Monday 31 August 2009

Sweden win group C, Italy and England also through

There were three winners when the last group stage matches were played in group C in Women´s Euro 2009 in Finland tonight.

In Turku Sweden and England drew 1-1, which was enough to take both teams through to the quarter finals. Since Italy at the same defeated Russia in Helsinki they took second place in the group after Sweden and England ended up as one of the two best third placed teams. All three teams went into the quarter finals.

Sweden started best in Turku, but eventually England got into the game and took the lead just before the half hour mark. Ten minutes later Sweden equalized from the penalty spot.

In the second half there were not many chances created. England seemed to be the team that more wanted the win, but the Swedes were not really threatened.

All in all it was fair result that pleased both teams.

Sweden will face neighbours Norway in their quarter final, while England takes on host nation Finland. Italy as the runner-up in group C will be up against Germany.

Thanks to two late goals Italy tonight defeated Russia 2-0.

Advantage Sweden in group C

Sweden meet England and Italy Russia when the last games in the group stage are being played in Women´s Euro 2009 in Finland today.

All the teams in the group are still in with a chance to advance. Soccer-stadium.net is in Turku and will follow the game between Sweden and England. Sweden have an advantage as group leaders and a draw is enough for them to win the group.

A win for England would see them win the group, if Italy doesn´t win. If both England and Italy win there are three teams on the same point and the group standings are down to the results between these three teams. In this last case all three are in the quarter finals.

Well, let´s get back to that if it happens.

Sunday 30 August 2009

France and Norway share points, joins Germany

France and Norway shared the points in a 1-1 game at the Helsinki Football Stadium tonight. With that result both are through to the quarter finals along with Germany who had already won the group and today defeated Iceland 1-0.

The game in Helsinki got a flying start with open play and Norway scoring already after four minutes. After that there was a French blizzard, with France taking over the play completely. First they hit the bar with a long range effort and after 16 minutes the equalizer came.

This slowed down the tempo in the game, but still France held the grip of the game with Norway mostly playing long balls to the forwards.

In the second half there was not much of controlled play. The ball was mostly on the midfield with little chances being created. The last five minutes there were no play at all. All the Norwegians players were on their half of the field while the French, les bleus, kept the ball on the other half.

Both teams were happy with the result and a place in the quarter finals. France will meet Netherlands in one quarter final on thursday, while it´s not yet decided who Norway will meet. This depends on the results in tomorrow´s games in group C.

Germany will meet the runner-up in group C in their quarter final on friday.

Norway and France to meet for second place

Norway and France will today come together at Helsinki Football Stadium to play for second place in group B in Women´s Euro 2009 in Finland. Germany have already secured first place in the group.

France are second before the game with a better goal difference than Norway. A draw would take both teams through. That would mean Norway advances as one of the two best third placed teams.

The runner-up in the group will meet Netherlands in the quarter finals, while the best third placed team from this group or group A will meet the winner of group C. So probably both teams are after the second place to get maybe an "easier" opponent in the quarter finals.

At the same time Germany and Iceland meet in Lahti in a game without importance for the group standings.

It´s been a rainy night in Helsinki, but now the sun is shining although it is a bit windy. About 18 degreed.

Saturday 29 August 2009

Ukraine and Netherlands todays winners

Ukraine and Netherlands won todays matches in Women´s Euro 2009 in Finland. At the Olympic stadium in Helsinki host nation Finland took on Ukraine. Finland had already secured first place in the group and weren´t really up to it today. Ukraine who were without chances of advancing still wanted to make a good exit out of the tournament and suceeded in their effort.

Finland did create more chances, but Ukraine scored the only goal of the game after a mistake in the Finnish defense. The goal came half way through the second half.

The game in a cloudy Helsinki was watched by over 15 000 spectators.

Finland will play their quarter final on thursday in Turku against the best third placed team in group B or C.

Netherlands will make company with Finland in the quarter finals. They defeated Denmark 2-1 in todays second game. Netherlands took a 2-0 lead with two goals in the beginning of the second half, and although Denmark scored one back they couldn´t get closer.

In their quarter final Netherlands will meet the runner-up from group B, that is Norway or France.

Denmark are also still in with a chance to reach the quarter finals as one of the two best third placed teams.

Friday 28 August 2009

Sweden and England tonight´s winners

Sweden and England were the winners when group C tonight played their second games in Women´s Euro 2009 in Finland.

Just like in the first game Sweden made the most of the beginning of the match against Italy. After 19 minutes Sweden were 2-0 up and that was also the final score.

This means that they are through to the quarter finals.

England and Russia had both lost their first games and needed points to stay in the tournament. Russia got a great start with a goal after two minutes and a second after 22 minutes. After that all the scoring was made by England. When the half time whistle blew they had scored three goals to take a 3-2 lead. The second half then didn´s see any goals.

The last round of games will decide who joins Sweden in the next stage. England are up against Sweden, while Italy and Russia meet in the other game.

Thursday 27 August 2009

Germany took second win, Norway first

Germany took their second four goal win in Women´s Euro 2009 in Finland today by defeating France 5-1. This means they are through to the quarter finals although one round of games are still to be played in the group stage. Germany took a 3-0 lead in the first half and netted on a penalty and in over time in the second half. France got their lone goal six minutes into the second half when they made it 1-4.

The second match of the day saw a Nordic meeting between Norway and Iceland. With a goal in the last minute of the first half Norway secured a 1-0 win. Norway are then still in with a chance of advancing, while Iceland are without chances of reaching the quarter finals.

The last games in group B are played on sunday when Germany and Iceland meet in one game and Norway and France in another.

Wednesday 26 August 2009

Hosts through to quarter finals

Host nation Finland was the first team to qualify for the quarter finals in Women´s Euro 2009. Finland today defeated Netherlands 2-1. After 1-1 at half time a goal in the middle of the second half decided the match in Finlands favour.

In the other game in group A Denmark defeated Ukraine with the same numbers to keep their campaign alive. For Ukraine the quarter finals are out of reach after two games. All the goals came in the second half with Denmark scoring the winner with three minutes to go.

In the last games in the group Finland takes on Ukraine, while Denmark and Netherlands meet in the other game on saturday.

soccer-stadium.net takes a break

Soccer-stadium.net will not be at any game in the Women´s Euro 2009 today and the coming two days, but will be back on track on saturday.

Still the action will be followed here on the blog and on the website.

There are two games coming up today in group A. The losers in the first games Ukraine and Denmark are first out at the Helsinki football stadium followed by the winners of the first games Netherlands and Finland at the Olympic stadium in Helsinki.

Solid win for Sweden

With two goals in the first fifteen minutes Sweden killed off the game against Russia in an early stage when the two met in Turku in Women´s Euro 2009 in Finland.

Russia never came back from that opening and when the final whistle went Sweden had scored also a third goal.

The two early goals were of course of great importance for Sweden´s victory, but otherwise it was their stronger physical ability and better control of the ball that made them get the win. Especially Sweden´s defence looked very stable.

All in all it was a solid performance from one of the favourites in the tournament.

According to Russias coach Igor Shalimov they went out to try and catch Sweden with counter attacks, but this tactic failed immidately when they got the goals against them.

After the early swedish goals it was quite a slow game. Sweden controlled the play, while Russia tried to get forward but couldn´t get past Sweden´s defence.

In the other game in group C Italy defeated England 2-1. England took the lead on penalty in the first half, but also got a player sent off. In the second half then Italy could turn the game around.

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Penalties took France to victory

Iceland took an early lead against France in the later game in group B in Women´s Euro 2009 last night.

Two penalties for France, one in each half, turned the game around and finally it ended 3-1 to France.

The tournament continues today with the first games in group C. Soccer-stadium.net will be in Turku watching Sweden against Russia.

Monday 24 August 2009

Germany off to a winning start

It was no doubt which team had control on the game when Germany and Norway today started their campaign in the Women´s Euro 2009 in Finland.

Reigning champions Germany dominated the game in style in the first half, but were very ineffective up front. They needed a penalty after just over half an hour of play to get a goal and a 1-0 lead at half time.

The decisive factor in the game was Linda Bresonik´s and young Kim Kulig´s effort on the midfield. Germany´s offensive was too slow and made things too complicated and their defensive looked shaky the few times Norway got to test them.

Norway didn´t have much of the play in the first half, but were able to disturb the Germans a bit more in the second half.

With a couple of minutes to go of the game Norway had a great chance to equalize, but the German goalkeeper were in the right place. In the following attack Germany instead made it 2-0 and in stoppage time they managed to score two more to make it 4-0 at the final whistle.

19-year old Kulig was voted player of the game.

In Tampere

Soccer-stadium.net is now in Tampere in Finland awaiting the opening game in group B in the Women´s Euro 2009 between Germany and Norway.

The conditions are football friendly with the sun shining and a temeperature of about 20 degrees.

Sunday 23 August 2009

Wins for Netherlands and Finland in Women´s Euro

The Women´s Euro 2009 tournament kicked-off in Finland today. In the first game Netherlands got off to a flying start by scoring two goals in the first ten minutes against Ukraine. After that there were no more goals and the game ended 2-0.

In front of some 16 000 spectators the hosts defeated fellow Nordic country Denmark 1-0 with an early second half goal.

Tomorrow soccer-stadium.net will be in Tampere following the game between reigning champions Germany and Norway live. You will be able to read more about that game here tomorrow.

Saturday 22 August 2009

Soccer-stadium.net at Women´s Euro 2009

Women´s Euro 2009 starts in Finland tomorrow sunday. Soccer-stadium.net will be there covering the tournament.

We will not be at the opening games tomorrow but starting on monday with the game in Tampere between Germany and Norway and continuing with Sweden vs Russia in Turku on tuesday and then on it goes.

The opening day will see the host nation taking on Denmark in one game and Ukraine and Netherlands meeting in the other game.