February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Jay Mwamba
In what has become a familiar scenario for Ireland in recent qualifying competitions, their destiny going into the final round of the Euro 2000 race this weekend once again lies in foreign hands.
That is because even if Mick McCarthy’s promising side, minus the injured Roy Keane, triumphs in Macedonia on Sunday, the Republic will still finish runners-up in Group 8 and enter the playoff round if Yugoslavia beat Croatia in Zagreb on the same day.
The best result in Zagreb for McCarthy, who could become the second Irish manager after the legendary Jack Charlton to take Ireland to the European Championship, would be an encore of last month’s goalless tie in Belgrade between the two Balkan archrivals. That, plus an Irish victory in Skopje.
Yugoslavia (5-1-1, 16 points) lead Group 8 by a point over Ireland (5-0-2), with third-placed Croatia (4-2-1) another two points adrift.
For Ireland, at least, the news from Skopje ahead of Ireland’s visit there couldn’t have been more uplifting for the Republic: the Macedonians, who are already out of the running, will be missing six key players.
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Ruled out by injury are foreign-based defenders Mitko Stojkovski and Igor Nikolovski, midfielders Milan Stojanovski and Viktor Trenevski, as well as goalkeeper Oka Nikolov.
Despite this blow, Macedonian coach Dragan Kanatloravski is confident that his makeshift side will give Ireland a run for its money.
"We will play for national pride. We want to beat Ireland but we would also be happy with a draw," Kanatlarovski said on Monday.
This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams since Macedonia broke away from the Yugoslav federation, and the Republic’s second trip to Skopje. Ireland lost 3-2 on their first outing there, a tempestuous World Cup qualifier in April 1997, in which Jason MacAteer was sent off.
Ireland won the other two engagements, both at Lansdowne Road. They triumphed 3-0 in an earlier World Cup fixture three years ago, and run off 1-0 winners on Naill Quinn’s header in their first Euro 2000 encounter last June.
Meanwhile, Croatian coach Miroslav Blazevic is bracing for another titanic battle with Yugoslavia.
"This is the most difficult game we’ve ever had, not only because of psychological pressure, but also because of the strength of our opponents," he said in Zagreb last week.
To cover his bases, Blazevic has even called up the ailing Zvonirmir Boban, Croatia’s captain and star midfielder, who pulled stomach muscles last month.
There’s also a recall, after a year’s absence, for Lazio striker Alen Boksic, who is likely to partner Arsenal’s Davor Suker in attack.
Here’s a look at the other groups, ahead of this weekend’s final Euro 2000 qualifying round. The group winners and the team with the best record among the nine runners-up qualify automatically for next summer’s finals in Holland and Belgium. The remaining eight runners-up enter a knockout playoff competition.
Group 1
Italy (14) could clinch it with a tie in Belarus on Saturday. An Italian loss will leave Denmark (14), who have completed their fixtures, at the top and in the finals. But that’s only if Switzerland (11) don’t defeat the Michael Hughes-coached Wales (9) by three goals or more.
Group 2
Final standings already posted with Norway (22) in the finals, and Slovenia (17) playoff bound. Saturday’s schedule, of academic importance, pits Latvia against Norway, Albania against Georgia, and Slovenia against Greece.
Group 3
The big match in Northern Ireland’s group is Germany (18) vs. Turkey (16), with a tie good enough for the resurgent Teutons. Turks all but confirmed for the playoffs. The North, shellacked 4-0 by Germany last month, wind up against Finland in Helsinki.
Group 4
Ukraine-Russia and France-Iceland encounters are key games in toughest group outside Ireland’s Group 8. Odds seem to favor third-placed French (18) to top Iceland and group, while two ex-Soviet partners should split points with Ukraine (19) in the playoffs. Third meaningless fixture features Andorra against Armenia.
Group 5
Sweden vs. Poland in a match all of England will be following. Swedes (19) already through. Poles (13) need tie to make playoffs over England (13), who are done. Says Swedish coach Tommy Soderberg to great English relief: "I can assure you we will be going flat out. We have a professional and a national pride and it is our intention to play as well as we can every time." Also in the group, Bulgaria host Luxembourg on Sunday.
Group 6
With their opponents in the finals, Isr’l (13) travel to Spain (18) Sunday battling to secure playoff berth ahead of Cyprus (12), who are away to Austria. Bad news for Cypriots is that Austria thrashed them 3-0 in Limassol first time around.
Group 7
Romania (21) taking no chances in quest for road win over Liechtenstein minnows that will clinch them group. Playoff prospects Portugal (20) at home to Hungary on Friday. Azerbaijan-Slovakia is the other match.
Group 9
Scotland and Estonia (11) locked in playoff battle that favors Scots, who host Lithuania in second match in four days. Estonia at home to Bosnia. Czech Republic (27) shooting for best qualifying record in recent memory with their 10th win in as many starts, over Faroe Islands.