Euro 2008, Global
Les Bleus and the Azzurri struggle to recreate their tournament form
Scotland have come from nowhere to stand on the brink of qualifying for the European Championships next summer – and thereby ensuring one of last year’s World Cup finalists would fail to make it to Austria and Switzerland, an undoubted embarrassment for one of the nations who shone so brightly in Germany over June and [...]
Scotland have come from nowhere to stand on the brink of qualifying for the European Championships next summer – and thereby ensuring one of last year’s World Cup finalists would fail to make it to Austria and Switzerland, an undoubted embarrassment for one of the nations who shone so brightly in Germany over June and July 2006.
Italy and France have been intimately linked in recent years. They battled out the tempestuous Euro 2000 final, which Les Bleus stole from the Italian’s grasp, but the Azzurri earned their revenge last year with a penalty shoot-out victory after France had enjoyed the better of the 120 minutes having taken an early lead. The now infamous Zidane headbutt on Materazzi inflamed tensions further, and the nations were drawn together for Euro 2008 qualifying to keep their growing rivalry thriving.
Despite taking four points from the two games with Italy, including a revenge-inspired 3-1 victory at home just 58 days after defeat in Berlin, France lie in third position following a shock 1-0 defeat against Scotland. Yet they remain in contention – just one point off Italy and two off Scotland – and Italy are in just as a precarious position.
The smart money is on the established pair using their superior resources and guile to edge into the finals, if only by the tightest of margins
They must travel to Scotland on the 17 November in a potential play-off. It Scotland earn a draw and win their other two matches, at home to Ukraine and away at Georgia, they will have qualified for the championships on the basis of a superior head-to-head record with France. Raymond Domenech’s side would, however, join the Scots with three victories (though they must travel to Ukraine on the final matchday) because of Italy’s two dropped points in the British Isles. It’s as tight as anyone could have predicted with three rounds remaining.
Having contested the final seven years ago, both nations failed miserably in the Euro 2004 championships hosted in Portugal. Italy didn’t even emerge from the group stages and France fell in embarrassing fashion to Greece in quarter-finals. Now, one faces the humiliation of not qualifying at all, a situation that would force a serious reassessment to be carried out, and surely see the end of either Domenech or Donadoni at the helm.
The current state of affairs may look depressing from the World Cup finalists’ position, but table-toppers Scotland must be most wary. They still have to play a Ukraine side who are not yet out of contention and then Italy, who may go into the game in the knowledge that victory is essential. If Italy and France pick up maximum points from their three remaining games, both will be present at Euro 2008. Their struggle to follow up success at the World Cup has left both in a perilous position, but the smart money is on the established pair using their superior resources and guile to edge into the finals, if only by the tightest of margins.
And should France and Italy eventually arrive in Austria and Switzerland, expect their tournament form to return and both to emerge as the favourites to triumph on the 29 June in the Ernst Happel Stadion.
Italy and France to edge into Euro 2008? Share your views by leaving a comment below.
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Hi Matthew, reckon you’re probably right on the above, and sadly the Scots will end up being pipped to the post.