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England savours victory in Euro 2004 qualifier
Reykjavik, Sept 07: Bosnia-Herzegovina and England win in Euro 2004 qualifiers while Iceland and Germany draw.
Reykjavik, Sept 07: Bosnia-Herzegovina and England win in Euro 2004 qualifiers while Iceland and Germany draw.
Iceland shocked World Cup runners-up Germany by holding them to a "miracle" 0-0 draw in a Euro 2004 Group Five qualifier on Saturday (September 6).
The result left Iceland clinging to top spot in the group standings with 13 points from seven matches, one ahead of the Germans who have a game in hand.
Leading any qualification group for a major tournament is a historic soccer feat for Iceland, whose population of 280,000 people equals that of the German city of Karlsruhe.
Iceland, cheered on loudly by 7,000 spectators who filled the national stadium to capacity, created more goal chances, while Germany had plenty of possession but made few scoring opportunities.
Iceland goalkeeper Arni Arason denied Michael Ballack in the 20th minute, making a good save from the German playmaker's header.
Germany substitute Kevin Kuranyi, who came on for striker Oliver Neuville at halftime, shot over the Iceland goal in the 64th minute but Arason did not have to make a single genuine save in the second half.
Iceland came close in the 40th minute but goalkeeper Oliver Kahn parried striker Eidur Gudjohnsen's shot.
In the 53rd minute, Germany's Frank Baumann stopped a goal-bound shot and immediately afterwards defender Christian Woerns also blocked a header on the line.
Germany play third-placed Scotland on Wednesday and face Iceland at home in their last qualifier on October 11.
England battled back from a goal down to beat Macedonia 2-1 thanks to goals by teenager Wayne Rooney and captain David Beckham.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's side played poorly in the first half and Macedonia striker Georgi Hristov profited from poor defending to give his side a shock 27th-minute lead.
But 17-year-old striker Rooney became the youngest goalscorer in England history when he drove in the equaliser after 53 minutes and Beckham scored the winner from the penalty spot 10 minutes later after defender John Terry was felled in the area.
It was England's seventh straight victory, equalling their post-war record.
Turkey lead group 7 with 18 points, two points more than England, who should beat Liechtenstein on Wednesday at Old Trafford to move on to 19 points. England would then travel to Turkey in October needing just a draw to qualify.
Ireland's hopes of qualifying for next year's European Championship took a serious dent when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Russia in a scrappy Group 10 match at Lansdowne Road.
The result left Ireland probably needing to beat group leaders Switzerland in Basel next month to get into the playoffs.
Despite a number of promising attacks on the Russian goal area, Ireland never really found their rhythm, repeatedly thwarted by the defensive tactics of the visitors.
The spirits of the 36,000-strong crowd were lifted in the 34th minute when winger Damien Duff drilled the ball into the Russian net from just outside the penalty box following a mazy solo run.
But the euphoria disappeared eight minutes later, Russia's Sergei Ignashevich equalising with a scorching shot following a corner and a poor clearance by Irish goalkeeper Shay Given.
Bureau Report
Iceland goalkeeper Arni Arason denied Michael Ballack in the 20th minute, making a good save from the German playmaker's header.
Germany substitute Kevin Kuranyi, who came on for striker Oliver Neuville at halftime, shot over the Iceland goal in the 64th minute but Arason did not have to make a single genuine save in the second half.
Iceland came close in the 40th minute but goalkeeper Oliver Kahn parried striker Eidur Gudjohnsen's shot.
In the 53rd minute, Germany's Frank Baumann stopped a goal-bound shot and immediately afterwards defender Christian Woerns also blocked a header on the line.
Germany play third-placed Scotland on Wednesday and face Iceland at home in their last qualifier on October 11.
England battled back from a goal down to beat Macedonia 2-1 thanks to goals by teenager Wayne Rooney and captain David Beckham.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's side played poorly in the first half and Macedonia striker Georgi Hristov profited from poor defending to give his side a shock 27th-minute lead.
But 17-year-old striker Rooney became the youngest goalscorer in England history when he drove in the equaliser after 53 minutes and Beckham scored the winner from the penalty spot 10 minutes later after defender John Terry was felled in the area.
It was England's seventh straight victory, equalling their post-war record.
Turkey lead group 7 with 18 points, two points more than England, who should beat Liechtenstein on Wednesday at Old Trafford to move on to 19 points. England would then travel to Turkey in October needing just a draw to qualify.
Ireland's hopes of qualifying for next year's European Championship took a serious dent when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Russia in a scrappy Group 10 match at Lansdowne Road.
The result left Ireland probably needing to beat group leaders Switzerland in Basel next month to get into the playoffs.
Despite a number of promising attacks on the Russian goal area, Ireland never really found their rhythm, repeatedly thwarted by the defensive tactics of the visitors.
The spirits of the 36,000-strong crowd were lifted in the 34th minute when winger Damien Duff drilled the ball into the Russian net from just outside the penalty box following a mazy solo run.
But the euphoria disappeared eight minutes later, Russia's Sergei Ignashevich equalising with a scorching shot following a corner and a poor clearance by Irish goalkeeper Shay Given.
Bureau Report