More Qualifying Group Stage news

Euro 2016 Surprises and Dissappointments

A look at the teams that really surprised the world in their qualifying run and those that failed to live up to their expectation for Euro 2016

Gaurav

October 14, 2015

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Turkey claim Euro 2016 spot as best third-placed team

Turkey snatched automatic qualification for Euro 2016 as the best third-placed team with a last-gasp goal to win at home to Iceland.

Dhruv George

October 14, 2015

Turkey’s players celebrate after winning their Euro 2016 Group A qualification soccer match against Iceland in Konya

Croatia qualify for Euro 2016 with Malta win

Croatia squeezed into the Euro 2016 finals with a narrow away win over Malta on Tuesday which enabled them to finish as Group H runners-up.

Dhruv George

October 14, 2015

Croatia’s players and team officials celebrate qualifying for the Euro 2016 finals after defeating Malta 1-0 during their Euro 2016 Group H qualification soccer match at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali, outside Valletta

Netherlands fail to qualify for Euro 2016

The Netherlands failed to reach the European Championship finals for the first time since 1984 when they lost 3-2 at home to the Czech Republic.

Dhruv George

October 14, 2015

van Persie of the Netherlands falls during the match against Czech Republic during their Euro 2016 group A qualifying soccer match in Amsterdam

Del Bosque faces tricky task to select Spain squad

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque acknowledged he faces a tough task in deciding who to leave out of his 23-man squad for Euro 2016,

Dhruv George

October 13, 2015

Spain’s coach Vicente del Bosque looks on before the Euro 2016 group C qualifying soccer match against Ukraine at the Olympic stadium in Kiev

Russia beat Montenegro to qualify for Euro 2016

Russia booked their place in the Euro 2016 finals with a 2-0 victory over Montenegro in Moscow on Monday ensuring they were spared the drama of a playoff.

Dhruv George

October 13, 2015

Russia’s Denisov fights for ball with Montenegro’s Mugosa during their Euro 2016 group G qualifying soccer match at Otkrytie Arena stadium in Moscow

Slovenia beat San Marino 2-0 to seal playoff berth

Slovenia secured a Euro 2016 playoff berth after second-half headers by captain Bostjan Cesar and Nejc Pecnik gave them a 2-0 win at San Marino.

Dhruv George

October 13, 2015

Slovenia’s Birsa celebrate his goal with teammates during their Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match against Lithuania in Petrol arena in Ljubljana

Switzerland complete qualifiers with last-gasp win in Estonia

Switzerland booked a trip to next year's Euro 2016 finals as they rounded off their qualifying campaign with a listless 1-0 win in Estonia on Monday.

Dhruv George

October 13, 2015

Estonia’s Kallaste fights for the ball with Switzerland’s Embolo during their Euro 2016 qualification soccer match in Tallinn

Slovakia beat Luxembourg and book Euro trip

Marek Hamsik scored twice and Slovakia to beat Luxembourg 4-2 in Group C on Monday as they booked a place at Euro 2016 in France.

Dhruv George

October 13, 2015

Slovakia’s Hamsik celebrates after scoring against Luxembourg during their Euro 2016 group C qualification match at the Josy Barthel stadium in Luxembourg

Del Bosque faces tough task to select Spain squad

Coach Vicente del Bosque acknowledged he faces a tough task in deciding who to leave out of his 23-man Spain squad for Euro 2016, especially in midfield.

Dhruv George

October 13, 2015

Spain’s coach Vicente del Bosque looks on before the Euro 2016 group C qualifying soccer match against Ukraine at the Olympic stadium in Kiev

Ukraine into Euro play-offs after Spain defeat

Ukraine were consigned to the Euro 2016 play-offs after they lost 1-0 at home to Spain in their final Group C qualifying match on Monday.

Dhruv George

October 13, 2015

Ukraine’s Kucher receives a yellow card from referee Mazic during the Euro 2016 group C qualifying soccer match against Spain at the Olympic stadium in Kiev

Ruthless England complete perfect 10

England became only the 6th team to end a European qualifying campaign with a 100 percent record when they beat Lithuania 3-0 in their final Group E match.

Dhruv George

October 13, 2015

Lithuania v England – UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying Group E

Zlatan strikes again as flat Sweden head for playoffs

Ibrahimovic grabs another goal as Sweden secure playoff spot

Dhruv George

October 12, 2015

Sweden’s Ibrahimovic dribbles the ball past Moldova’s goalkeeper Cebanu before scoring the opening goal during their Euro 2016 group G qualifying soccer match at the Friends Arena in Stockholm

Ireland can still make it to Euro 2016 says O’Neill

Ireland coach Matin O'Neill feels they still have a fighting chance to make tht UEFA Euro 2016.

Dhruv George

October 12, 2015

Poland v Republic of Ireland – UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying Group D

Kompany fit to play for Belgium on Tuesday

Vincent Kompany has been declared fit and is expected to return from injury to play for Belgium in their last Euro 2016 qualifier on Tuesday despite the reservation of his club manager.

Dhruv George

October 12, 2015

Newcastle keeper Krul out for season with knee injury

Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul will miss the rest of the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury suffered in Holland's 2-1 win over Kazakhstan.

Dhruv George

October 12, 2015

Newcastle United v Chelsea – Barclays Premier League

Scotland thrash Gibraltar thanks to Fletcher hat-trick

Steven Fletcher hit a hat-trick for Scotland who, unable to qualify for Euro 2016, finished with a one-sided but hollow 6-0 victory over Gibraltar on Sunday.

Dhruv George

October 12, 2015

Gibraltar v Scotland – UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying Group D

Germany will rediscover killer instinct – Loew

Germany will rediscover their goal-scoring instincts in time for next year's Euro, coach Joachim Loew said after his team laboured to a victory over Georgia.

Dhruv George

October 12, 2015

Germany coach Loew stands on pitch prior to Euro 2016 qualification soccer match against Georgia in Leipzig

Germany, Albania, Romania and Poland join Euro 2016 party

4 more teams have joined the list of countries who will be travelling to France next year for the UEFA Euro 2016.

Dhruv George

October 12, 2015

Germany’s Kruse celebrates his goal against Georgia during their Euro 2016 Group D qualifying soccer match against Germany in Leipzig

Unstoppable Lewandowski secures Euro 2016 place for Poland

Striker Robert Lewandowski scored the winner to secure Poland a place at Euro 2016 with a narrow victory over the battling Ireland in Warsaw on Sunday.

Dhruv George

October 12, 2015

Poland’s Lewandowski sprays champagne as celebrates after winning Euro 2016 qualification soccer match against Republic of Ireland in Warsaw

Jagielka to captain perfect England against Lithuania

England defender Phil Jagielka will lead the team in Lithuania on Monday when they try to finish their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a perfect record

Dhruv George

October 12, 2015

England Training

Hungary head for Euro 2016 playoffs after loss to Greece

Hungary to contest in the EURO 2016 Qualifier play-offs after defeat to Greece

Dhruv George

October 11, 2015

Greece’s Kone is hugged by his teammates after his goal during their Euro 2016 group F qualifying soccer match against Hungary at the Karaiskakis stadium in Piraeus

Makeshift Portugal down Serbia to 2-1 to finish on a high

A makeshift Portugal side defeated Serbia 2-1 without star player Ronaldo

Dhruv George

October 11, 2015

Portugal’s Moutinho celebrates his goal against Serbia during their Euro 2016 Group I qualifying soccer match in Belgrade

Del Bosque’s Spain to experiment in Ukraine qualifier

Spain return to the scene of their Euro 2012 triumph to play Ukraine in a qualifier on Monday with their place at next year's finals secured.

Dhruv George

October 11, 2015

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque listens to the national anthem before their Euro 2016 Group C qualification soccer match against Luxembourg in Logrono

Turkey edge past Czech Republic with late goals

Vital late goals, from Selcuk Inan and Hakan Calhanoglu,against Czech Republic, keep Turkey afloat in the Euro cup qualifiers.

Dhruv George

October 11, 2015

Turkey’s Calhanoglu and Babacan celebrate defeating Czech Republic in Euro 2016 qualification soccer match in Prague

Both Alexanders score for Norway as they beat Malta

Alexander Tettey and Soderlund scored for Norway as they moved past Malta in their Euro cup match.

Dhruv George

October 11, 2015

Norway’s Alexander Tettey scores against Malta’s goalkeeper Andrew Hogg and defender Zach Muscat during their Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match in Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo