The salvation of Spain and Norway in the end, Italy's goal at the 108th second and Switzerland's success: a review of Euro 2020 selection matches

Major victory of Italy

The fate of the trip of the Italian team to the European Championship was decided in the confrontation with a modest Liechtenstein. Previously, the teams met only three times, and each time the “squadron azzurra” prevailed. It is not surprising that each of the matches took place behind the clear advantage of four-time world champions, who scored 15 unanswered goals at the opponent’s goal.

This time also could not do without extravaganza. It took Federico Bernardeschi just 108 seconds to upset Benjamin Buchel. The hosts unsuccessfully executed a corner and missed the enemy’s smashing counterattack. It is noteworthy that for Italy, this goal was the fastest in the last six years. In June 2013, Emanuele Giaccherini took only 18 seconds to print the gates of Haiti.

Wards Roberto Mancini dominated for all 90 minutes, as evidenced by 23 shots on goal, and 76% of possession. The denouement came in the last 20 minutes when Andrea Belotti (twice), Alessio Romagnoli and Stefan El Shaarawi lit their names on the scoreboard and guaranteed their team first place in group J. After this round, the Italian national team had 24 points, which made it unreachable to competitors.

It is noteworthy that Belotti has eight goals in his asset, and immediately five of them fell into a duel with Liechtenstein. Until that moment, he twice upset the “soccer dwarf” in November 2016 and once in June 2017.

The fight for second place

Until the eighth round, three teams claimed the second line in the sextet J. Finland was the leader in this dispute, ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina by two points and Armenia by three points. Thus, the meeting of the second and fourth teams of the group could either reduce the number of applicants to two, or completely confuse everything. The fact that Finland did not know victories over the past two matches, in favor of the leader of the group - Italy, and then its main rival, also spoke in favor of nominal outsiders.

No sensation this time. Wards Markku Kanerva did not leave his opponent a chance, sending three unanswered goals at his goal. At the 31st minute, Fredrik Jensen opened the scoring, after which the leader of the hosts, Teemu Pukki, entered the stage. The Norwich striker scored twice and caught up with the scorers in the race against Alexander Mitrovich and Cristiano Ronaldo. Only the British are higher than Rahim Sterling and Harry Kane (both eight goals), Artyom Dziuba (nine) and Eran Zahavi (ten).

Spain willpower

Roberto Moreno's wards came to the Friends Arena in the status of Sextet F leaders and could guarantee themselves a ticket to Euro 2020. True, for this they needed to take points in the battle with the Swedes, which were extremely uncomfortable for themselves. In the last four guest meetings with “tre crunur”, the Spanish national team has never come out as a triumph, having drawn three times and lost once. That defeat occurred in October 2006 and was the last for the “red fury” before a remarkable performance at the European Championship in 2008.

In the first half, the teams acted carefully enough, and all the main events unfolded in the second. It took the hosts only five minutes to step forward, and Markus Berg became the scorer. Forward “Krasnodar” was at the right time in the right place and ferried the ball into the net. And just ten minutes later, the position of the Spaniards became even worse when David de Gea left the field due to an injury.

Until the end, the Spanish national team rather besieged the possessions of Robin Ulsen, but in the end still achieved its goal. Substitute Rodrigo became the most agile at the corner and in the second compensated minute he scored his eighth goal for the national team. The guests scored a precious point and for the seventh time in a row reached the Euro, repeating the German record.

The salvation of Norway

However, even a draw could allow the Spaniards ahead of schedule to guarantee themselves first place in the group. To do this, the Norwegians needed to jump above their heads and beat Romanians for the second time in history. Until now, the teams have met six times, having won once and tied four times. Moreover, the last success of the Scandinavians took place in 2002.

As in the previous match, all the main events unfolded in the second 45-minute. One of the main characters was Alexander Mitrice. First, he earned an 11-meter, which was not implemented by his partner Gheorghe Puskas, and then he himself became the author of the goal. Midfielder “New York City” struck a long-range sight and for the second time in his career distinguished himself for the national team.

Like the Spaniards, the Norwegians escaped in the second compensated minute. Midfielder of “Rostov” Matthias Normann served in the penalty area, and Alexander Sorlot just struck his head. The wards of Lars Lagerbek for the fifth time tied during the qualification and retained the chances of a direct ticket to the Old World Championship.

The triumph of the Faroe Islands

This selection tour became special for the wards of Lars Olsen. The Faroe Islands team could not win for 12 matches, and their last success was dated September 2018. Then the team in their field beat Malta with a score of 3: 1. After that, they suffered ten defeats and divided the points twice.

It is all the more remarkable that their terrible series was interrupted precisely in a meeting with the same Malta. Footballers Faroe delivered almost half as many shots on goal (9:16), but they were more accurate. The author of the winning goal was Rogvey Baldwinsson.

Ireland's failure

The confrontation between Switzerland and Ireland was the key to determining places in the Quintet D. In the event of a victory or a draw, the guests guaranteed a ticket to the European Championship, while the defeat maximally curbed the intrigue in the group. In this case, the “green army” had an equal number of points with the Danes and was only one ahead of its current rivals. At the same time, both competitors had one game left in reserve.

Several facts spoke in favor of the guests. After the return of Mick McCarthy to the post of head coach, the Irish did not suffer a single defeat, and also had a win-win series in a duel with the Swiss. In the last four matches, they had one victory and three draws, and lost in the distant 2003.

However, this meeting was unsuccessful for the guests. Already in the 16th minute, Haris Seferovich opened the scoring, becoming stronger in the status of one of the leaders of “Nati”. So, in the last eight home games, he scored ten points for performance (eight goals and two assists).

In general, the owners looked more confident than their counterparts, so they often had to break the rules. At the 76th minute, captain Seymus Coleman stopped the blow of Brel Embolo with his hands, which led to his expulsion from the field and the appointment of 11-meter. The Irish goalkeeper Darren Randolph saved his partners, but in the third compensated minute and he was powerless. Shane Duffy cut the ball into his own goal.