It won?t be the same without you

Ger McCarthy

BELGIUM
Belgium finished third in Group A qualifying behind Germany and Turkey having been tipped by many as capable of making an impact at this summer’s tournament. A talented crop of Belgian footballers has emerged over the past three years desperate to return their country to the top table of international football having missed out on World Cup 2006 and 2010 whilst also failing to qualify for the European Championships since exiting the groups stages (as co-hosts) of Euro 2000.
The current Belgian international side is anchored by a string of Premier League players and was expected to grab at least a play-off spot. Alas, a 4-4 draw in Vienna against Austria coupled with a 1-1 result away to Azerbaijan and 3-2 defeat in Istanbul allowed the Turks grab the runners-up berth before succumbing to Croatia in the play-offs. It is a real disappointment for neutral fans that a country boasting the combined talents of Vincent Kompany (Man City), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Jan Vertonghen (Ajax), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) and Marouane Fellaini (Everton) will take part in this summer’s finals. Most disappointingly of all will be the absence of recent Chelsea acquisition Eden Hazard who would surely have lit up the tournament.

How would they have done?
Had Belgium qualified instead of Turkey (via Croatia in the play-offs) they would certainly have fancied their chances against Ireland and Italy. At the very least, Belgium would have been serious candidates to get out of the group and with such an experienced squad; a semi-final place would not have been beyond them.


ESTONIA
Currently listed at number 54 in the Fifa rankings, Estonia came within a two-legged play-off defeat to the Republic of Ireland from reaching Euro 2012. No one expected Tarmo Rüütli’s side to even make it that far considering they were drawn alongside Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, Northern Ireland and the Faroe Islands. For a country unaccustomed to making it to major international football tournaments (apart from the 1924 Olympic Games), the Estonians created history by finishing ahead of the much fancied Serbia and Slovenia to sensationally grab a play-off spot. Highlights of the campaign included two marvellous results against the Serbs with a 3-1 win in Belgrade followed by an equally impressive 1-1 draw in Talinn. An 81st minute Ats Purje winner cemented a famous 2-1 victory away to Slovenia before back-to-back wins over Northern Ireland secured second place.
The fairytale ended with Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic of Ireland side recording a 5-1 aggregate play-off victory including a 4-0 trouncing in Talinn. Yet Estonia’s ability to overcome the odds against higher ranked and more experienced international sides earned Tarmo Rüütli and his players deserved plaudits. Estonia would have travelled to Poland and the Ukraine as rank outsiders and it is a pity dedicated players such as Anders Oper (122 caps and 26 goals for his country) will unlikely ever get a chance to play at a major tournament.

How would they have done at Euro2012?
As first time qualifiers, the Estonians would have had every neutral fan roaring them on in Poland but the prospect of getting results against Croatia, Spain and an Italian side they twice lost to in the qualifying phase suggests their stay would have been a short one. Still, a chance to see Estonian’s friendly fans mingling with the rest of Europe’s elite would have been a welcome and colourful addition to the competition.

NORWAY
Another country whose squad features some well-known Premier League players missed a play-off spot to qualify for Euro 2012 on goal difference. Egil Olsen’s side was expected to challenge for one of the top two places in qualifying Group H alongside Denmark, Portugal, Iceland and Cyprus and their football-crazy public were desperate for a place in this summer’s European finals having only ever once previously qualified in 2000 before exiting at the group stages. Failure to make a World Cup finals since reaching the second round at France 1998 only further increased the pressure on Norway but an encouraging start saw three consecutive victories over Iceland, Portugal and Cyprus placing Olsen’s side at the top of the standings.
A 4-1 win away to Cyprus in Nicosia in their penultimate qualifier left Norway requiring a substantial victory at home to the same opponents in October 2011. Alas, a 3-1 win wasn’t sufficient to overtake a Portuguese side that lost 2-1 in Copenhagen on the same evening as Ronaldo and Nani’s team finished with a superior goal difference (+9 to Norway’s +3) and qualified for the play-offs. It is a pity such a football-loving country will be forced to look on in envy once again as neighbours Denmark and Sweden represent Scandinavia at this summer’s tournament.

How would they have done at Euro 2012?
Had they overcome Portugal and Bosnia and Herzegovina (via the play-offs) Norway would have had the unenviable task of taking on the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark as part of Group B at Euro 2012. A meeting with Denmark would have been special and possibly a game the Norwegians could have edged unlike the two probable defeats to the Dutch and Germans.

Follow Ger on Twitter: @germccarthy74

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/ePftDJpiA2o/post.aspx

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