Group A Schedule

More than just that?

Portugal lost 2 - 0 to Switzerland in a game that did not have much importance for them. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had the luxury of resting big players since his team had already qualified for the quaterfinals. Ronaldo’s exclusion from the entire squad as well as the inclusion of Nani, Quaresma and H. Postigha as starters were part of the 8 changes he made to the squad. The weaken Portuguese team were unable to find the net in the whole of the game and could not keep a clean sheet either. Their defeat came twenty minutes from time when Swiss striker Yakin scored twice to give his side their first and only win of the tournament. Well done for the co-host who at least won their game of pride, but for Portugal doesn’t their defeat mean more than just that?

Portugal’s 2 - 0 loss could find its explanation through the fact that the coach played a weaken side but one might also think that Scolari’s appointment as Chelsea’s new manager has something to do with that.

So then, if this thought were to be true, is Luis Felipe saying goodbye too soon to Portugal in terms of commitment and devotion?

(read full article…)

(read full article…)

The final game of group qualifying starts this Sunday with Portugal playing Switzerland and Turkey playing the Czech Republic. On the final match day of group qualifying, all mathes will have the same kick off time so to prevent any teams affecting the natural outcome of the tournament.

Here are the possible outcomes as explained by UEFA for each group. 

GROUP A (Sunday)
Switzerland (0 pts, out) v Portugal (6, winners), Turkey (3) v Czech Republic (3)Portugal have clinched first place and Switzerland will finish fourth ahead of their game in Basel, so the focus will be on the winner-takes-all meeting of the Czech Republic and Turkey in Geneva. After a win and a loss each, the two teams are level in second place on points, goal difference and goals scored, so if they draw over 90 minutes, under UEFA regulations there will be a penalty shoot-out.

GROUP B (Monday)
Poland (1) v Croatia (6, winners), Austria (1) v Germany (3)
Croatia are confirmed group winners so will take on Turkey or the Czech Republic in Vienna on 20 June. However, Germany, Austria and Poland all have chances of earning a Basel tie against Portugal the night before. Germany, two points ahead of their rivals, need only draw with co-hosts Austria in Vienna as then Poland could not catch them on head-to-head record even if they beat Croatia in Klagenfurt. If Austria win they would go through, unless Poland defeat Croatia by a bigger margin to overtake the co-hosts’ currently superior goal difference (1-2 to 1-3).

If Austria and Poland finish level in second position on points, goal difference and goals scored, they will be split on qualifying coefficients (points per game) from the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2008â„¢, and Poland are superior 2.167-1.500 (only Austria’s World Cup results count as they did not have to qualify for this tournament).

Group C (Tuesday)
Netherlands (6, winners) v Romania (2), France (1) v Italy (1)
Again, top spot is decided in favour of the Netherlands, and second-placed Romania will join the Dutch in the quarter-finals by winning their encounter in Berne. If Romania draw or lose then that would allow either France or Italy to go through by winning their match in Zurich – the only way Les Bleus can progress. If Romania lose and the others play out a score draw, Italy would go through in a three-way head-to-head tie on two points as they would have scored more goals in the games involving France and Romania.

If Romania fall by one goal, two goals or by a three-goal margin other than 3-0 and the other match finishes 0-0, Romania would advance as their head-to-head record with Italy would be dead level but they would have a superior overall goal difference (or in the case of the three-goal defeats, goals scored). If Romania lose by four goals or more and the other game ends 0-0, Italy would proceed with a better overall goal difference than Romania. If Romania lose 3-0 and the other match finishes 0-0, Italy and Romania would have to be split on qualifying coefficients, in which case Italy would prevail 2.364-2.250.

Group D (Wednesday)
Greece (0, out) v Spain (6, winners), Russia (3) v Sweden (3)
Spain completed a quartet of group winners with their last-gasp 2-1 defeat of Sweden and Russia’s 1-0 victory against holders Greece, who are now eliminated. Therefore all the focus is now on Sweden’s meeting with Russia in Innsbruck. Sweden are ahead on goal difference, so they require only a draw to set up a second consecutive UEFA European Championship last-eight encounter with the Netherlands in Basel on 21 June; Russia must win to go through. Whatever the result of Spain’s Salzburg encounter with Greece, they will travel to Vienna on 22 June to take on the Group C runners-up.