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Switzerland, Denmark through to Euro 2004 finals
Basel, Oct 12: Switzerland and Denmark qualify for Euro 2004 fiinals, Spain reach playoffs. Switzerland resolved internal problems in their build-up to beat Ireland 2-0 with a confident performance on Saturday and secure their passage to the Euro 2004 finals.
Basel, Oct 12: Switzerland and Denmark qualify for Euro 2004 fiinals, Spain reach playoffs. Switzerland resolved internal problems in their build-up to beat Ireland 2-0 with a confident performance on Saturday and secure their passage to the Euro 2004 finals.
Goals from attacking midfielder Hakan Yakin after six minutes and striker Alexander Frei on the hour ensured a comfortable evening for the Swiss.
The success ensured they finished top of qualifying Group 10, a point clear of Russia, and reached their first major finals since Euro '96 in England.
Ireland, plucky second round losers at the 2002 World Cup finals last year and needing to win to keep their own hopes alive, failed to find their best form when they needed it and bowed out with a disappointingly limp performance.
It was Ireland's first defeat in 11 games. The last time they lost was also against Switzerland, in Dublin, last October.
For the Swiss, who had to overcome public arguments among key defenders Murat Yakin and Stephane Henchoz that had threatened to upset the squad's preparations, it was a welcome win after being thrashed 4-1 by Russia in their previous game.
Henchoz was dropped to the substitutes' bench and replaced by Patrick Mueller, Murat Yakin's preferred partner, who hardly put a foot wrong with a polished display.
The victory also sparked special celebrations because Swiss coach Koebi Kuhn turns 60 on Sunday and Switzerland will co-host the 2008 European soccer finals with Austria.
The Swiss made a high-tempo start and swept ahead in the sixth minute with a well-taken goal from Hakan Yakin. Latching on to a free ball after Matt Holland had missed a low cross from Frei, he side-stepped goalkeeper Shay Given and tapped the ball into an empty net.
Only the industrious Damien Duff, playing on the right and drifting inside, caused Switzerland any real alarm and it was from his run and cross that striker David Connolly headed wide after 37 minutes.
Switzerland nearly added a second after 53 minutes when midfielder Raphael Wicky hit an inswinging shot from the left that cannoned off the bar with Given beaten. But they did not have to wait much longer.
Hakan Yakin was withdrawn after 55 minutes and five minutes later Frei tapped in the second Swiss goal. Wicky crossed from the left, Given failed to hold on to Chapuisat's downward header and dropped it to gift Frei's 14th goal in 22 international appearances.
Ireland attempted to rescue the game with three second-half substitutions and much greater urgency, and pace. But apart from several shots high and wide they rarely threatened.
Denmark grabbed an automatic place in next year's Euro 2004 finals after securing a 1-1 draw against Bosnia in Group Two on Saturday.
Forward Martin Joergensen gave them a 12th minute lead. Impressive midfielder Thomas Gravesen, who was sent in the dying minutes for a second bookable offence, fed Joergensen inside the area and his crisp, low shot beat goalkeeper Kenen Hasagic.
Bosnia, who would have gone through as group winners themselves had they won, equalised six minutes before the break when top-scorer Elvir Bolic headed home his 17th international goal from a Hasan Salihamidzic cross.
A draw for Bosnia -- chasing their first qualification for a major tournament in the Balkan country's short history -- was not enough for a playoff place as they finished behind Norway, who finished second, and Romania.
Roared on by a capacity 36,000 crowd at Sarajevo's Olympic Stadium Kosevo, Bosnia started strongly with Salihamidzic winning two corners on the left side in the opening minutes.
But Denmark quickly gained the initiative, shutting out Bosnia's key midfield players Sergej Barbarez, Zlatan Bajramovic and Vladan Grujic who all had a quiet match.
Jon Dahl Tomasson was a constant danger on the counter-attack and Joergensen's strike came after wasted close range efforts from Morten Vieghorst and fellow midfielder Jesper Gronkjaer.
Bosnia coach Blaz Sliskovic replaced right wing-back Emir Spahic with forward Elvir Baljic after the break but the hosts struggled to find a way through Denmark's hard-working midfield.
Tomasson went close to adding a second for Denmark while the closest Bosnia came to a winner was through Baljic's scrambled effort five minutes from time.
Spain had to settle for a place in the playoffs for the 2004 European championship finals despite a 4-0 victory away to Armenia after group leaders Greece edged a 1-0 win at home to Northern Ireland on Saturday.
An early strike from Deportivo Coruna playmaker Juan Carlos Valeron, another from Raul and a double from substitute Jose Antonio Reyes ensured Spain of the win, but with a Vassilis Tsartas penalty in Athens their efforts were to no avail.
Valeron gave Spain the perfect start when he dinked in from five metres with a sharp first-time shot after winger Joseba Etxeberria had scampered down the right and cut a neat pass back into the area on seven minutes.
Armenia's only real chance of the half came when Artur Voskanyan drilled wide of the post following a quick break just after the half hour, but they fought back well after the interval and forced Spain on to the back foot for 15 minutes.
Real Madrid striker Raul eventually calmed the Spaniards' nerves when he turned in from close range after another good pass from Etxeberria on 76 minutes.
The visitors finished the game with a flourish when Reyes grabbed two late goals to give them a comprehensive win.
The Sevilla forward drilled in after a superb pass from the impressive Valeron on 87 minutes and then tapped home from six metres after good work from Etxeberria and defender Michel Salgado.
But the Spanish, who have not missed out on a major tournament since the 1992 European championship finals, were left with a sour taste in their mouths knowing they will still have to fight it out for a place in Portugal.
GROUP TWO Bosnia 1 Denmark 1 Norway 1 Luxembourg 0
P W D L F A Pts 1. Denmark 8 4 3 1 15 9 15 2. Norway 8 4 2 2 9 5 14 3. Romania 8 4 2 2 21 9 14 4. Bosnia 8 4 1 3 7 8 13 5. Luxembourg 8 0 0 8 0 21 0
GROUP SIX Armenia 0 Spain 4 Greece 1 Northern Ireland 0
P W D L F A Pts 1. Greece 8 6 0 2 8 4 18 2. Spain 8 5 2 1 16 4 17 3. Ukraine 8 2 4 2 11 10 10 4. Armenia 8 2 1 5 7 16 7 5. Northern Ireland 8 0 3 5 0 8 3
GROUP 10 Russia 3 Georgia 1 Switzerland 2 Ireland 0
P W D L F A Pts 1. Switzerland 8 4 3 1 15 11 15 2. Russia 8 4 2 2 19 12 14 3. Ireland 8 3 2 3 10 11 11 4. Albania 8 2 2 4 11 15 8 5. Georgia 8 2 1 5 8 14 7
Bureau Report
For the Swiss, who had to overcome public arguments among key defenders Murat Yakin and Stephane Henchoz that had threatened to upset the squad's preparations, it was a welcome win after being thrashed 4-1 by Russia in their previous game.
Henchoz was dropped to the substitutes' bench and replaced by Patrick Mueller, Murat Yakin's preferred partner, who hardly put a foot wrong with a polished display.
The victory also sparked special celebrations because Swiss coach Koebi Kuhn turns 60 on Sunday and Switzerland will co-host the 2008 European soccer finals with Austria.
The Swiss made a high-tempo start and swept ahead in the sixth minute with a well-taken goal from Hakan Yakin. Latching on to a free ball after Matt Holland had missed a low cross from Frei, he side-stepped goalkeeper Shay Given and tapped the ball into an empty net.
Only the industrious Damien Duff, playing on the right and drifting inside, caused Switzerland any real alarm and it was from his run and cross that striker David Connolly headed wide after 37 minutes.
Switzerland nearly added a second after 53 minutes when midfielder Raphael Wicky hit an inswinging shot from the left that cannoned off the bar with Given beaten. But they did not have to wait much longer.
Hakan Yakin was withdrawn after 55 minutes and five minutes later Frei tapped in the second Swiss goal. Wicky crossed from the left, Given failed to hold on to Chapuisat's downward header and dropped it to gift Frei's 14th goal in 22 international appearances.
Ireland attempted to rescue the game with three second-half substitutions and much greater urgency, and pace. But apart from several shots high and wide they rarely threatened.
Denmark grabbed an automatic place in next year's Euro 2004 finals after securing a 1-1 draw against Bosnia in Group Two on Saturday.
Forward Martin Joergensen gave them a 12th minute lead. Impressive midfielder Thomas Gravesen, who was sent in the dying minutes for a second bookable offence, fed Joergensen inside the area and his crisp, low shot beat goalkeeper Kenen Hasagic.
Bosnia, who would have gone through as group winners themselves had they won, equalised six minutes before the break when top-scorer Elvir Bolic headed home his 17th international goal from a Hasan Salihamidzic cross.
A draw for Bosnia -- chasing their first qualification for a major tournament in the Balkan country's short history -- was not enough for a playoff place as they finished behind Norway, who finished second, and Romania.
Roared on by a capacity 36,000 crowd at Sarajevo's Olympic Stadium Kosevo, Bosnia started strongly with Salihamidzic winning two corners on the left side in the opening minutes.
But Denmark quickly gained the initiative, shutting out Bosnia's key midfield players Sergej Barbarez, Zlatan Bajramovic and Vladan Grujic who all had a quiet match.
Jon Dahl Tomasson was a constant danger on the counter-attack and Joergensen's strike came after wasted close range efforts from Morten Vieghorst and fellow midfielder Jesper Gronkjaer.
Bosnia coach Blaz Sliskovic replaced right wing-back Emir Spahic with forward Elvir Baljic after the break but the hosts struggled to find a way through Denmark's hard-working midfield.
Tomasson went close to adding a second for Denmark while the closest Bosnia came to a winner was through Baljic's scrambled effort five minutes from time.
Spain had to settle for a place in the playoffs for the 2004 European championship finals despite a 4-0 victory away to Armenia after group leaders Greece edged a 1-0 win at home to Northern Ireland on Saturday.
An early strike from Deportivo Coruna playmaker Juan Carlos Valeron, another from Raul and a double from substitute Jose Antonio Reyes ensured Spain of the win, but with a Vassilis Tsartas penalty in Athens their efforts were to no avail.
Valeron gave Spain the perfect start when he dinked in from five metres with a sharp first-time shot after winger Joseba Etxeberria had scampered down the right and cut a neat pass back into the area on seven minutes.
Armenia's only real chance of the half came when Artur Voskanyan drilled wide of the post following a quick break just after the half hour, but they fought back well after the interval and forced Spain on to the back foot for 15 minutes.
Real Madrid striker Raul eventually calmed the Spaniards' nerves when he turned in from close range after another good pass from Etxeberria on 76 minutes.
The visitors finished the game with a flourish when Reyes grabbed two late goals to give them a comprehensive win.
The Sevilla forward drilled in after a superb pass from the impressive Valeron on 87 minutes and then tapped home from six metres after good work from Etxeberria and defender Michel Salgado.
But the Spanish, who have not missed out on a major tournament since the 1992 European championship finals, were left with a sour taste in their mouths knowing they will still have to fight it out for a place in Portugal.
GROUP TWO Bosnia 1 Denmark 1 Norway 1 Luxembourg 0
P W D L F A Pts 1. Denmark 8 4 3 1 15 9 15 2. Norway 8 4 2 2 9 5 14 3. Romania 8 4 2 2 21 9 14 4. Bosnia 8 4 1 3 7 8 13 5. Luxembourg 8 0 0 8 0 21 0
GROUP SIX Armenia 0 Spain 4 Greece 1 Northern Ireland 0
P W D L F A Pts 1. Greece 8 6 0 2 8 4 18 2. Spain 8 5 2 1 16 4 17 3. Ukraine 8 2 4 2 11 10 10 4. Armenia 8 2 1 5 7 16 7 5. Northern Ireland 8 0 3 5 0 8 3
GROUP 10 Russia 3 Georgia 1 Switzerland 2 Ireland 0
P W D L F A Pts 1. Switzerland 8 4 3 1 15 11 15 2. Russia 8 4 2 2 19 12 14 3. Ireland 8 3 2 3 10 11 11 4. Albania 8 2 2 4 11 15 8 5. Georgia 8 2 1 5 8 14 7
Bureau Report