UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying

The qualifiers for the finals of the European Football Championship 2012 took place from August 2010 to November 2011.

The two hosts Poland and Ukraine were directly qualified. The remaining 51 member countries of the UEFA played in the qualifier and the 14 remaining places in the Euro 2012. For the first time took Montenegro, which is since 2006 a member of UEFA, participated in a European Championship qualifier.

• Table 4.1
• 4.2 Match Results

• Table 5.1
• 5.2 Match Results

• Table 6.1
• 6.2 Match Results

• Table 7.1
• 7.2 Match Results

• Table 8.1
• 8.2 Match Results

• Table 9.1
• 9.2 Match Results

Qualification mode

The 51 teams were drawn against in the qualifying draw on February 7, 2010 in Warsaw each one of nine groups. The groups A to F consisted of six teams, the groups G to I five teams were each assigned. Each team played each a return match against each of his opponents in the group. There were thereby awarded 3 points for the winner and one point each in the event of a tie.

If two or more teams were equal on points on these games, it was decided by the following criteria:

Directly for the final competition, the qualified group winners and the best runners-up. The games against bottom-placed were not considered in order to make all runners comparable in the groups of six to determine the best runners. In case of equality the criteria described in section 3 were applied. The eight remaining runners- determined in playoff games with return game (November 11 and November 15, 2011 ), the remaining four finalists. The matches were drawn, with the four best teams in the UEFA rankings were set.

In Torgleichheit after return game first decided the number of away goals scored in equality, there was an extension. Had both teams have scored after extra same number of goals and the same number of away goals, the finalists were determined by a penalty shootout.

Qualification groups after draw

The qualifying draw took place on February 7, 2010 in Warsaw. It was drawn from six pots, with Pot 6, only the groups A to F availed. Due to political tensions between the States was also excluded that Armenia would drawn in a group with Azerbaijan and Russia in a group with Georgia. In fact, then Armenia has been drawn in Group A with Azerbaijan so that Armenia was placed in the Group B. The order of teams in the groups here below have been allocated to the six Lostöpfen, that is, the top priority stems called pot 1, the following pot 2, the third called pot 3

Group A

Germany qualified - as in qualifying for the 2008 European Championship - the first team by the host countries. Unlike then followed by qualifying early reached but no experiences of failure. The games in Turkey and against Belgium could be won. Thus Germany was next Holders Spain are the only team to have won all of their qualifying games. Turkey reached as expected the relegation place, as they won their home game against Belgium and in the return game reached a draw. Belgium would have on the final day still can oust Turkey from second place with a win away in Germany, but the defeat was not the decisive factor in this game for missing the qualification. The decisive factor was rather that in home games against Austria and Turkey, despite interim leadership and numerous opportunities no victories were retracted. Austria is admitted after the 4-4 draw in Belgium at least small opportunities to second place, but this proved to be a miscalculation, since the team could only win against Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The headed by former German national coach Berti Vogts Azeris arrived in their home games some remarkable results, but never had a realistic chance at the second place.

Table

Match Results

The Turkish national team on September 6, 2011.

The Belgian national team on 25 March 2011.

The Austrian national team on October 8, 2010.

The Azerbaijani national team on October 8, 2010.

Group B

Russia won through as group winners. Although the qualification started with a defeat against Slovakia, the supposedly toughest competitors, but this failure was compensated with the away win in Ireland. While there was enough in the return match against Ireland despite numerous chances only 0-0, but the Russians were at that time as most consistent team in the group already clearly in the lead. At the penultimate round in Slovakia managed to avenge their only defeat in this qualification, which Russia had even passed a draw against Andorra due to the gained direct comparison against Ireland. But Andorra was defeated expected to be sufficiently.

Ireland lost its home game against Russia, ermauerte in Moscow a 0-0 and could not win a game against Slovakia. Four compulsory victories against Andorra and Macedonia as well as two dozen victories against the surprisingly strong Armenian ranged in this balanced group but for the relegation place.

Armenia was next to Estonia the biggest surprise of the qualification. After the expected weak first won the outsider, who had been a chance mostly in previous qualifications, clearly against Slovakia and reached against Russians disappointing 0-0. After they had already achieved with a 4-0 win against Andorra the biggest win of his international game history, this result was repeated sensational in Slovakia, which one was a serious contender for the relegation place. This opportunity was missed by the defeat in Ireland, however.

Slovakia benefits as World Cup participants a good chance of qualifying, which initially was also confirmed with the away win in Russia. Against Ireland two draws could be achieved, so that sufficient points have been run against direct competitors. However, the two unexpected defeats against Armenia cost of Slovakia, the EM - ticket. While the away defeat could still be described as a gaffe, the home game ended in a 0-4 debacle. Since the subsequent home game against Russia was also lost, Slovakia was eliminated already in the penultimate round.

Table

Match Results

Group C

After the embarrassing failure at the World Championships Italy started quite laboriously in the qualification, a narrow victory in Estonia and a goalless draw in Northern Ireland made ​​once more the problems of the Squadra Azzura significantly. The important game against the supposedly toughest competitors for the top spot, Serbia has been canceled due to severe rioting Serbian hooligans and counted for Italy, which coached by Cesare Prandelli team in the European Championship finals approached an important piece. The second part of the qualification was completed far more convincing, the scales for the first place gave especially the two 1-0 wins against the World Cup qualifiers Slovenia, Estonia was also handled with ease in the second leg. Since the field of the persecutors was surprisingly balanced, to Italy was able to qualify two games remaining and also reached after a 1-1 draw against resurgent Serb and a clear victory against Northern Ireland befitting results. In addition, Italy conceded only two and therefore the fewest goals of all teams in qualifying.

Despite enormous power fluctuations, Estonia could, in earlier qualifying rounds almost always a chance that secure the relegation place, which was one of the biggest surprises of the entire qualification. The lucky opening victory against the Faroe Islands was followed by a narrow defeat against four-time world champion Italy. Although the return game was clearly lost against the eventual group winners and one even made ​​an embarrassing defeat to the Faroe Islands, Estonia was able to leave the two World Cup qualifiers Serbia and Slovenia behind. Crucially, was won against the teams away and against Northern Ireland two victories were retracted. Moreover, since Serbia, which had the second place on its own can achieve, lost on the final day in Slovenia, Estonia had achieved by all pursuers the most points and therefore the relegation.

Serbia had achieved a victory against Germany in the last World Cup and was eliminated a bit unfortunate in a balanced group. A success in the qualification therefore seemed likely. The start in the qualification, however, was extremely poor. On a draw against Slovenia was followed by a defeat against the much weaker assessed Estonians. The first game against Italy was abandoned after rioting Serbian fans inside and outside of the stadium and was seen in retrospect for Italy. The return match ended in a draw. Although it reached only a draw in Estonia, one would have been reached on the final day with a win in Slovenia in second place, because you better results could show a direct comparison. With the defeat against Slovenia but was only a third place in the group.

Table

Match Results

• The game Italy - Serbia on 12 October 2010, was canceled after six minutes due to Serbian fans riots in which, among other fireworks flew onto the field. It was seen on 29 October by UEFA as 3-0 for Italy.

Group D

After the World Cup in South Africa, which had meant a low point for the French national team not only athletic, Laurent Blanc took over the Équipe Tricolore. After the unlucky defeat against Belarus, the crisis seemed at first to continue. However, a few days later managed an away win against the biggest rivals in this group, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was crucial for the direct qualification. France lost no more game, but could not settle for Bosnia and Herzegovina, making it the last match between these two teams came to the final of the direct qualification. A penalty gave France from behind to draw the necessary, the relegation was so different from the last World Cup qualifiers, are narrowly avoided.

Table

Match Results

Group E

The Netherlands had already mastered the qualification for the 2010 World Cup with eight wins in eight games with confidence. Likewise, constant graduated from the " Oranje " this round, in which she qualified again prematurely. It was also achieved with a 11-0 against San Marino the hitherto biggest win of the Dutch national team. Klaas -Jan Huntelaar scored twelve goals and was top scorer in this European Championship qualifier. The success of the Dutch series was only on the last day come to an end, as they lost in Sweden. Sweden lost away against the Netherlands and Hungary, but otherwise remained unblemished and qualified as best runners-up for the final competition.

Table

Match Results

Group F

Greece brought in their first game against Georgia surprisingly only a draw being during Croatia won, but everything was still open by the draw of the two in their second game. Greece, however, won the next five games and from the fifth game they could even sit down at the table top, as Croatia lost against Georgia. However, the championship lead was lost again by a draw against Latvia, but Croatia was beaten in the home game and since the last game was also won, Greece was qualified as group winners. With only 14 goals but they are all directly qualified teams the one that had scored the fewest goals. Only the Czech Republic scored fewer goals, but had two games in the group stage and deliver less. Relegation in the

Croatia could sit from the beginning to the top of the table, however, this position lost the fifth game against Greece, as it surprisingly lost in Georgia. Although Croatia won the following games and thus could the table top after a draw of Greece was recaptured a short time against Latvia but since the game was lost in Greece, Croatia had to settle for second place.

Israel showed indeed sovereign against Latvia, Georgia and Malta, but since all matches against Greece and Croatia have been lost, had to be content with third place.

Table

Match Results

Group G

Despite the disappointing verlaufenen World Cup England put a good start in the qualification, however, reached in his match against Montenegro is just a 0-0. The Balkan republic that ever took part for the first time as an independent state at a European Championship qualifier, a positive surprise and had to return against England even the chance to win the group. The Montenegrin defeat against Wales gave England a decisive lead in the fight for direct qualification, so a 2-2 draw in the return leg meant the first place for England and the safe participation in the playoffs for Montenegro. The failure of Switzerland, which did not qualify for the first time since the 2002 World Cup for a major tournament, it was foreseeable after the two opening defeats. Maybe you could even Montenegro can make the second place in dispute, but the defeat in Wales in the penultimate round made ​​the mathematically impossible. Bulgaria undertook after the failed launch in the qualifying round of the German record national player Lothar Matthaeus as coach, but presented too weak especially against England and Switzerland. Wales started with a series of defeats in this round, the later victories were achieved only notable successes.

Table

Match Results

Group H

In this very balanced group, surprisingly, Denmark managed to qualify directly. After the defeat in Portugal and a draw in Norway had "Danish Dynamite " is already a big gap to the top two spots. However, this remained the only point loss of the Danes, two home victories against the direct competitors took the decision in favor of the Northern Europeans. Portugal submitted a draw against Cyprus and one defeat in Norway a bad start there, but then won five times in a row and led a long time to the group. After the 3-1 win in the first leg already a draw for winning the group would have on the final day in Denmark is sufficient. Since Portugal this game but lost, was only the second place and thus the transition into the play- offs. Norway started the qualifying round very well and stayed in his home games against both competitors unbeaten. However, after the away games against Portugal and Denmark have been lost, could the second place not achieve on our own. Since the direct comparison with Portugal ( 1-0 and 0-1 defeat ) ended in a draw, reaching the second place would have been theoretically possible. The significantly poorer goal difference against Portugal held Norway but in third place. Cyprus reached on Matchday a sensational 4-4 draw in Portugal, was in the episode but also a chance as Iceland.

Table

Match Results

Group I

World and European champions Spain qualified with two games before the end of the round, as in the first leg against Scotland and the Czech Republic respectively scarce victories were won. Even in the final games against these pretenders to the relegation place were unthreatened victories are retracted, thereby Spain as in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup won all qualifiers. Czech Republic reached in the two games against Scotland, a win and a draw, which decided the battle for relegation place. Lithuania was able both to Scotland as well as against the Czech Republic points and would have had a realistic chance of the relegation place, if they had been run against Liechtenstein instead of just a draw and one defeat with two wins. Liechtenstein had expected no chance of qualifying, reached against Lithuania but two prestigious success and was able to keep most of his defeats in the frame.

Table

Match Results

Ranking of group runners

The games of the runners against bottom-placed not taken into account - to make all runners comparable, were in the six groups ( groups F A). Sweden qualified as best runners-up directly for the finals. The remaining eight runners- determined in play-offs four other finalists.

Playoffs

The eight participating in the playoff teams were divided according to the UEFA coefficients in four set and four unseeded teams. Croatia, Portugal, Ireland and the Czech Republic were set, while Turkey, Bosnia - Herzegovina, Montenegro and Estonia were unset. The draw of the games took place in Krakow on 13 October 2011. The first legs were played on 11 November, the return games followed on November 15, 2011., It qualified all the seeded teams.

Top scorers

Below, the best scorers in the European Championship qualifiers are listed. With the same number of goals is sorted in ascending order according to number of minutes played (as of 15 November 2011).

Finalists

It qualified the following teams:

• Qualified
• Not qualified
• Not UEFA member

The draw for the preliminary round groups took place on Friday, December 2, 2011 by 18 clock (CET) held in Kiev.