Euro 2012 Qualifying: Netherlands, Germany, Italy, England All Stay Perfect

A lackluster performance from the hosts went unpunished by Finland, who saw Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's brace hold-up for a 2-1 win Tuesday.  The Netherlands is now perfect through two qualifiers, while Finland has failed to register a point.

Huntelaar's first came seven minutes in when the Schalke forward headed home a Wesley Sneijder corner kick. His second came ten minutes later on a conversion of a penalty kick drawn by Mark van Bommel.

Huntelaar has five goals through two matches, the high mark through two rounds of qualifying.

Mikael Forsell pulled Finland within one minutes later, heading in a corner kick, though Finland would come no closer.  The Netherlands would hold their 2-1 lead through the match's final 70 minutes, move to six points, second in Group E behind Sweden.

In other Group E play, Hungary defeated Moldova, 2-1, with goals from Gergely Rudolf and Vladimir Koman.

Goals:

7' - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 4

16' - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 5

18' - Mikael Forssell 1

Discipline:

16' - Markus Heikkinen (Yellow)

34' - Roman Eremenko (Yellow)

61' - Kaspar Hamalainen (Yellow)

Lineups:

Netherlands: Stekelenburg, Heitenga, Mathijsen, van der Wiel, Anita, Sneijder, van Bommel, van der Vaart (Elia 64'), de Jone, Afellay (Lens 74'), Huntelaar (van Nistelrooy 82')

Goals

5

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Netherlands

3

Pontus Wernbloom, Sweden

2

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden

1

Marcus Berg, Sweden
Anatolij Doros, Moldova
Mikael Forssell, Finland
Andreas Granqvist, Sweden
Dirk Kuyt, Netherlands
Alexandru Suvorov, Moldova
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Netherlands

Own Goals

Davide Simoncini, San Marino

In the first battle between teams expected to compete for Group A's second place, Turkey held home pitch with a 3-2 victory over 10-man Belgium. Midfielder Ada Turan's second goal of qualifying, fourteen minutes after Vincent Kompany had picked up a second yellow card, proved the winning goal for Guus Hiddink's team, who stayed perfect through two matches.

Turan's goal came nine minutes after Belgium had equalized despite being a man down, veteran defender Daniel van Buyten having recorded his second goal of the match.  Turan's winner, however, pushed the Belgians to six points behind Turkey, having suffered two, one goal losses to open qualifying.

Van Buyten recorded the first goal of the match, heading Belgium in front at 28 minutes. The lead lasted through halftime, though Hamit Altintop scored for the home team only three minutes after intermission.  Semih Tenturk put Turkey ahead two minutes after Kompany's dismissal.

Goals:

28' - Daniel Van Buyten 1

48' - Hamit Altintop 2

66' - Semih Senturk 1

69' - Daniel Van Buyten 2

78' - Ada Turan 2

Discipline:

32' - Emre Belozoglu (Yellow)

40' - Vincent Kompany (Yellow)

45' - Daniel van Buyten (Yellow)

64 - Vincent Kompany (Second Yellow)

90' - Toby Alderweireld (Yellow)

90' - Selcuk Sahin (Yellow)

Lineups:

Turkey: Kivrak, Sariglu (Gonul 73'), Erdogan, Cetin, Koybasi, Hamit Altimtop, Belozoglu, Turan, Aurelio, Inan (Senturk 47'), Tuncay (Sahin 82')

Belgium: Bailly, Kompany, Van Buyten, Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Simons, Gillet (Hazard 82'), Fellaini, Dembele (Mirallas 63'), Lukaku (Witsel 76')

Goals

2

Hamit Altintop, Turkey
Ada Turan, Turkey
Daniel van Buyten, Belgium

1

Nihat Kahveci, Turkey
Miroslav Klose, Germany
Semih Senturk, Turkey

Four different goal scorers led Sweden to a 6-0 win over San Marino in Malmö Tuesday, moving Sweden to a perfect six points after the first week of Group E play.

Un-retired Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored seven minutes into the match, with Davide Simoncini adding an own goal five minutes later. Pontus Wernbloom added his third goal of qualifying eight minutes before defender Olof Mellberg was shown red, but the numerical disadvantage failed to detour the Swedes. Andreas Granqvist would score early in the second, while Ibrahimovic and Marcus Berg would add late goals to give the hosts the six goal win.

With the Netherlands struggling to replicate Friday's 5-0 over San Marino against Finland on Tuesday, Sweden looked to be at the top of Group E by the end of the first week's qualifiers.  San Marino, on the other hand, site bottom of Group E with a -11 goal difference.

Goals:

7' - Zlatan Ibrahimovic 1

12' - Davide Simoncini (og)

26' - Pontus Wernbloom 3

51' - Andreas Granqvist 1

77' - Zlatan Ibrahimovic 2

90' - Marcus Berg 1

Discipline:

34' - Olof Mellberg (Red)

59' - Matteo Vitaioli (Yellow)

Lineups:

Sweden: Wiland, Mellberg, Safari, Majstorovic, Lustig, Kallstrom, Bajrami, Wernbloom (Elmander 69'), Larsson, Ibrahimovic (Berg 82'), Toivonen (Granqvist 47')

San Marino: A.Simoncini, F. Vitaioli, Valle, D. Simoncini, Bacciocchi (Valentini (79'), Vannucci, Chiaruzzi (Gasperoni 72'), Mazza, Marani (Berretti 56'), Selva, M. Vitaioli

Goals

3

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Netherlands
Pontus Wernbloom, Sweden

2

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden

1

Marcus Berg, Sweden
Anatolij Doros, Moldova
Andreas Granqvist, Sweden
Dirk Kuyt, Netherlands
Alexandru Suvorov, Moldova
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Netherlands

Own Goals

Davide Simoncini, San Marino

Montenegro is off to a perfect start in Group G after winning in Bulgaria on Tuesday, 1-0.  The win comes after an identical result against Wales on Friday, putting Montenegro on six points and, presumably, even with England atop their quintet.

Montenegro followed a similar formula in their second qualifier that worked in their first: hold-out after an early goal.  Whereas on Friday their goal came from captain Mirko Vucinic, today the goal came in the 36th minute from Elsad Zverotic.

The goal, Zverotic's first as an international, came off a shot from outside Bulgaria's penalty area.

Immediately after the match, Bulgaria coach Stanimir Stoilov resigned from his position, claiming two losses to start the tournament would make it difficult for the team to meet their goal of qualifying for Euro 2012.

Stoilov becomes the first coaching casualty of the Euro 2012 qualifying cycle. The 43-year-old former international defender had been in charge of the team since the beginning of 2009.  This was his second stint as coach of the national team.

Goals:

35' - Elsad Zverotic 1

Discipline:

45' - Milorad Pekovic (Yellow)

53' - Stiliyan Petrov (Yellow)

55' - Branko Boskovic (Yellow)

64' - Stanislav Angelov (Yellow)

79' - Martin Petrov (Yellow)

Lineups:

Bulgaria:  Mihaylov, Milanov (Genchev 47'), Stoyanov, Minev, Ivanov, S. Petrov, M. Petrov, Angelov, Peev (Domovchiyski 67'), Popov, Rangleov (Bozhinov 47')

Montenegro: Bozovic, Basa, Dzudovic, Jovanovic, Dzverotic (Novakovic 68'), Pavicevic, Boskovic (Bozovic 64'), Pekovic, Vukcevic, Vucinic, Dalovic (Kascelan 77')

Goals

3

Jermain Defoe, England

1

Wayne Rooney, England
Mirko Vucinic, Montenegro
Elsad Zverotic, Montenegro

Latvia recovered from Friday's disappointing home loss to Croatia, beating Malta 2-0 in Ta'Qali to earn their first points of Euro 2012 qualifying. For Malta, the loss leaves them with no points after the first week of matches and affirms their place as group minnows.

Latvia got on the board first when Kaspars Gorkss scored three minutes before halftime. A late goal from forward Maris Verpakovskis gave the visitors their final margin of victory, sending Malta to the bottom of Group F.

Goals:

42 - Kaspars Gorkss 1

85' - Maris Verpakovskis 1

Discipline:

34' - Oskar Klava (Yellow)

39' - Andrei Agius (Yellow)

58' - Michael Mifsud (Yellow)

61' - Maksims Rafalskis (Yellow)

Lineups:

Malta:  Hogg, Caruana, Marmo (Failla 77'), Muscat (Bogdanovic 59'), Agius, Sciberras (Fenech 77'), Bajada, Briffa, Mifsude, Cohen, Pace

Latvia: Vanins, Gorkss, Mihadjuks, Ivanov, Klava, Laizans, Rafalskis (Astafjevs 82'), Rubins, Caunu, Verpakovskis (85'), Rudnevs (Karlsons 70;),

Goals

3

Yossi Benayoun, Israel

1

Kaspars Korkss, Latvia
Alexander Iashvili, Georgia
Ivica Olic, Croatia
Jamie Pace, Malta
Mladen Petric, Croatia
Nikoloas Spiropoulos, Greece
Darijo Srna, Croatia
Maris Verpakovskis, Latvia

Belarus was not able to build upon Friday's 1-0 win in France, though today's 0-0 draw with Romania leaves them with four points through two rounds, a total the team would have been happy with coming into the international break. Conversely, Romania's two points through as many matches leaves the group's second-rated team chasing after two match days.

Though Sergei Kornilenko nearly put the hosts ahead after eight minutes, Romania had more chances throughout the match, with Bogdan Stancu, Ciprian Deac and Rozvan Cocis each missing chances to give the Romanians a road victory.

Goals:

None

Discipline:

72' - Ciprian Deac (Yellow)

88' - Mirel Radoi (Yellow)

90' - Vasile Maftei (Yellow)

Lineups:

Belarus: Zhevnov, Omelyanchuk, Yurevicj, Shitov, Martynovich, A. Hleb, Kulchiy, Kislyak, Kutuzov (Krivets 87'), Kornilenko *Rodionov 76'), V. Hleb (Putilo 73')

Romania: Pantilimon, Chivu, Tamas, Rat, Maftei, Radoi, Torje (Cocis 46'), Deac (Marica 83'), Florescu, Stancu (Niculae 73'), Nilasco

Goals

1

Senijad Ibrici, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sergey Kislyak, Belarus
Gjergj Muzaka, Albania
Miralem Pjanic, Bosnia and Herzegovia
Bogdan Stancu, Romania
Edin Zdeko, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Georgia's started strong in Group F, earning draws against two of the group's top three after with their 0-0 result today against visiting Israel.  The Israelis were coming off a 3-1 home win last Thursday against Malta.

Georgia had the better of possession and chances throughout the match, played on a rugged pitch in Tiblisi.  Gogita Gogua came closest to scoring, putting a shot off the Israel crossbar early in the first half.

Israel now sits on four points, temporarily on top of Group F.  Georgia is third with two points through as many matches.

Goals:

None.

Discipline:

21 - Tal Ben Haim (Yellow)

29 - Ucha Lobzhenidze (Yellow)

42' - Levan Kobiashvili (Yellow)

69' - Dani Bondarv (Yellow)

Lineups:

Georgia: Revishvili, Kobiashvili, Khizanishvili, Kaladze, Amisulashvili, Asatiani, Lobzhanidze, Gogua (Aptsiauri 75'), Ananidze, Iashvili, Dvalishvili (63')

Israel: Aouste, Ben Him, Bondarv, Keinan, Ben Dayan, Benayoun, T. Cohen, Refaelov (Vermouth 75'), A. Cohen (Zahavi 61'), Kayal, Sahar (Arbeitman)

Goals

3

Yossi Benayoun, Israel

1

Alexander Iashvili, Georgia
Ivica Olic, Croatia
Jamie Pace, Malta
Mladen Petric, Croatia
Nikoloas Spiropoulos, Greece
Darijo Srna, Croatia

Slovakia took control of Group B in Euro 2010 qualifying with their 1-0 in Russia on Tuesday.  Miroslav Stoch's 27th minute goal held up to take Slovakia to six points through two matches following their second successive 1-0 victory.

Russia is the "seeded" team of the group but now sits on three points after two matches, having defeated Andorra on Friday to open qualifying.  Tuesday's match saw the return of Yuri Zhirkov to the lineup, the left back having served a suspension in Russia's opener.

Russia, who only lost once at home in World Cup qualifying, next plays at Ireland on October 8. Slovakia's next match is at Armenia, the same day.

Goals:

27' - Miroslav Stoch

Discipline:

33' - Yuri Zhirkov (Yellow)

38' - Juraj Kucka (Yellow)

Lineups:

Russia: Akinfeev, V. Berezutski, Ignashevich (Bilyaletdinov 81'), Anyukov, Zhirkov, Semshov (Byrstov 61'), Shirokov, Zyrianov, Arshavin, Dzagoev, Pogrebnyak (Pavlyuchenko 71')

Slovakia: Mucha, Skrtel, Zabavnik, Hubocan, Salata, Karhan (Sapara 73'), Hamsik, Strba, Kucka (Jendrisek 58'), Stoch, Holosko

Goals

2

Pavel Pograbnyak, Russia

1

Keith Fahey, Ireland
Filip Holosko, Slovakia
Miroslav Stoch, Slovakia

The tables will undergo a drastic shake-up after today's 23 matches, but as of the beginning of Tuesday's slate of Euro 2012 qualifiers, the nine groups looked like this:

Goals

1

Hamit Altintop, Turkey
Nihat Kahveci, Turkey
Miroslav Klose, Germany
Ada Turan, Turkey

Goals

2

Pavel Pograbnyak, Russia

1

Keith Fahey, Ireland
Filip Holosko, Slovakia

Goals

1

Leonardo Bonucci, Italy
Antonio Cassano, Italy
Joan Simun Edmundsson, Faroe Islands
Corry Evans, Northern Ireland
Danko Lazokic, Serbia
Raio Piiroja, Estonia
Kaimar Saag, Estonia
Dejan Stankovic, Serbia
Nikola Zigic, Serbia
Sergei Zenjov, Estonia

Goals

3

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Netherlands

2

Pontus Wernbloom, Sweden

1

Anatolij Doros, Moldova
Dirk Kuyt, Netherlands
Alexandru Suvorov, Moldova
Ruud van Nistelrooy, Netherlands

Goals

3

Yossi Benayoun, Israel

1

Alexander Iashvili, Georgia
Ivica Olic, Croatia
Jamie Pace, Malta
Mladen Petric, Croatia
Nikoloas Spiropoulos, Greece
Darijo Srna, Croatia

Goals

3

Jermain Defoe, England

1

Wayne Rooney, England
Mirko Vucinic, Montenegro

Goals

1

Hugo Almeida, Portugal
Efstathios Aloneftis, Cyprus
Andreas Avraam, Cyrpus
Danny, Portugal
Manuel Fernandes, Portugal
Brede Hangeland, Norway
Hiedar Helguson, Iceland
Michalis Konstantinou, Cyprus
Raul Meireles, Portugal
Yiannakis Okkas, Cyprus

Goals

2

Fernando Torres, Spain

1

David Silva, Spain
David Villa, Spain