Final scores
France, Belgium and even Holland won with élan, Switzerland snatched a precious late victory in Hungary and, in the same group, the Faroe Islands continued their startling start to the campaign with a 2-0 win in Latvia. Here are the full classified results:
Group A
France 4-1 Bulgaria
Holland 4-1 Belarus
Luxembourg 0-1 Sweden
Group B
Hungary 2-3 Switzerland
Portugal 6-0 Andorra
Latvia 0-1 Faroe Islands
Group H:
Estonia 4-0 Gibraltar
Belgium 4-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Greece 2-0 Cyprus
Updated
The day was never going to end without a booking for Fellaini, was it? In fairness, I’m not sure he deserved it, as he merely gave Djuric a gentle push. Not that he’ll be too bothered: the match he’ll now miss is against Gibraltar, who, by the way, are now 4-0 down to Estonia.
GOAL! Hungary 2-3 Switzerland (Stocker 89)
Dzemaili heads on, and Stocker smashes into the net from 10 yards! Can the Swiss hold on to their lead this time?
89 min: Ronaldo pulls out a tackle near half-way: very wise, as going into challenges with Andorrans is like playing chicken with a steamroller.
GOAL! Portugal 6-0 Andorra (A Silva 86)
Another nice goal for Portugal. Quaresma caught the keeper by surprise with a cheeky freekick with the outside of his right foot, and Silva fired in the rebound, via a nick off a defender.
RED CARD!
Go on, guess to who. Yes, our heroes, Andorra. It could have been almost any of them, but it was Rebes.
Lukaku exits to loud cheers and is replaced by Benteke.
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GOAL! Belgium 4-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Lukaku 79)
A proper budgie. Lukaku collects a flipped pass from Hazard at the edge of the area, then holds off one defender as he turns and barges past another and curls a shot into the top corner with the aid of a deflection! His brother Jordan, who was subbed off injured earlier on, waves a crutch in the air on the sidelines in celebration!
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78 min: Zippy interplay by Belgium - they can be so fine when they play with speed. Hazard and Mertens combine with each other - using Lukaku as a wall as they go - but Hazard fails to crown the move with a goal, curling over from 18 yards.
GOAL! Estonia 3-0 Gibraltar (Kait 71)
I didn’t see the goal because I was watching more top-level fouling, Lulic getting booked for booting the back of Hazard’s calf as the Chelsea player embarked on a trademark skedaddle towards the box.
Gameiro is replaced by Gignac, having made his point and, surely, confirmed himself as France’s top predator, what with Karim Benzema still in exile.
GOAL! Latvia 0-2 Faroe Islands (Edmundsson 70)
The Faroes almost have victory wrapped up like mummies.
GOAL! Hungary 2-2 Switzerland (Szalai 70)
Blimey, goals don’t have go to Switzerland’s head: for the second time in the game they concede straight after taking the lead, again to Szalai.
GOAL! Hungary 1-2 Switzerland (Rodriguez 68)
The Swiss are back in front in Budapest thanks to a lovely finish by Rodriguez from a cross by Behrami.
GOAL! Belgium 3-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Alderweireld 61)
The defender fires into the net from close range after a good delivery by Mertens following a corner. Thierry Henry must be proud.
Updated
GOAL! France 4-1 Bulgaria (Gamiero 60)
Greizman is the creator, Gameiro the deadly finisher. That’s a format that risks doing a lot of damage for a good while yet.
Updated
GOAL! Portugal 5-0 Andorra (Ronaldo 68)
Another goal for Ronaldo -his fourth of the game - and another exquisite finish. Fonte headed the ball towards the near post after reaching a long cross from the other side, and Ronaldo swivels and catches it beautifully on the bounce to wallop a low shot into the net from eight yards. Guess there was no question of him coming off when there were more goals up fro grabs.
GOAL! Luxemboug 0-1 Sweden (Lustig 59)
The deadlock is broken in Luxembourg, as the Lustig drives into the net following a corner from Berg. Can the Swedes withstand the onslaught that is sure to come their way now?
GOAL! Holland 4-1 Belarus (Janssen 64)
The Tottenham striker finally gets his goal, courtesy of a blast from outside the box.
RED CARD!
Apparently Andorra have committed 15 fouls so far against Portugal. Thats the problem with statistics: they say nothing about quality - Andorra have been ludicrously wild in their tackling. Oh, and just as I was writing that they got their first red card of the evening, Rubio being ordered off for sweeping Ronaldo off his feet with an absurd late swipe. I’ll be concentrating mostly on this game from here on in, its very much one for the purists. Textbook recklessness from the visitors.
GOALS! Estonia 2-0 Gibraltar (Kait 47, Vassiljev 52)
After putting up valiant resistance in the first half, Gibraltar are trailin’ in Tallinn.
GOAL! Holland 3-1 Belarus (Klaassen 55)
Klaasen converts the rebound after a shot by Janssen came back off a post. That complicates the Belarussian revival that began early in the second half when Rios pulled a goal back for the visitors.
GOAL! Hungary 1-1 Switzerland (Szalai 53)
OK, that last entry may have been premature. Hungary have drawn level quick-sharp with a close-range tap-in. Which is not to be confused with a 50-yard tap-in, obviously.
GOAL! Hungary 0-1 Switzerland (Seferovic 51)
Switzerland are on their way to maximum points from two matches. They are on course to finish above the European champions and the continent’s new rising force, the Faroe Islands.
Updated
Payet, who’s really sparkling now for France, fires over a wicked cross. Koscielny leaps high and twists his neck to get a good header on it, but it drops just wide.
Pjanic cops an elbow in the face from Vertonghen, plus a knee in the back, as the pair challenge for a high ball. Not a foul, just impressive flexibility and reach from the Belgian.
Updated
GOAL! Portugal 4-0 Andorra (Ronaldo 46)
Ronaldo sweeps the ball into the net from 12 yards to complete his hat-trick and perhaps also his match: no point in him hanging around now, not with so many Andorran bogeymen about.
Half-time scores:
With the exception of Andorra, its a good night for the minnows so far. Faroe Islands are leading 1-0 in Latvia. Gibraltar are drawing 0-0 in Estonia. And Sweden are bravely holding out for 0-0 away to Luxembourg. Here are all the scores so far:
Group A
France 3-1 Bulgaria
Holland 2-0 Belarus
Luxembourg 0-0 Sweden
Group B
Hungary 0-0 Switzerland
Portugal 3-0 Andorra
Latvia 0-1 Faroe Islands
Group H:
Estonia 0-0 Gibraltar
Belgium 2-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Greece 2-0 Cyprus
Updated
GOAL! Greece 2-0 Cyprus (Mantalos 42)
Welcome to Hellas.
GOAL! Portugal 3-0 Andorra (Cancelo 43)
That’s an unbelievable goal! The young fullback dashes to the byline and tries to flash the ball across the face of goal - but it takes a bobble, hits him on the shin and flies into the net past a bewildered keeper from a ridiculous angle! That’s some kind of cosmic punishment for the minnows’ carefree hacking.
GOAL! France 3-1 Bulgaria (Griezman 38)
Gah! I was so entranced by Andorra’s spectacular brutality that I missed the goal that puts France almost beyond Bulgaria. Let’s say he kungfu-kicked it into the net as a kind of tribute to Andorra.
Andorra’s tackling is outrageous. There’s a thin line between admirable determination and vicious recklessness - and Andorra drive a tank through it. No way this match is going to end without a red card or two: only question is whether the first one goes to an Andorran fouler or a Portugal player who retaliates.
France are in le groove now. Gameiro plays in the Sidibé with an extravagant backheeled pass. The fullback collects the ball and then goes down in the box under a challenge by Milanov. The ref is unmoved.
GOAL! Holland 2-0 Belarus (Promes 29)
The Spartak Moscow winger nabs his second goal of the game - and the second international goal of his young career. The Oranje are on a roll.
Updated
GOAL! Belgium 2-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Hazard 28)
A contest that was extremely closed suddenly looks over. Bosnia have collapsed, and they were punished by a lovely finish by Hazard, who feinted his way past Begovic before tapping into the net from close range.
Updated
GOAL! Belgium 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Spahic og 26)
The defender deflects the ball into his own net.
GOAL! Latvia 0-1 Faroe Islands (Nattestad 19)
The Faroes are on course to go top of their group - ahead of the European champions! - if scores stay the same.
Sagna’s eventful night has come to a premature end: he’s hobbled off to be replaced by Sidibé.
GOAL! France 2-1 Bulgaria (Payet 26)
Payet curls in a cross from the right ... Griezman tries to get his head to it but misses ... and the ball bounces into the corner of the net!
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GOAL! France 1-1 Bulgaria (Gameiro 23)
Sagna makes up for conceding the penalty by swinging in a beautiful cross from the right It’s exactly the sort of service that Gameiro thrives off, and the striker proves the point by diving to send a header into the net.
Updated
France are making few inroads into the extremely diligent Bulgarian defence. But Griezmann has started to conjure space but is quickly closed down whenever he does. Pogba and Payet have yet to come to the party.
GOAL! Holland 1-0 Belarus (Promes 15)
Holland are on the verge of their first competitive victory! Wake up your neighbours! Quincy Promes was the scorer, with his first for his country.
Updated
Pogba sidesteps an opponent in midfield and decides to have a bang for the top corner from 35 yards. The ball leaves his left foot at a 45 degree angle and nearly hits the corner flag.
GOAL! Greece 1-0 Cyprus (Mitroglu 12)
The former Fulham flop puts his country in front by spanking the ball into net from a cross by Fortounis.
Bulgaria’s speed and sharpness on the counter-attack are causing France lots of bother, as is the visitors’ defending. Interesting game afoot here.
A superb block by Pirgov thwarts Gameiro, who seemed odds-on to equalise from eight yards until the defender threw himself in front of the shot.
Updated
GOALS! Portugal 2-0 Andorra (Ronaldo, 2 and 4)
In the time it took to have a scan at the scores elsewhere, Ronaldo scored two goals. His hat-trick will be along any minute now, surely ...
Updated
GOAL! France 0-1 Bulgaria (Aleksandrov pen 6)
A perfect penalty: hard, low and into the net off the post! Lloris had no chance ... and the spirit of Emil Kostadinov is a alive and well and living in Paris!
PENALTY TO BULGARIA!
Sagna is beaten by Milanov and then stupidly tugs him down - clear penalty!
Updated
A lively start to the game in Brussels, where both sides have shown their attacking intent in the opening minutes and events are proceeding at a nice clip - and both are looking defensively frail, with Jordan Lukaku already making a mistake at the back for Belgium. No shots yet, mind.
We have liftoff! All matches are now underway. Let’s have a friendly bet as to which match will get the first goal. I’m saying Portugal v Andorra. If I’m right, you all have to down a pint immediately. If I’m wrong, I have to. So, er, come on France, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Hungary et al!
Updated
As the Belgian and Bosnian players exchange pre-match handslaps, Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic resist any temptation to put in extra force in an attempt to secure the Chelsea No1 spot. The ref in this game - for those of you seeking another English angle - is Martin Atkinson.
A chunk of the crowd at the Stade de France is booing the Bulgarian national anthem. Obviously they can hold a grudge even longer than Gérard Houllier and David Ginola.
Teams:
Belgium v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Roberto Martinez has decided to stick with a back four against Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the Tottenham duo of Alderweireld and Vertonghen in the middle. The team is captained by Eden Hazard, whose brother, Thorgen, is on the bench
Belgium: Courtois; Meunier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, J. Lukaku; Witsel, Fellaini; Mertens, Carrasco, E. Hazard; Lukaku
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Begovic; Vranjes, Spahic, Zukanovic Kolasinac; Besic, Hadzic; Visca Pjanic Hodzic; Dzeko
France v Bulgaria
Deschamps gives a start to Gameiro – who was badly overlooked for Euro 2016 – and picks Sissoko out wide ahead of Coman.
France: Lloris; Sagna, Varane, Koscielny, Kurzawa; Pogba, Matuidi; Sissoko, Greizman, Payet; Gameiro
Bulgaria: Stoyanov; Popov, Aleksandrov, Pirgov, Milanov; Milanov, Dyakov, Kostadinov, Alexandrov; Marcelinho, Popov
Hungary v Switzerland
Hungary: Gulasci; Fiola, Guzmics, Lang, Kadar; Nagy, Gera; Dzsudzsak, Kleinheisler, Stieber; Szalai
Switzerland: Sommer; Lichtsteiner, Schaer, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Behrami, Dzemali; Embolo, Shaqiri, Mehmedi; Seferovic
Luxembourg v Sweden
Luxembourg: Moris; Jans, Philipps, Malget, Carlson; Bohnert, Martis, Thill; Joachim, Mutsch, Deville
Sweden: Olsen; Lustig, Lindeloef, Granqvist, Olsson; Durmz, Hiljemark, Ekdal, Forsberg; Guidetti, Berg
Latvia v Faroe Islands
Latvia: Vanins; Gabovs, Jagodinskis, Gorkss, Maksimenko; Visnakovs, Kluskins, Laizans, Lukjanovs; Gutkovskis, Sabala
Faroes: Nielsen; Davidsen, Nattestad, Gregersn, Tor Naes; Hendriksson, Benjaminsen, Hansson; Vatnahamar, Edmenundsson, Joensen
Portugal v Andorra
Portugal: Patricio; Cancelo, Fonte, Pepe, Guerreiro; Quaresma, Gomes, Moutinho, B Silva; Cristiano Ronaldo, A Silva
Andorra: Gomes; Rubio, Lima, Vales, Lovera, Garcica Renom; Rodrgiuez, Vieira, Rebes, Martinez; Alaez
Holland v Belarus
Holland: Stekelenburg; Karsdrop, Bruma, Van Dijk, Blind; Wijnaldum, Strootman, Klaasen; Promes, Janssem Sneijder
Belarus: Gorbunov; Palyakow, Sivakov, Politevich, Bordache; Majewski, Korzun; Gordychuk, Kryvets, Rios; Kornilenko
Greece v Cyprus
Greece: Karnezis; Torosidis, Papastathopoulos, Manolas, Tzavellas; Mantalos, Maniatis, Stafylidis, Bakasetas; Fortounis, Mitroglu
Cyprus: Panagi; Demetriou, Junior, Laifis, Charalambous; Artymas, Laban, Charalambides, Kastanos, Efrem; Mitidis
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Preamble:
Hi. If you’re reading this, then you’re probably not one of those people who regards international football as a damnable nuisance that gets in the way of club action. Or maybe you are, and you’re tuning in just to find out whether your favourite player is going to survive today’s fixture list and return to your favourite club intact – if that’s the case, then be advised that I’ll be sure to let you know if Alfreton Town’s Adam Priestly pulls up with a calf strain while on duty for Gibraltar in Estonia today. Otherwise, let’s all look forward to some intriguing matches, including:
- A first competitive meeting between Greece and Cyprus for nearly 30 years.
- Roberto Martinez’s biggest test so far as Belgium manager, as he and Thierry Henry try to rouse an injury-ravaged side to victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, who began their campaign last month by marmalising Estonia. Beware of the backlash, Gibraltar!
- Portugal’s inevitable victory over Andorra, and Switzerland’s attempt to stay ahead of the European champions by winning away in Hungary, who have ground to make up and respect to regain after drawing 0-0 with the Faroe Islands last month.
- Holland began restoring their own damaged dignity by drawing 1-1 in Sweden last month but still have a long way to go to convince anyone that the country of Cruyff, Van Basten and Kromkamp is back as a footballing force. A home win over Belarus today may seem like flimsy evidence but no case could be built without it given that Group A is among the toughest ones in Europe, with Holland and Sweden accompanied by France and Bulgaria France. Which bring us on to …
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France’s latest attempt to reassert the quality that Didier Deschamps has not yet managed to bring out, and Bulgaria’s attempt to channel the spirit of Emil Kostadinov, the man who put the ‘oh là là là là là là là là là là” and “aïe, aïe, aïe!” into “spectacular last minute winner”. Here, a thing of beauty is a joy forever:
Here’s the full list of matches we’ll be following:
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