Group C
Group C's five games (only two on the Tuesday) showed Italy hadn't been too crushed by the World Cup, as they won both their games. Estonia, having won against the Faroes, lost to Italy. The Faroes lost as well to the 2006 World Cup winners, and also to Serbia. Serbia only managed a draw for their second game against Slovenia, who shockingly lost to Northern Ireland on the Friday (Northern Ireland were the other team not playing on Tuesday).
Northern Ireland got a fantastic 1357.5 points for their win against Slovenia.
Slovenia, therefore, only managed 467.5 points in their draw.
Serbia got 615 points for beating the Faroe Islands, and 452.5 points in their draw.
Italy's earnings were 795 points against Estonia, and 615 against the Faroes.
Estonia and the Faroe Islands got no points from the weekend.
Now, Italy lead the group with Serbia in second, followed by Northern Ireland (who have only played one game), Estonia, Slovenia and the Faroe Islands (lost 3 out of 3 games).
Group D
France started off with a dramatic loss against Belarus, leaving everyone wondering if their terrible World Cup performance was continuing, but managed a last-minute win against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Luxembourg lost both their games: against B-H and Albania respectively. Romania and Albania drew on the Friday, then Romania went on to get a second draw against Belarus.
France got no points for their loss, but 1072.5 points from their win against B-H.
Belarus got a spectacular 1342.5 points for defeating France, and 395 from their draw.
Romania's draws earned them 325 points and 305 points for Albania and Belarus respectively.
Albania's draw earned them 395 points, and their win against Luxembourg got 622.5 points.
Boznia-Herzegovina got 622.5 points from beating Luxembourg, and none from their loss against France.
Luxembourg earned no points at all.
Albania and Belarus lead the group, with B-H and France in third, Romania in fifth, and Luxembourg last.
11/09/2010
Formula 1 Race Fourteen: Qualifying
Before I go into the qualifying round-up, just to reiterate that there will be no new teams next year in F1, although India will hopefully have a track to add to the season. This means it'll be a 20 track season, taking place over more than 7 months! So even more F1 than before, with a shorter winter, but the same amount of teams and drivers (assuming they all make it through the winter).
There were only two real points of interest in Q1. First, as Glock was beginning his flying lap, Petrov emerged from the pits in his Renault and – intentionally or not – blocked the driver. This may well result in taking away his fastest qualifying time. Second, after reliability problems, Liuzzi was the man to go out with the six new team drivers in the first round of qualifying. Just afterwards, Glock needed to change his gearbox, so received a 5 place grid penalty.
In the second round, Michael Schumacher went out, as did last year's pole winner Sutil. Neither did Renault's Petrov. Barrichello, however, scraped through. The Red Bulls didn't do brilliantly, but Ferrari and MacLaren shone.
After the third round, Alonso roused the spirits of the many Italian Ferrari fans by taking pole, with Jenson Button next to him. Massa was third, and despite a bad practice Webber showed that Red Bull haven't completely lost it by going fourth. Hamilton was fifth and Vettel sixth. So it should be an interesting race tomorrow.
There were only two real points of interest in Q1. First, as Glock was beginning his flying lap, Petrov emerged from the pits in his Renault and – intentionally or not – blocked the driver. This may well result in taking away his fastest qualifying time. Second, after reliability problems, Liuzzi was the man to go out with the six new team drivers in the first round of qualifying. Just afterwards, Glock needed to change his gearbox, so received a 5 place grid penalty.
In the second round, Michael Schumacher went out, as did last year's pole winner Sutil. Neither did Renault's Petrov. Barrichello, however, scraped through. The Red Bulls didn't do brilliantly, but Ferrari and MacLaren shone.
After the third round, Alonso roused the spirits of the many Italian Ferrari fans by taking pole, with Jenson Button next to him. Massa was third, and despite a bad practice Webber showed that Red Bull haven't completely lost it by going fourth. Hamilton was fifth and Vettel sixth. So it should be an interesting race tomorrow.
10/09/2010
Euro 2012 Qualification: Groups A, B September
For the next few days I'll cover the Euro 2012 points for two groups each post. On the sixteenth I'll cover the changes on the FIFA rankings charts where it's interesting.
Group A
There have only been five games for group A so far; for some reason, Austria and Azerbaijan did not play each other on Friday. However, in the matches that were played, Germany won against Azerbaijan and their neighbours Belgium, Turkey beat Kazakhstan and Belgium, and Austria beat Kazakhstan.
Germany earned 1140 points from beating Belgium, and 712.5 points for beating Azerbaijan.*
Turkey earned 562.5 points from beating Kazakhstan, and 1140 points for beating Belgium.
Austria also earned 562.5 points for their victory over Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Belgium earned no points over the weekend, because they lost all their games.
Now, Germany head up group A, with Turkey second, Austria third, then Belgium, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan last.
*Points are averaged over the number of matches per year, down to five. If teams play less than five matches, the total is still divided by five.
Group B
Group B had six games over the weekend. The Republic of Ireland won both their games against Armenia and Andorra; Russia beat Andorra but lost to Slovakia. Macedonia lost to Slovakia and won against Armenia.
Ireland earned 780 points from beating Armenia, and 375 points for beating Andorra.
Russia earned 375 points from beating Andorra, but didn't get any when they lost to Slovakia.
Slovakia earned 1005 points from beating Macedonia, and 1380 points from beating Russia.
Macedonia also earned 780 points for winning against Armenia.
Armenia and Andorra, having lost both their games, earned no points.
Ireland lead the group on goal difference, with Slovakia second. Macedonia and Russia are third, with Armenia and Andorra fifth and sixth respectively.
Group A
There have only been five games for group A so far; for some reason, Austria and Azerbaijan did not play each other on Friday. However, in the matches that were played, Germany won against Azerbaijan and their neighbours Belgium, Turkey beat Kazakhstan and Belgium, and Austria beat Kazakhstan.
Germany earned 1140 points from beating Belgium, and 712.5 points for beating Azerbaijan.*
Turkey earned 562.5 points from beating Kazakhstan, and 1140 points for beating Belgium.
Austria also earned 562.5 points for their victory over Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Belgium earned no points over the weekend, because they lost all their games.
Now, Germany head up group A, with Turkey second, Austria third, then Belgium, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan last.
*Points are averaged over the number of matches per year, down to five. If teams play less than five matches, the total is still divided by five.
Group B
Group B had six games over the weekend. The Republic of Ireland won both their games against Armenia and Andorra; Russia beat Andorra but lost to Slovakia. Macedonia lost to Slovakia and won against Armenia.
Ireland earned 780 points from beating Armenia, and 375 points for beating Andorra.
Russia earned 375 points from beating Andorra, but didn't get any when they lost to Slovakia.
Slovakia earned 1005 points from beating Macedonia, and 1380 points from beating Russia.
Macedonia also earned 780 points for winning against Armenia.
Armenia and Andorra, having lost both their games, earned no points.
Ireland lead the group on goal difference, with Slovakia second. Macedonia and Russia are third, with Armenia and Andorra fifth and sixth respectively.
Formula 1 Race Fourteen: Preview
It's time for another Grand Prix! This weekend we're at Monza, Italy, the home of Ferrari. Indeed, the Ferraris were fast in today's practise sessions, but Vettel went faster still. Massa - the only driver not to retire in a race this season - was second-fastest. The MacLarens were also good.
HRT were having problems with Senna's car, and he didn't get a time in either session. Webber also had problems with loss of water pressure in the second session, and Alguersuari also had to drop out. However, if they can get their problems fixed overnight, or in tomorrow's third session, they should be able to attempt qualification. But they'll do better if they can fix the problems earlier.
Karun Chandhok is once again sitting things out. I suppose he must be taking some payment for his work with the BBC, though, up in the commentary box. He may be an F1 driver, but he's not a rich one. [He is single, though :D] Last weekend he was the first F1 driver to experience the new Korean circuit, which should be ready on time. And he got a change of speed too, with one of the Red Bull cars. Nice!
HRT were having problems with Senna's car, and he didn't get a time in either session. Webber also had problems with loss of water pressure in the second session, and Alguersuari also had to drop out. However, if they can get their problems fixed overnight, or in tomorrow's third session, they should be able to attempt qualification. But they'll do better if they can fix the problems earlier.
Karun Chandhok is once again sitting things out. I suppose he must be taking some payment for his work with the BBC, though, up in the commentary box. He may be an F1 driver, but he's not a rich one. [He is single, though :D] Last weekend he was the first F1 driver to experience the new Korean circuit, which should be ready on time. And he got a change of speed too, with one of the Red Bull cars. Nice!
08/09/2010
Most Humble Apologies
Since nobody corrected me yesterday on the Scotland-Liechtenstein score, I am forced to believe that either:
1 - nobody reads this or,
2 - you all accept what I say as gospel truth.
But actually, I have to get on my knees and admit my mistakes. Scotland did, in fact, win yesterday. A very last-minute goal got them their first victory in these qualifiers.
1 - nobody reads this or,
2 - you all accept what I say as gospel truth.
But actually, I have to get on my knees and admit my mistakes. Scotland did, in fact, win yesterday. A very last-minute goal got them their first victory in these qualifiers.
07/09/2010
Euro 2012 Qualification: 7/9/2010 Results
Poor-tugal
More surprises today, especially from Portugal and Georgia. France, however, improved and won a match. Here's the top five surprising results:
1. Georgia (110) drew with Israel (38). There's a difference of 72 places in their world rankings, but this is the second time that Georgia have drawn with a good team this weekend.
2. Montenegro (73) beat Bulgaria (43). Perhaps Bulgaria's 4-0 defeat to England was sagging their spirits.
3. Albania (70) beat the Czech Republic (31)!
4. Norway (22) beat Portugal (8). Portugal are supposed to be a world class team, and should easily defeat their opponents in most situations. This is disappointing.
5. Scotland's (41) draw against Liechtenstein (141) was bad, considering the 100-place difference. Should have been a win for the Scots.
In the British Isles, England and the Republic of Ireland both won (no games today for Wales or Northern Ireland), and Scotland continue to be mediocre. Full group summaries to come over the next few days.
Next weekend: Premier League football, and the Italian Grand Prix.
15th September: FIFA update the world rankings!
More surprises today, especially from Portugal and Georgia. France, however, improved and won a match. Here's the top five surprising results:
1. Georgia (110) drew with Israel (38). There's a difference of 72 places in their world rankings, but this is the second time that Georgia have drawn with a good team this weekend.
2. Montenegro (73) beat Bulgaria (43). Perhaps Bulgaria's 4-0 defeat to England was sagging their spirits.
3. Albania (70) beat the Czech Republic (31)!
4. Norway (22) beat Portugal (8). Portugal are supposed to be a world class team, and should easily defeat their opponents in most situations. This is disappointing.
5. Scotland's (41) draw against Liechtenstein (141) was bad, considering the 100-place difference. Should have been a win for the Scots.
In the British Isles, England and the Republic of Ireland both won (no games today for Wales or Northern Ireland), and Scotland continue to be mediocre. Full group summaries to come over the next few days.
Next weekend: Premier League football, and the Italian Grand Prix.
15th September: FIFA update the world rankings!
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