On Sunday afternoon at Warsaw's Palace of Culture
and Sciences, the draw for Euro 2012 qualifying took place. Prior to draw,
UEFA president Michel Platini announced that Russia and Georgia would
to be separated, as would Armenia and Azerbaijan in an effort to avoid
any political conflicts.
Former Polish player Polish player Andrzej
Szarmach holds up a slip of paper carrying the name Russia during
the Euro 2012 qualifying draw at the Palace of Culture in Warsaw
Photo REUTERS
With legendary Ukrainian and Polish football stars Andriy
Shevchenko, Andrzej Szarmach, Oleg Blokhin and Zbigniew Boniek conducting
the draw, Russia was joined in Group B with Slovakia, Republic of Ireland,
FYR Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra.
The qualifying, which commences in September 2010 through November the
following, features fifty one nations divided in six groups of six and
a further three groups made up of five sides for the elusive sixteen spots
in the tournament. Along with Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland and Ukraine, winners
of their group and the top second-place side will directly qualify for
the competition. The other eight runners-up will then take part in a two-match
playoff for the remaining four spots with co-hosts Poland and Ukraine
receiving a bye in qualifying.
Whilst UEFA has decided to expand the tournament in 2016 to twenty-four
countries, clearly for the Poland / Ukraine Euro's, qualifying will be
challenging waters to navigate for even the most favoured, as only sixteen
teams will make the grade. Each group has significant pedigree and problems
lay at every turn and surely a number of high quality countries will miss
out.
For Russia, their test will be extraordinary because in their path lay
two highly organized countries, that being Slovakia and Northern Ireland.
Newly appointed Russian Football Union president Sergey Fursenko and Guus
Hiddink, assuming he continues his role after his contract expires in
July of this year, must plan with care lest the same fate of World Cup
2010 will occur.
Russia's main cause for concern is Slovakia, flourishing under Vladimir
Weiss and the Republic of Ireland, who are led by one of footballs true
genius' Giovanni Trapattoni and should never be counted out. Though naturally
Armenia and Andorra will consider minnows of the group, Macedonia cannot
be overlooked as they possess some very fine talent and have made a habit
of pulling of big upsets in the past. The point in this is very brief
overview should be clear as the new leader of the RFU must look towards
the challenge of qualifying for the EURO's, address the long-term coaching
situation as well building the foundation of junior development program.
