Everyone’s attention is on the World Cup right now so while backs are turned UEFA have slipped in the draw for the European Championship qualifiers and it has thrown up some interesting groups. It’s worth a quick look at before we all go back to thinking about the World Cup for a few more months. I didn’t even realise the qualifiers were taking place – it seems so early – until I turned on the TV on the weekend and seen who England and Scotland had been drawn against. I had to text home to find out who Northern Ireland managed to get and was delighted to read the name Italy.
All my life I have been an Italy fan in the big tournaments since Northern Ireland never quite make it that far and all my life growing up and going to Northern Ireland qualifiers for World Cups and European Championships I always dreamed of them getting Italy in their group and getting to see the famous Italian team in person. It never happened though and it took me to move away to Canada and having long since lost my season ticket to qualifiers (a sour story that I’ll retell another day) for Northern Ireland to finally come out of the hat along with Italy. Tickets will go fast, but who knows, perhaps a trip home can be tied in with the Italians visit to Belfast and maybe I’ll scrounge a ticket from somewhere. I’ll support Northern Ireland of course – this isn’t a big tournament finals – but enjoy seeing the team I eventually cheer for when the going gets real, in person. Here is hoping.
Anyway, the group for Northern Ireland has potential. I cannot remember the format for qualifying but if it is the top two teams that go to the tournament then Northern Ireland have to believe there is at least a chance. Slovenia won’t be easy, neither will Serbia but Estonia and the Faroe Islands should be beatable, though with NI you can never tell.
England got the easiest group of all, as usual and should walk it all the way to the tournament. If they even lose one of them games against Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales or Montenegro then I’ll be surprised. Wales however will have a tough enough grind to make it as Bulgaria are a decent side and Montenegro are no pushovers by Welsh standards.
Scotland are in the proverbial ‘group of death’ against the likes of Spain and Czech Republic and will have to pull out all the stops and then hope for some gifts from the Footballing gods to somehow make it through.
And last but not least (or perhaps indeed least!), the Republic of Ireland who have found themselves in a tough group themselves against Russia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra. Some tough away trips in that group but there are points for the taking but it will be tough.
So thats enough of all that for now. The groups in full are below and now I’ll go back to thinking about the World Cup. They really should do these draws after the World Cup is done with when people might pay them more than a passing attention. It’ll be good to see NI play some competitive games again and hopefully have another decent campaign.
Euro 2012 Qualifying Groups:
Group A: Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan
Group B: Russia, Slovakia, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, FYR Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra
Group C: Italy, Serbia, NORTHERN IRELAND, Slovenia, Estonia and Faroe Islands
Group D: France, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania and Luxembourg
Group E: Holland, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova and San Marino
Group F: Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia and Malta
Group G: ENGLAND, Switzerland, Bulgaria, WALES and Montenegro
Group H: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus and Iceland
Group I: Spain, Czech Republic, SCOTLAND, Lithuania and Liechtenstein
