukraine


League B, Group 1 (B1)
Czech Republic v Georgia
Andruv Stadion, Olomouc

Another team off the mark early, the Czechs scored within three minutes, adding another just before the 25-minute mark. On the hour though Georgia put the ball in the Czech net, but the home side held on for the win.

Result: Czech Republic 2 - 1 Georgia

League B1 table: The Czech Republic, top with 11 points, qualify to go ahead and are also promoted to League A. Ukraine have 8 points and are in second place, and qualify for a promotion play-off, while it's relegation play-offs that will be on Georgia's mind, as they make third place with 7 points. Also with 7, but with a poorer goal difference, Albania in fourth are relegated to League C.

Quote from: Trollheart on Nov 19, 2024, 04:11 AMSo while it was a great night for Scotland and for Northern Ireland, and Germany did what Germany do and Spain did what Spain do, and France hammered Italy and Israel went home, there's really only one story of the night.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Flag_of_San_Marino.svg)

Congratulations, San Marino!

A country of just over 34,000, the fifth-smallest in the world, with an area of just over 23 square miles (64 square kilometres) - that's less than half the area of Dublin, one-fifth of London and one-third of the size of Brooklyn - just managed to score three goals in a match for the first time ever in its history and achieved promotion to a higher league AND has made it through to the quarter-finals of the Nations League for the first time ever.

As the Scots have it, lang may yer prawd standard glorious'ly wave!
There'll be euphoria on the streets of the City of San Marino tonight, and well deserved!

All three of them?

You know they scored against England once? Went 1-0 up after 10 seconds or something stupid like that.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Montenegro v Turkey
Gradski Stadion, Niksic

Perhaps an even bigger surprise than Bosnia holding Germany to a draw was already-relegated Montenegro pulling a performance like this out of the bag against the table leaders! They struck just on the half-hour, taking a surprise lead, but were quickly pegged back by Turkey who scored 7 minutes later to level the score. Just before the half-time whistle blew though, Montenegro were back in front, and they held on to that lead, adding to it on 73 to take the game easily, and certainly bow out in style.

Result: Montenegro 3 - 1 Turkey


League B, Group 4 (B4)
Wales v Iceland
Cardiff Stadium, Wales

In front of their home fans Wales made certain of qualification as they thundered over the Iceland team, though the visitors opened the scoring a mere eight minutes into the match. On the half-hour Wales were level though, and in extra time ended the first half two to the good. Shortly after the hour they added a third, and rounded off a fine performance with a fourth ten minutes from time.

Result: Wales 4 - 1 Iceland

League B4 table: Wales take top spot from Turkey at the last minute and are promoted to League A, as well as qualifying for the next round. A somewhat shocked Turkey, beaten into second place by a team already on the way home, now face a qualification play-off, when their fate had been so clearly in their own hands, but a single point is all that was in it in the end, Turkey with 11 and Wales with 12. Iceland take third place with 7, and will face a relegation play-off, while Montenegro, as mentioned, although finishing with a flourish, have only 4 points and are relegated to League C.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Slovakia v Estonia
Anton Malatinsky Stadium, Trnava

Just the one goal was enough to decide the match, though Estonia held on for 72 minutes before Slovakia put one past them to take the game.

Result: Slovakia 1 - 0 Estonia

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Sweden v Azerbaijan
Strawberry Arena, Solna

Finishing on a high in every sense, Sweden racked up the second-highest score of the tournament so far, scoring in the tenth minute, but it was a tale of two strikers, Tottenham's Kulusevski getting the first goal, while Gyokeres scored twice more in the half, to put Sweden 3-0 up at the break. No let-up for Azerbaijan as the Spurs man scored again on 57 minutes with his partner slamming their fourth, and his hat-trick, in one minute later. Gyokeres then netted his fourth of the night, Sweden's sixth, twenty minutes from time. Azerbaijan blown away, and hit, as they say, for six.

Result: Sweden 6 -0 Azerbaijan

League C1 table: Sweden top the table with 16 points and proceed, and are promoted to League B. In second place, Slovakia with 13 points manage a qualification play-off, Estonia are third with 4 points and shell-shocked Azerbaijan go home and are relegated to the depths of League D, a single point to their name.

League D, Group 2 (D2)
Malta v Andorra
National Stadium, Ta'Qali

Could have been an intense match, full of missed chances, dodgy decisions and balls coming back off the post, though I doubt it. Can't tell you anything though as it ended 0-0.

Result: Malta 0 - 0 Andorra


League D2 table: Moldova top the table with 9 points and qualify for the next round, are promoted to League C, while Malta are second with 7 points and may manage to get through via the promotion play-offs. Andorra at the bottom of the table with a truly miserable 1 point, but as there's nowhere to go, can't be relegated. That's as far as they go though.

Quote from: jimmy jazz on Nov 20, 2024, 01:49 AMAll three of them?

You know they scored against England once? Went 1-0 up after 10 seconds or something stupid like that.

Hah yes maybe I should have said on the street of the City of San Marino, but it just doesn't have the same ring does it? "Here I go, here I go, here I go!" etc. Yeah I know they shocked England before (won't lie: I cheered) but this is their greatest ever achievement, so they deserve their sore heads in the morning.

So then
(https://media1.giphy.com/media/PMmNA8jtiohoZjvWlC/giphy.gif?cid=6c09b9525kzi1ktb1vgzan1kmiwrao24z0w019cyyt6xj27l&ep=v1_internal_gif_by_id&rid=giphy.gif&ct=v)

But before I close, let's do a quick recap of where we are:

Through to the quarter-finals (in alphabetical order):

Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Italy
Moldova
Netherlands
Northern Ireland
North Macedonia
Norway
Portugal
San Marino
Spain
Sweden
Wales

Eliminated (letters in brackets equals relegation status, first letter is the league they were playing in, second is the league they've been relegated to)

Albania (B/C)
Andorra
Azerbaijan (C/D)
Bosnia (A/B)
Finland (B/C)
Israel (A/B)
Kazakhstan (B/C)
Liechtenstein
Lithuania (C/D)
Montenegro (B/C)
Poland (A/B)
Switzerland (A/B)

May qualify through play-off games:

Armenia
Austria
Bulgaria
Gibraltar
Greece
Kosovo
Malta
Slovakia
Turkey
Ukraine

May avoid relegation via play-offs:

Belgium
Iceland
Republic of Ireland
Georgia
Hungary
Latvia
Luxembourg
Scotland
Serbia
Slovenia

And
(https://media3.giphy.com/media/OH4hSoR33Et3OOvpZw/200w.gif?cid=6c09b952smbi2dr34pt0thujbtr7877b498eqynlxl2967c7&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g)

See you next March!
(https://y.yarn.co/5a6e9eb8-bb53-425a-a1fe-85c2948e1f21_text.gif)
(https://media.tenor.com/oE7O8I0TvEwAAAAM/thats-all-folks.gif)

(https://i.makeagif.com/media/9-18-2016/9pG-lA.gif)
Thanks to, I think, ITV snaffling up all the rights to the live games and presumably highlights too, and my inability to record from, or really even get that channel, I have no match footage to watch. I tried YouTube, but most of them have no commentary and are about as much use to me as a barber shop on the steps of the guillotine, so I'm just going to use the Wiki reports and see what I can do.

Quarter-finals, Thursday March 20 2025
First leg


Netherlands v Spain
De Kuip, Rotterdam

Although they opened the scoring on 9 minutes, Spain were pegged back when Liverpool's Cody Gakpo netted just before the half-hour, and by the first minute of the restart they were ahead, the Spanish looking likely to be going home losers until the last few minutes of extra time when they equalised. They'll be confident of going through in the second leg at home, but they were almost at a disadvantage till the dying moments.

Result: Netherlands 2 - 2 Spain
Advantage: Neither


Croatia v France
Stadion Poljud, Split

A shock defeat for the former world champions as France were unable to score, Croatia wrapping up the match before half-time, with one just before the half-hour and the second in extra time at the end of the first half. France with it all to do at home on Sunday now.

Result: Croatia 2 - 0 France
Advantage: Croatia


Denmark v Portugal
Parken Stadium, Copenhagen

And another shock defeat as footballing princes Portugal were beaten by Denmark, who scored the only goal 12 minutes from time to take the advantage back to Lisbon, where they may expect a tough rematch in the second leg.

Result: Denmark 1 - 0 Portugal
Advantage: Denmark


Italy v Germany
San Siro, Milan

Italy were ahead at home on 9 minutes, but the second half was all Germany, as they scored twice to take the advantage back to Munich on Sunday.

Result: Italy 1 - 2 Germany
Advantage: Germany

Play-offs Thursday March 20 2025
First leg


Turkey v Hungary
Rams Park, Istanbul

Turkey were ahead within 9 minutes, but Hungary pulled one back just after the half-hour to leave it all square at half-time. On 70 minutes the Turks were ahead again, and four minutes later took their third, and the match, to give them the advantage going into the second leg. Hungary now have to hope to add two more goals to their tally at home and prevent the Turks from scoring, or it's extra time and maybe penalties. A good night for Turkey in Istanbul.

Result: Turkey 3 - 1 Hungary
Advantage: Turkey


Ukraine v Belgium
Nueva Condomina, Murcia

One of a few shock results as Ukraine came good against one of Europe's (former?) footballing powers, coming back from 1-0 when Lukaku scored just before halftime to hammer the Belgians with three goals in twelve minutes, levelling just after the hour and then putting two more past the visitors to take the advantage going into the second leg.

Result: Ukraine 3 - 1 Belgium
Advantage: Ukraine


Austria v Serbia
Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna

Austria struck first, taking the lead just eight minutes before the halftime whistle, but Serbia came storming back just after the hour to level the tie, and leave qualification very much in the balance. Austria should really have been able to do better at home, and will now have it all to do on Sunday in Belgrade.

Result: Austra 1 - 1 Serbia
Advantage: Neither


Greece v Scotland
Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus

A great victory for Scotland as they take a one-goal lead back to Glasgow, McTominay scoring just after the half-hour to give his team a real advantage on Sunday.

Result: Greece 0 - 1 Scotland
Advantage: Scotland


Kosovo v Iceland
Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina

A chilly night in Pristina for Iceland as they saw their leveller, scored three minutes after Kosovo had opened the scoring, cancelled out as the home side took the match just after the hour.

Result: Kosovo 2 - 1 Iceland
Advantage: Kosovo


Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland
Stadion Hristo Botev, Plovdiv

A poor start for us as Bulgaria took only 6 minutes to score, but for once we didn't crumble, and 15 minutes later we were level, with a second just before the end of the half deciding the game in our favour. Advantage Ireland for Sunday! Who woulda thunk it? COYBIG!

Result: Bulgaria 1 - 2 Republic of Ireland
Advantage: Republic of Ireland


Armenia v Georgia
Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan

Armenia well-beaten by Euros debutantes Georgia, who surely now want to get to the World Cup and show what they're made of. They set down a marker here, putting three past the Armenians without reply, two in the first half and one in the second.

Result: Armenia 0 - 3 Georgia
Advantage: Georgia


Slovakia v Slovenia
Tehelne Pole, Bratislava

The battle of the Balkans? Maybe, and each seem to have cancelled the other out, as neither of the former Yugoslav teams could score. Hope for better in the second leg on Sunday in Ljubljana!

Result: Slovakia 0 - 0 Slovenia
Advantage: Neither

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-rvQyWYabNw/sddefault.jpg)

Yes! We CAN get through to the World Cup and make up the numbers! We CAN give tiny African or East European or part-timer sides hope that they might actually win a game! We CAN get a little way through to the early stages and then collapse when we most need to come together, and we CAN go out in humiliating fashion again, giving all the big teams something to laugh at!

WE CAN DO IT!
COME ON, YE BOYS IN GREEN!
DO IT FOR IRELAND!

Be good for you to watch Ireland at a WC. Been a very long time since Keane, Taipan and the penalties.

The Americans are going to be a fucking nightmare if Ireland get there though. I can see it now.

Anyway do it for Tayto, for de tirty tird team, and for tinkers.

Quarter-finals, Sunday March 23 2025
Second leg


Spain v Netherlands
Mestalla, Valencia
Aggregate score before match: Spain 2 - 2 Netherlands

No advantage for either side going into the second leg, and as it happened, that was how it would end up at full time. Not because there were no more goals scored (hey, this is Spain we're talking about here, and the Netherlands ain't no slouches either) but because the score ended tied again. Spain took an early lead when they were awarded a penalty on 8 minutes, a lead they held till nine minutes into the second half, when Netherlands had a penalty of their own. All square now, on the night and on aggregate.

Thirteen minutes later Spain were 2-1 up, and twelve minutes after that it was level again, so to extra time it went, where the teams could still not be separated, Spain seeming to have won it with a last-gasp goal in the first half of extra time, only to see that lead disappear for the third time as Netherlands took their second penalty kick, the third of the match, to level up the scores again.

And so, to a penalty shoot-out.

The first three kicks were all on target for both sides, then delight for Netherlands as the Spanish missed their fourth! Ah, but then the Dutch missed theirs, so all equal again. Spain then scored their fifth, as did the Netherlands, and then the sixth Spanish goal went in. Now it was all up to Villa's new man, Malen, to keep his country in it. He couldn't, and so Spain win 5-4 on penalties.

Result: Spain 3 - 3 Netherlands (Spain win 5 - 4 on penalties)
Aggregate score after match: Spain 5 - 5 Netherlands


France v Croatia
Stade des France, Saint-Denis
Aggregate score before match: France 0 - 2 Croatia

The former world champions overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg to level the aggregate, scoring twice in the second half to force extra time. Still level on aggregate at the final whistle, it was another penalty shootout. France scored their first (when has Mbappe ever missed?) but Croatia missed their first, putting the French in the ascendancy. The next ones were scored by each country and the third ones were missed by each, but France still ahead 2-1, which became 3-2 when the next one was successful for each country, then a chance for Croatia to catch up as France missed their fourth and Croatia scored. 3-3 now. The next two were scored, 4-4, then France scored their fifth, but Croatia's nerve broke and they missed theirs, making it 5-4 to France.
Result: France 2 - 0 Croatia
Aggregate score after match: France 2 - 2 Croatia (France win 5 - 4 on penalties)


Portugal v Denmark
Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon
Aggregate score before match: Portugal 0 - 1 Denmark

A hard fought match. The Danes brought an unlikely but slim one-goal lead back to a smouldering crucible full of football-mad Portuguese, and no doubt sent the crowd into paroxysms of glee when they gave away an own goal seven minutes from half-time, Portugal one to the good at the break. Eleven minutes after the restart though they levelled, the aggregate now back in their favour, 2-1. Then Ronaldo popped up for his eight millionth goal with 18 minutes of the match to go, all square again. Undaunted, Denmark came back four minutes later to again retake the lead, but four minutes from full time Portugal took a third to force extra time, the aggregate now 3-3.

One minute into the extra time they scored a fourth, to pull ahead, and in the second half of extra time they made it safe with their fifth.

Result: Portugal 5 - 2 Denmark
Aggregate score after match: Portugal 5 - 3 Denmark


Germany v Italy
Westfalenstadion, Dortmund
Aggregate score before match: Germany 2 - 1 Italy

Germany had the advantage going into the second leg, and extended that on the half-hour with the opening goal when they were awarded a penalty. Six minutes later it was two, and they banged in their third just before the half-time whistle. Italy fought back in the second half, scoring five minutes after the restart to make the aggregate 5-2, then again in the last twenty minutes to reduce it to 5-3, but even a last-minute penalty in added time couldn't give them enough to pull level on aggregate, and they fell one goal short of pushing extra time.

Result: Germany 3 - 3 Italy
Aggregate score after match: Germany 5 - 4 Italy

Play-offs, Sunday March 23 2025
Second leg

Hungary v Turkey
Puska Arena, Budapest
Aggregate score before match: Hungary 1 - 3 Turkey

Heading into this second leg with a two-goal advantage over Hungary, Turkey increased their chances of promotion when they got a penalty eight minutes from the break. Two minutes later they were two up, adding a third in the final minute to stride confidently into the top league.

Result: Hungary 0 - 3 Turkey
Aggregate score after match: Hungary 1 - 6 Turkey
Outcome: Turkey promoted to League A, Hungary relegated to League B.


Belgium v Ukraine
Cegeka Arena, Genk
Aggregate score before match: Belgium 1 - 3 Ukraine

Unlike Turkey, Belgium took the home field with a two-goal deficit to make up. They were unable to overturn this in the first half, but neither were Ukraine able to score and capitalise on the three goals they had scored against them in the first leg. The Belgians made the breakthrough twenty minutes from time, adding a second five minutes later to square the aggregate. Extra time was looming as the match headed towards full time, but in the last six minutes Belgium scored again to inch the win and turn around the disadvantage.

Result: Belgium 3 - 0 Ukraine
Aggregate score after match: Belgium 4 - 3 Ukraine
Outcome: Neither team is promoted nor relegated.


Serbia v Austria
Red Star Stadium, Belgrade
Aggregate score before match: Serbia 1 - 1 Austria

Nothing to separate the teams as they met for the second leg in Belgrade, but it was the home side who scored ten minutes after the restart to take the lead, both on the night and on aggregate. In the final minute of normal time they doubled that lead to take the match.

Result: Serbia 2 - 0 Austria
Aggregate score after match: Serbia 3 - 1 Austria
Outcome: No promotion or relegation


Scotland v Greece
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Aggregate score before match: Scotland 1 - 0 Greece

Scotland took a slim lead back to Hampden Park, but within 20 minutes that lead was gone, and before the end of the second half Greece had taken the lead themselves, making it certain one minute after the restart, blowing the Scots away at home.

Result: Scotland 0 - 3 Greece
Aggregate score after match: Scotland 1 - 3 Greece
Outcome: Greece are promoted to League A, Scotland relegated to League B.


Iceland v Kosovo
Nueva Condomina, Murcia
Aggregate score before match: Iceland 1 - 2 Kosovo

Iceland wiped out the aggregate deficit within two minutes, but Kosovo equalised on the night just after the half-hour to again take the aggregate lead 3-2. In extra time at the end of the half they scored a second, the aggregate now 4-2 until ten minutes from the final whistle, when the visitors took a third, making it 3-1 on the night, 5-2 over the two legs.

Result: Iceland 1 - 3 Kosovo
Aggregate score after match: Iceland 2 - 5 Kosovo
Outcome: Kosovo are promoted to League B, Iceland relegated to League C.


Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Aggregate score before match: Republic of Ireland 2 - 1 Bulgaria

An overconfident Irish side played well but wasted chances, and paid for that in the first half when Bulgaria scored against the run of play to even up the aggregate before half-time. Ireland came back with a goal just after the hour to pull ahead on aggregate, and added a second on the night six minutes from time to take the tie both on the night and on aggregate.

Result: Republic of Ireland 2 - 1 Bulgaria
Aggregate score after match: Republic of Ireland 4 - 2 Bulgaria
Outcome: No promotion or relegation.


Georgia v Armenia
Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi
Aggregate score before match: Georgia 3 - 0 Armenia

Armenia did not help their already pretty hopeless cause two minutes into the match when an own goal gave the Georgians an unexpected but dream start, the aggregate now 4-0. Georgia didn't need any help though, and put another four past the Armenian keeper before half-time. The struggling visitors managed to net after the restart but it was nothing more than a consolation. Georgia finished the job just after the hour, Armenia crushed.

Result: Georgia 6 - 1 Armenia
Aggregate score after match: Georgia 9 - 1 Armenia
Outcome: No promotion or relegation.


Slovenia v Slovakia
Stozice Stadium, Ljubljana
Aggregate score before match: Slovenia 0 - 0 Slovakia

The only match in the first leg to end goalless, this was as poor with just the one goal scored, that being by the home side when the game had been heading for another nil-nil and extra time. In the fifth minute of injury time the game was finally decided.

Result: Slovenia 1 - 0 Slovakia
Aggregate score after match: Slovenia 1 - 0 Slovakia
Outcome: No promotion or relegation.