Croatia and Ireland on brink of 2012 finals

Croatia and Ireland are firm favourites to qualify for Euro 2012 after comfortable away wins in the first legs of their play-off against Turkey and Estonia, respectively, last night.

Ivica Olic, Mario Mandzukic and Vedran Corluka did the damage to give the Croats a priceless win away from home and give Slaven Bilic’s side the upperhand with the return leg in Zagreb on Tuesday.

Croatia turned up with revenge on their minds after being knocked out of Euro 2008 at the quarter-finals stage on penalties by their play-off rivals.

Croatia entered the play-offs after being edged out by Euro 2004 champions Greece in their qualifying group, while Turkey came in a country mile behind runaway leaders Germany in their group.

The visitors suffered a scare in their final training session when Tottenham defender Corluka injured himself but he took to the pitch wearing a protective boot.

Skipper Robbie Keane claimed a double in Tallinn as Ireland routed nine-man Estonia to take an iron grip on their play-off.

Ireland were already leading through Keith Andrews’s 13th-minute header when central defender Andrei Stepanov was sent off for a second bookable offence, and by the time skipper Raio Piiroja joined him 13 minutes from time, after being cautioned twice in quick succession, they were 3-0 down.

Jonathan Walters’s 67th-minute header, his first senior international goal, justified manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s decision to pick him, and Keane’s late brace ensured Ireland will take a commanding lead into Tuesday night’s second leg at the Aviva Stadium.

In Zenica, Bosnia striker Vedad Ibisevic spurned two late chances to break the deadlock in a scoreless draw with Portugal.

After a largely uninspiring performance, Portugal, who famously ended Bosnia’s 2010 World Cup hopes with two 1-0 play-off wins, will now head to Lisbon confident of ending the Bosnians’ hopes once more.

Although Bosnia had high hopes for Edin Dzeko, the scorer of 10 goals this season, the Manchester City striker was given few bites at the cherry. When his first real chance emerged in the 72nd minute, Dzeko sent his chance wide.

Ibisevic went on to waste the hosts’ best chance of the game, dragging his shot wide after failing to fully control Zvjezdan Misimovic’s cross from the left.

Nine minutes from time fans were left in disbelief again when Ibisevic fired high and wide after powering down the right flank unchallenged with only Rui Patricio to beat.

In the other play-off first leg yesterday, the Czech Republic beat Montenegro 2-0 with second-half goals from winger Vaclav Pilar and sweeper Tomas Sivok.

Czech captain Tomas Rosicky set up Pilar for his debut goal in the national team in the 63rd minute and the 23-year-old sent a superb right-foot shot across the box and into the net past diving Montenegro keeper Mladen Bozovic.

Besiktas sweeper Sivok added another with a stoppage-time header from Rosicky’s free-kick that put the Czechs in a better position ahead of the second leg in the Montenegro capital of Podgorica on Tuesday.

The Czechs are close to making their fifth European Champ-ionship in a row, while Montenegro, the youngest UEFA member that emerged in 2006 as the country gained independence on Serbia, are eyeing their first major tournament ever.

Results

EURO 2012 - Play-Offs – First legs

Bosnia 0
Portugal 0

Czech Rep. 2
Pilar 63; Sivok 90;
Montenegro 0

Estonia 0
Ireland 4
Andrews 13; Walters 67; Keane 71, 88 pen;

Red cards: Stepanov (EST) 35; Piiroja (EST) 77;

Turkey 0
Croatia 3
Olic 2; Mandzukic 32; Corluka 51;

Second legs: November 15.

Friendlies

Albania 0
Azerbaijan 1
Aliyev 22;

Belgium 2
Van Buyten 11; Cocis 43 og;
Romania 1
Marica 66;

Cyprus 1
Christofi 60;
Scotland 2
Miller 23; Mackie 57;

Denmark 2
Bendtner 35; Krohn-Delhi 80;
Sweden 0

France 1
Remy 72;
United States 0

Georgia 2
Martsvaladze 36; Ananidze 39 pen;
Moldova 0

Red card: Kobhakidze (G) 76;

Greece1
Katsouranis 60;
Russia 1
Shirokov 2;

Holland 0
Switzerland 0

Hungary 5
Priskin 10, 20; Dzsudzsak 76; Koman 79; Feczesin 89;
Liechtenstein 0

Poland 0
Italy 2
Balotelli 30; Pazzini 60;

Missed penalty: Blasczykowski (P) 85;

Ukraine 3
Yarmolenko 28; Konoplyanka 36; Nazarenko 45;
Germany 3
Kroos 38; Rolfes 65; Muller 77;

World Cup 2014 - South America Qualifier

Argentina 1
Lavezzi 60;
Bolivia 1
Moreno 56;

UEFA Under-21

Group One

Greece 4
Germany 5

San Marino 0
Belarus 2

Group Two

Ukraine 1
Finland 1

Standings: Slovenia 13; Sweden 10; Finland 8; Malta 5; Lithuania 3; Ukraine 2.

Playing Tuesday: Ukraine vs Lithuania; Malta vs Sweden.

Group Three

Montenegro 4
Andorra 0

Armenia 0
Czech Rep. 2

Group Four

Macedonia 1
Faroe Islands 0