European Championship 2016 Qualifiers

I've just had Sky Sport re-connected for $5 for the first month (special offer until end of October)

Man, there are so many European Championship qualifiers on the two ESPN channels (plus all of Brazil's friendlies on their Asian tour).

Some big upsets with Spain losing to Slovakia, Netherlands to Iceland (lost to the Czechs last month) and Italy struggling to beat Azerbaijan at home.

Bizarre goings on at the Serbia v Albania match in Belgrade this morning (not televised here):

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/10618882/Ser...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/10619402/Alb...

Now the Albanian P.M.'s brother has been arrested in Belgrade for allegedly being the person in control of the remote control drone which swooped down on the match trailing a "Greater Albania" nationalist flag (promoting an Albanian state including all Albanians in the Balkan countries). Supposedly he was controlling it from the directors' box !!!

Guess Albania and Serbia just don't like eachother much (Kosovo and all that....)

Some sort of trouble was predictable at this one.

It's fortunate that Russia and the Ukraine aren't in the same qualifying group !!!

Albania's players were probably lucky to get away alive from this one...

Reuters

ETHNIC TENSIONS: Serbia’s Stefan Mitrovic grabs a flag depicting Greater Albania that was flown over the pitch during their Euro 2016 qualifying match against Albania in Belgrade.

It's about time Serbia got punished badly for this shit.

In some ways going to 24 teams is a good thing because it means a country like Northern Ireland actually has a chance of qualification. What it also means is that I just can't take Spain/Netherlands/Germany losing very seriously. Sure they have had a few bad results but with 24 teams qualifying you can't see them missing out. If there were only 16 teams going through then maybe some would struggle.

Its hard to see any of those teams, even with a the loses they have had, finishing outside the top 2 in their groups.  Even if the finish third they will still get the play-off spots.

Netherlands are six points behind Iceland and Czech Republic. With only 16 teams qualfying there would be some cause for concern.

And Besiktas is going to play Partizan in Belgrade in mid-week in Europa League.

That'll end well too.

Scotland win 1-0 v Eire

Saw it. Brill watch. Tempted to link up with Tartan Army in France 2016 if Scots make it.They were good value in Spain '82.

Had a ball myself at euro 92 with the Scots.

Anyone watching Italy v Croatia on ESPN? Game stopped because some retarded croatian fans set off a shit load of flares and sky rockets. It was up until then a good game from both teams and the referee was quite correct with his decision. No doubt some WSW hardcore will be getting off on seeing it unfold. Gonna be interesting to see how limp wristed FIFA deal with this.

It was a good game. They are dickheads.

Great first half. Lost 2nd half because of rainfade. 

Actually I quite like flares.

Game back on, has gotten a bit niggly.

I am looking at how wide both teams are playing. Lots of space to move unlike most A League games where everyone is compressed into 30 square meters.

Game over. I wish the A League had referees of this quality.

Watch videos of all the major Euro 2016 qualifiers and friendlies on demand for free here:

http://livefootballvideo.com/fullmatch

Great to see our Nathan Burns so influential against Germany yesterday in the friendly in Kaiserslautern.

Burns a threat right from the outset.

You can watch the whole game on demand for free here:

http://livefootballvideo.com/fullmatch/world/frien...

Scroll down to where it says "Full Match Video" and it's one video for each half.

Coverage from BT Sport via ESPN in the UK - English commentators Stewart Robson and Peter Drury.

It's great that the English commentators talk about "the great form he's been in with Wellington Phoenix in the A-League with 13 goals" etc.

Wellington Phoenix getting prominent mentions during Germany internationals now - good stuff !!!

This sort of exposure won't do Burns' career prospects any harm - but will the Nix be able to hold onto him next season?

There's heaps of football streaming free (and legally) on "TAB Watch and Bet" in NZ:

South Korea vs. Uzbekistan at midnight tonight our time:

https://www.tab.co.nz/sport/video/

Where it says "Schedule" change at right "Select Sport" to "Football'

You'll have to sign up by clicking on the top right of the TAB website in order to watch though.

They regularly show football matches - but only ones no one has the rights to in NZ.

Argentina, Brazil. Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, Australia internationals coming up.

A lot of internationals and Argentinian league on this Sunday morning:

Olimpo Bahia Blanca v At. Rafa	Football	07:00	Bet now
Ghana v Senegal	Football	08:45	Bet now
El Salvador v Argentina	Football	09:30	Bet now
Banfield v Huracan	Football	11:10	Bet now
Godoy Cruz v Independiente	Football	12:10	Bet now
San Lorenzo v Lanus	Football	12:10	Bet now
Crucero Del Norte v Temperley	Football	13:00	Bet now
Mexico v Ecuador	Football

and Monday morning:

Fleetwood Town v Preston	Football	02:15	Bet now
Brazil v Chile	Football	03:00	Bet now
Cote d Ivoire v Equatorial Gui	Football	05:00	Bet now
Belgrano Cordoba v Newells Old	Football	08:00	Bet now
Racing Club v San Martin SJ	Football	09:00	Bet now
Boca Juniors v Estudiantes LP	Football	10:15	Bet now
Union Santa Fe v Velez Sarsfie	Football

Tuesday:

Thailand v Cameroon	Football
Burton Albion v Stevenage	Football
Macedonia v Australia	Football
Belarus v Gabon	Football
Arsenal Sarandi v Aldosivi	Football	10:00	Bet now
Tigre v Defensa Y Justicia	Football	13:10	Bet now
Arg. Juniors v N. Chicago	Football

Wednesday:

Iraq v Congo DR	Football
Romania v Cyprus	Football
Netherlands v Spain	Football
Mali v Ghana	Football
Korea v New Zealand	Football
Portugal v Cape Verde	Football
Sweden v Iran	Football
Switzerland v USA	Football
Estonia v Iceland	Football
Argentina v Ecuador	Football
Mexico v Paraguay	Football

whole bunch of qualifiers coming up 

Euro Qualifier LIVE
Channel: ESPN 2
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you LIVE coverage of the 2016 European Qualifiers. Join us as Kazakhstan takes on Turkey at Astana Arena in Kazakhstan.

Show Time:

Sat 13 Jun03:50

Euro Qualifier LIVE

Channel: ESPN
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you LIVE coverage of this 2016 European Qualifier. Join us as Croatia take on Italy.

Show Time:

Sat 13 Jun06:30

Euro Qualifier LIVE
Channel: ESPN 2
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you LIVE coverage of the 2016 European Qualifiers. Join us as Latvia takes on The Netherlands at Skonto Stadium in Riga, Latvia.

Show Time:

Sat 13 Jun06:35

Euro Qualifier Delayed
Channel: ESPN 2
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you delayed coverage of the 2016 European Qualifiers. Join us as Croatia take on Italy from Split in Croatia.

Show Time:

Sat 13 Jun17:00

Euro Qualifier Delayed
Channel: ESPN
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you delayed coverage of this 2016 European Qualifier. Join us as Wales take on Belgium.

Show Time:

Sat 13 Jun20:00

Euro Qualifier Delayed
Channel: ESPN 2
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you delayed coverage of the 2016 European Qualifiers. Join us as Wales takes on Belgium at Cardiff City Stadium in Wales.

Show Time:

Sat 13 Jun22:00

Euro Qualifier Delayed
Channel: ESPN
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you delayed coverage of this 2016 European Qualifier. Join us as Latvia take on the Netherlands.

Show Time:

Sat 13 Jun23:00

Euro Qualifier Delayed
Channel: ESPN 2
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you delayed coverage of the 2016 European Qualifiers. Join us as Croata takes on Italy.

Show Time:

Sun 14 Jun00:00

Euro Qualifier Delayed
Channel: ESPN
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you delayed coverage of this 2016 European Qualifier. Join us as Iceland take on the Czech Republic.

Show Time:

Sun 14 Jun01:00

Euro Qualifier LIVE
Channel: ESPN 2
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you LIVE coverage of the 2016 European Qualifiers. Join us as Albania takes on France at Elbasan Arena in Elbasan, Albania.

Show Time:

Sun 14 Jun03:50

Euro Qualifier LIVE
Channel: ESPN
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you LIVE coverage of this 2016 European Qualifier. Join us as Ireland take on Scotland.

Show Time:

Sun 14 Jun03:50

Euro Qualifier LIVE
Channel: ESPN
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you LIVE coverage of this 2016 European Qualifier. Join us as Gilbraltar take on Germany.

Show Time:

Sun 14 Jun06:35

Euro Qualifier Delayed
Channel: ESPN 2
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you delayed coverage of the 2016 European Qualifiers. Join us as the Republic of Ireland takes on Scotland at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Show Time:

Sun 14 Jun12:00

Euro Qualifier Delayed
Channel: ESPN
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you delayed coverage of this 2016 European Qualifier. Join us as Albania take on France.

Show Time:

Sun 14 Jun18:00

Euro Qualifier Replay
Channel: ESPN 2
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you replay coverage of the 2016 European Qualifiers. Join us as Northern Ireland takes on Romania at Windsor Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Show Time:

Sun 14 Jun20:00

Euro Qualifier Delayed
Channel: ESPN 2
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you delayed coverage of the 2016 European Qualifiers. Join us as Gibraltar takes on Germany at Estadio Algarve in Portugal.

Show Time:

Sun 14 Jun22:00

Euro Qualifier Replay
Channel: ESPN
Genre: SKY Sport
Description: ESPN brings you replay coverage of this 2016 European Qualifier. Join us as Ireland take on Scotland.

Show Time:

Sun 14 Jun23:00

Very disappointing to see the pitch vandalised for Crotia v Italy

Is that the game that was supposed to be played minus the fans??

Good to see Wales doing well.  Hope they can get through. 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/69368681/croatia-football-president-demands-action-over-swastika-incident