UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
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224907696
2008-07-10T23:08:17Z
EamonnPKeane
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/* Trivia */
This page describes the '''qualifying''' procedure for the '''[[UEFA Euro 2008]]'''.
== Seedings ==
[[UEFA coefficients|Qualification coefficients]] were used to rank the teams according to their results in both [[UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying|UEFA Euro 2004]] and [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifying stages]]. Only the group matches, and not any additional playoffs, counted towards the coefficients, also determining which pot a national team was put in. Some points to note:
*[[Greece national football team|Greece]] are European champions, thus were automatically seeded in the top pool.
*[[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] did not have to qualify for [[UEFA Euro 2004]] as hosts. Only their record in [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying]] was used.
*[[Germany national football team|Germany]] did not have to qualify for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|World Cup 2006]] as hosts. Only their record in [[UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying]] was used.
*[[Kazakhstan national football team|Kazakhstan]] had never competed in the European Championships, so only their World Cup record was used. The team's last continental qualifying was for the [[Asian Cup 2000|2000 Asian Cup]]. Their record in that competition (P4, Pts6) is not used.
*After the independence from [[Serbia]] for [[Montenegro]], [[Serbia national football team|Serbia]] took up the old Serbia & Montenegro's fixtures. [[Montenegro national football team|Montenegro]] had not been admitted to [[UEFA]]/[[FIFA]] at the time the qualifying competition had started, and therefore will not compete until the qualifying for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|next World Cup]].
The draw took place on [[27 January]], [[2006]] in [[Montreux]], [[Switzerland]].<ref name="drawing-procedure">[http://www.uefa.com/competitions/EURO/news/Kind=1/newsId=386707.html Explanation of the drawing and the procedure followed]</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=25%|Pot 1
!width=25%|Pot 3
!width=25%|Pot 5
!width=25%|Pot 7
|- valign=top
|
*{{fb|GRE}}
*{{fb|NED}}
*{{fb|POR}}
*{{fb|ENG}}
*{{fb|CZE}}
*{{fb|FRA}}
*{{fb|SWE}}
|
*{{fb|SRB}}
*{{fb|RUS}}
*{{fb|DEN}}
*{{fb|NOR}}
*{{fb|BUL}}
*{{fb|UKR}}
*{{fb|SVK}}
|
*{{fb|HUN}}
*{{fb|FIN}}
*{{fb|EST}}
*{{fb|WAL}}
*{{fb|LTU}}
*{{fb|ALB}}
*{{fb|ISL}}
|
*{{fb|LIE}}
*{{fb|AZE}}
*{{fb|AND}}
*{{fb|MLT}}
*{{fb|FRO}}
*{{fb|KAZ}}
*{{fb|LUX}}
*{{fb|SMR}}
|-
!Pot 2
!Pot 4
!Pot 6
|rowspan=2|
|- valign=top
|
*{{fb|GER}}
*{{fb|CRO}}
*{{fb|ITA}}
*{{fb|TUR}}
*{{fb|POL}}
*{{fb|ESP}}
*{{fb|ROU}}
|
*{{fb|BIH}}
*{{fb|IRL}}
*{{fb|BEL}}
*{{fb|LVA}}
*{{fb|ISR}}
*{{fb|SCO}}
*{{fb|SVN}}
|
*{{fb|GEO}}
*{{fb|MKD}}
*{{fb|BLR}}
*{{fb|ARM}}
*{{fb|NIR}}
*{{fb|CYP}}
*{{fb|MDA}}
|}
==Tiebreakers==
If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings.
# Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question.
# Superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question.
# Higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question.
# Higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question.
# If, after applying criteria 1) to 4) to several teams, two or more teams still have an equal ranking, the criteria 1) to 4) will be reapplied to determine the ranking of these teams. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 6) and 7) will apply.
# Results of all group matches: 1. Superior goal difference 2. Higher number of goals scored 3. Higher number of goals scored away from home 4. Fair play conduct.
# Drawing of lots.
==Summary==
Below is a table containing all seven qualifying groups. Teams that have secured a place in the final tournament are highlighted in green. The order of teams is by final group position.
{| class="wikitable" width="99.75%"
|- align="center"
! width=14.28%| [[#Group A|Group A]]
! width=14.28%| [[#Group B|Group B]]
! width=14.28%| [[#Group C|Group C]]
! width=14.28%| [[#Group D|Group D]]
! width=14.28%| [[#Group E|Group E]]
! width=14.28%| [[#Group F|Group F]]
! width=14.28%| [[#Group G|Group G]]
|- style="background:#ccffcc; font-size:90%"
| {{fb|POL}}<br>{{fb|POR}}
| {{fb|ITA}}<br>{{fb|FRA}}
| {{fb|GRE}}<br>{{fb|TUR}}
| {{fb|CZE}}<br>{{fb|GER}}
| {{fb|CRO}}<br>{{fb|RUS}}
| {{fb|ESP}}<br>{{fb|SWE}}
| {{fb|ROU}}<br>{{fb|NED}}
|- style="font-size:90%"
|style="vertical-align:top"| {{fb|SER}}<br>{{fb|FIN}}<br>{{fb|BEL}}<br>{{fb|KAZ}}<br>{{fb|ARM}}<br>{{fb|AZE}}
|style="vertical-align:top"| {{fb|SCO}}<br>{{fb|UKR}}<br>{{fb|LTU}}<br>{{fb|GEO}}<br>{{fb|FRO}}
|style="vertical-align:top"| {{fb|NOR}}<br>{{fb|BIH}}<br>{{fb|MDA}}<br>{{fb|HUN}}<br>{{fb|MLT}}
|style="vertical-align:top"| {{fb|IRL}}<br>{{fb|SVK}}<br>{{fb|WAL}}<br>{{fb|CYP}}<br>{{fb|SMR}}
|style="vertical-align:top"| {{fb|ENG}}<br>{{fb|ISR}}<br>{{fb|MKD}}<br>{{fb|EST}}<br>{{fb|AND}}
|style="vertical-align:top"| {{fb|NIR}}<br>{{fb|DEN}}<br>{{fb|LVA}}<br>{{fb|ISL}}<br>{{fb|LIE}}
|style="vertical-align:top"| {{fb|BUL}}<br>{{fb|BLR}}<br>{{fb|ALB}}<br>{{fb|SVN}}<br>{{fb|LUX}}
|}
==Groups==
The qualifying process started in [[August 2006]]. [[Austria national football team|Austria]] and [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] were granted places in the tournament finals as host nations.
The qualifying format has been changed compared to the previous tournament. The winners and runners-up from seven groups will automatically qualify for the Championship, with the hosts filling the other two slots in the 16-team tournament. The move means there will no longer be play-offs between teams finishing in second place in the groups. Six of the qualifying groups contain seven teams, and the other eight.
As the official successor of the previous football association, [[Serbia national football team|Serbia]] inherited the position originally allotted to [[Serbia and Montenegro]] in Group A prior to the dissolution of the state union. [[Montenegro national football team|Montenegro]] were granted UEFA membership after qualifying had started and thus were not able to participate in this European Championship.
'''Key''':
*Teams highlighted in green qualified for the [[UEFA Euro 2008|finals]].
=== Group A ===
{{main|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group A}}
{{UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group A
|expanded=no
|fixtures=yes
|tiebreakers=yes}}
=== Group B ===
{{main|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group B}}
{{UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group B
|expanded=yes
|fixtures=yes
|tiebreakers=yes}}
=== Group C ===
{{main|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group C}}
{{UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group C
|expanded=yes
|fixtures=yes
|tiebreakers=yes}}
=== Group D ===
{{main|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group D}}
{{UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group D
|expanded=yes
|fixtures=yes
|tiebreakers=yes}}
=== Group E ===
{{main|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group E}}
{{UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group E
|expanded=yes
|fixtures=yes
|tiebreakers=yes}}
=== Group F ===
{{main|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group F}}
{{UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group F
|expanded=yes
|fixtures=yes
|tiebreakers=yes}}
=== Group G ===
{{main|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group G}}
{{UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group G
|expanded=yes
|fixtures=yes
|tiebreakers=yes}}
== Top goalscorers ==
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!Scorer
!Goals
!Mins played
!Nation
!Club
|-
|[[David Healy (footballer)|David Healy]]
|align="center"|13
|align="center"|1075'
|{{fb|NIR}}
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]]/[[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|-
|[[Eduardo Alves da Silva|Eduardo da Silva]]
|align="center"|10
|align="center"|1061'
|{{fb|CRO}}
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
|-
|[[Euzebiusz Smolarek]]
|align="center"|9
|align="center"|824'
|{{fb|POL}}
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Racing de Santander|Racing Santander]]
|-
|[[Lukas Podolski]]
|align="center"|8
|align="center"|660'
|{{fb|GER}}
|{{flagicon|GER}} [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
|-
|[[Jon Dahl Tomasson]]
|align="center"|8
|align="center"|989'
|{{fb|DEN}}
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]]
|-
|[[Cristiano Ronaldo]]
|align="center"|8
|align="center"|1153'
|{{fb|POR}}
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|-
|[[Steffen Iversen]]
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|669'
|{{fb|NOR}}
|{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Rosenborg B.K.|Rosenborg]]
|-
|[[Mladen Petrić]]
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|677'
|{{fb|CRO}}
|{{flagicon|GER}} [[Borussia Dortmund]]
|-
|[[Nikola Žigić]]
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|867'
|{{fb|SER}}
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Valencia CF|Valencia]]
|-
|[[David Villa]]
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|896'
|{{fb|ESP}}
|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Valencia CF|Valencia]]
|}
Source: [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/statistics/players/typestat=gs/index.html UEFA]
==Qualified nations==
{|
!Host nations
!colspan="3"|Qualifiers
|- valign=top
|
#{{fb|AUT}}
#{{fb|SUI}}
|
<ol start=3>
<li>{{fb|GER}}
<li>{{fb|GRE}}
<li>{{fb|CZE}}
<li>{{fb|ROU}}
<li>{{fb|ITA}}
</ol>
|
<ol start=8>
<li>{{fb|FRA}}
<li>{{fb|CRO}}
<li>{{fb|POL}}
<li>{{fb|NED}}
<li>{{fb|ESP}}
</ol>
|
<ol start=13>
<li>{{fb|SWE}}
<li>{{fb|TUR}}
<li>{{fb|POR}}
<li>{{fb|RUS}}
</ol>
|}
== Trivia ==
{{Trivia|date=November 2007}}
*Germany's 13-0 away victory against San Marino became the biggest win in UEFA European Championship qualifying history, beating the previous record of Spain's 12-1 win against Malta in 1983.<ref> [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/fixturesresults/round=2241/match=83623/report=index.html Records tumble as Germany soar]</ref>
*[[Gary Caldwell]] scored the winner, as Scotland inflicted a first defeat upon France in competitive qualifiers, with a 1-0 win against ''Les Bleus'' being the first team to do so since Russia won 3-2 in [[Paris]] in the [[UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying|Euro 2000 qualifiers]].<ref>[http://euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/qualifying/matches/match=83970/index.html Battling Scotland stun France]</ref>
*Luxembourg ended their 12 year wait for a victory, with a 1-0 victory in Belarus, [[Fons Leweck]] scoring in the 5th minute of injury time.<ref>[http://euro2008.uefa.com/tournament/qualifying/matches/match=83693/index.html Luxembourg end 12-year wait for win]</ref>
*Poland got through the qualifying round for the first time in its history.<ref>[http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/fixturesresults/round=2241/match=83801/report=rp.html Smolarek sends Poland to first EURO]</ref>
*[[David Healy (footballer)|David Healy]] became the record goalscorer in a single UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign when he scored his 13th goal for Northern Ireland (in 11 games) against Denmark on 17th November 2007, overtaking the previous best of 12 goals in 10 games by Croatia's [[Davor Šuker]]. Despite this feat, which saw his countrymen defeat three teams ranked in the World's top ten at the time, Spain, Denmark and Sweden, Northern Ireland crucially lost both fixtures against an Iceland side who failed to win any of their other twelve fixtures in the group and missed out on qualification in third place.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7099070.stm Healy keeps NI's Euro dream alive]</ref>
*England was the only seeded team not to qualify, whereas Russia was the only unseeded one to qualify.
*In the match between England and Croatia at Wembley, [[Tony Henry]] made a comical error whilst singing the national anthem of Croatia. He meant to sing ''"Mila kuda si planina"'' which roughly tanslates into English as "You know my dear how we love your mountains." He incorrectly sang ''"Mila ku'''r'''a si planina"'' which can be interpreted as "My dear, my penis is a mountain."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7109058.stm Anthem gaffe 'lifted Croatia']</ref>
*Germany were the qualifiers' biggest goalscorers with 35 goals. Slovakia finished 2nd with 33, despite missing out on qualification.
*The team with the highest [[FIFA World Rankings|FIFA ranking]]<ref>Ranking as of June 4, 2008</ref> to fail to qualify was England, ranked #9. The lowest ranked team (other than the hosts) which did qualify for the tournament was Sweden, ranked #30.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.uefa.com/competitions/EURO/news/Kind=1/newsId=352326.html ''EURO 2008 seedings confirmed''] at UEFA.com
*[http://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/19079.pdf Competition regulations (PDF file)] at UEFA.com
{{fb start}}
{{UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying}}
{{UEFA Euro 2008}}
{{European Football Championship qualifying}}
{{European Football Championship}}
{{fb end}}
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2008|Qualifying]]
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