Posted on 03/27/2015 7:15:44 PM PDT by BeadCounter
Russia's Euro 2016 qualifier in Montenegro was abandoned after multiple violent incidents in Podgorica on Friday.
Just seconds in, Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was struck in the back of the head by a flare thrown from the stands at Stadion pod Goricom.
While the teams played on, a second incident during the second half led to the abandonment.
Roman Shirokov had a penalty saved by Montenegro goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic in the 66th minute.
The ball went out for a throw-in, which Dmitri Kombarov went over to take – only to refuse to when he appeared to be struck by an object thrown from the stands.
That led to several scuffles on and off the pitch, with the encounter called off after 67 minutes when the score was 0-0 as Russia left the pitch.
Earlier, Akinfeev was stretchered from the ground and his injury led to a 30-minute delay.
(Excerpt) Read more at us.soccerway.com ...
Looks like England and Wales are bound to make the Euro, expanded to 24 teams. Pros and Cons with that I know.
It looks like Scotland, Ireland and even Northern Ireland have a chance to make it.
Scotland and Ireland are in that tough group with Poland and Germany. Scotland are playing relatively well after a lot of heartbreak in these last several years.
Uggh! Poland played like crap after they scored their goal, they were lucky to get out of there with a draw.
I hope Poland makes it okay.
Group D: The reason why the group is tough is because Poland, Ireland and Scotland have had miserable years as of late and were previously ranked low. Poland will just have to see this out, I doubt if they will be able to defeat Germany next time. I do see Ireland drew Germany as well. Poland and Scotland drew. Poland’s goal differential is much better than anyone else’s.
Basically, after 5 games played, it looks like everyone will play everyone else one more time.
Tight indeed.
Well, I watched Israel Belgium, the environment was okay but not nearly as good, per pre-game activities etc. as England at Israel a few years ago.
Not only was that game a draw, I think the year Israel, England and Russia were all in the same group, it was played during the day and it was sunny.
Times today are “crappy” for a lot of the world, that probably has as much to do with it as anything.
Israel dropped 2 games this weekend. So, they are in 3rd. Some of those groups, there is not much hope for teams beyond 3rd place, at least one of those groups. http://us.soccerway.com/international/europe/european-championship-qualification/2016-france/qualifying-round/r24218/
Portugal won their qualifier Sunday and can you believe it? They played Cape Verde today and lost in Portugal 2-0... however, the event was held apparently to raise monies for victims of a volcanic eruption in Cape Verde. Cape Verde appears to have been a Portuguese colony. And Portugal did not play a strong squad.
So, likely this is no big deal.
Slovakia, Wales, Belgium, they are 4th in the world, these teams look a bit like the “proverbial world beaters” and of course, in group D:
Assumed, Germany will advance, the other team? It will be close and 3rd place either gets a playoff or automatic promotion which happens to the best 3rd place team, seems that could happen in that group.
England look very good too.
Northern Ireland look good in that group F. I’m not necessarily for the “home nations and Ireland” but England missed the ‘08 Europe, it’s really been in recent years, the British countries except for England have not gone to the Euro. Ireland was the poorest team I believe at Euro 2012.
IRELAND with 5 cards or more, automatically are reviewed by UEFA.
“Poland were charged after their fans threw objects during the game.”
Poland fans likewise, seem to have run into some trouble.
“The game in Dublin wasn’t the only Group D fixture to attract the attention of Uefa, with Georgia charged over a pitch invasion and for poor organisation of their match at home to Germany, which they lost 2-0.”
I once ran into some Georgia, the country, fans at a bar showing the international games. So, they have real fans.
Looking for an upsurge at some point of Eastern European footy, Slovakia is doing well.
“Ireland and Poland face Uefa charges over Dublin qualifier”
Fans need to get their acts together and not be causing trouble.
Stadium Quiz, I got 6 out of 10, better than half so, not horrible. Nice quiz too, http://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2015/apr/02/football-stadiums-then-and-now-interactive-quiz-part-two
Being the geezer I am, it seems, the more famous stadiums were fair bets. Almost all guesswork.
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