The world of soccer is not even two months removed from the final game of its most prestigious tournament and yet qualifiers for the second best event in international football have already begun.

As usual, the selections for the English team leave many fans and pundits puzzled, perturbed, and peeved. Cappelo once again made a last minute appeal to Paul "Don't Call me Zack Zaidman" Scholes but the other and more handsome ginger-haired genius reiterated his stance on being retired from the English national team. An injury riddled England has games against Belarus and Switzerland during the break. Desperation must be seeking in at keeper as I have read Cappelo selected Arsenal's fifth-choice goalkeeper for the squad. And we all know how bad Arsenal's goalkeeping is...right? Ok, maybe two of you might care enough to know that.

I enjoy the qualifying stages because it means we get a chance to see the minnows of Europe battle against the continent's formidable soccer powers.

For example this week will give us, the viewing public, the following epic matchups:

Italy vs The Faroe Islands
Germany vs Azerbaijan
Netherlands vs San Marino
Spain vs Liechtenstein
Portugal vs Cyprus

I'll be rooting for Ireland in this tournament. They have a decent chance to qualify. Russia and Slovakia are the only decent squads in their group but the Irish FA is so fucked in the head I wouldn't be surprised to see them drop a game to Armenia and draw with Andorra.

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italy vs. faroe islands--talk about a euro final preview!!! jacobssen, and jacobssen, and jacobssen...and...goodssen.

That was Bulgaria, not Belarus whom England played yesterday. The Limeys won 4-0 behind a Jermain Defoe hat trick. Ireland squeaked by Armenia and Northern Ireland got an away win at Slovenia. Portugal with a shocking 4-4 draw against Cyprus.

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The funny thing is Belarus scored four minutes from time to beat France 1-0...

Faroe Islands only gave up 5 goals to Italy. A moral victory. The shocker was the Portugese following up their 4-4 draw against Cyprus with a 1-0 loss to Norway.

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Qualifiers going on this weekend and next week. The England-Wales match has been getting lots of hype in the British press. John Terry has regained his captaincy of the English squad after engaging in a little "eh eh" with Wayne Bridge's wife. However, Gareth Bale, the Welsh Pele, has been ruled out of the match. On paper England should win but the contest is in Wales and well it's England...they find ways to shit themselves.

Ireland host Macedonia. Lots of injuries in the Irish squad but fucking hell you have to be able to get a win over the Macedons in Dublin.

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pity for wales...they've had decent players in the last ten years. giggs, hartson, and now bale. just never could get an entire team together. horrid defense. savage was basically pronger without the skill.

Just think Robbie Savage once played on the Man United youth squad with Giggs, Scholes, Gary Neville and Becks.

England pasted Wales 2-0. Ireland nipped Macedonia 2-1.

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My heart gently weeps, for that titan of football, the Faroe Islands, fell ingloriously to the Orangemen from the north of Ireland 4-0 today. They had such hopes after their epic win over Estonia a few months ago.

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they had a dream run...

International break this week so the qualifiers are back on.

England plays Bulgaria and Wales.

Ireland has a big match against Slovakia.

San Marino is looking to score their first goal of qualification and lower their -33 goal differential when they play the Netherlands.

The Faroe Islands will be playing for pride against the Azzuri.

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Do you guys know if any USA networks are carrying any of these games? I seem to remember years ago FSC always had a few EURO qualifiers on, but I looked and they don't appear to have any this weekend.

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team Mully & Hanley
team Meatpants

I found espn3 a long time ago great for fans of non american games.

I will be watching Ireland-Slovakia at 1:45

Big game at home with a trip to Russia next Wednesday looming.

sweet, thanks. Didn't even know that place existed. My computer at work sucks so I'll miss out on the games today, but there's some good ones this weekend. I'm not a big fan of friendlies, but Portugal vs Argentina could be fun.

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I'm watching Ireland-Slovakia right now.


England are up 3-0 on Bulgaria.

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Israel blew it at home vs Greece today, 0-1. That would've been a huge win.

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imu will be eating many gyros tonight in celebration.

only funny because its true..

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Sitting here watching "The Duece".

Why does it seem like Deja Vu?

Ireland plays the same game as the US. Tight, counter, keep a clean sheet and hope for the best.

England qualified for the first time since 2004. And Wazza got a red card so he will miss the first match of the tournament. Total loss of control by Rooney. Maybe the situation with his family got his head all messed up. And Ireland still have a chance. A smidgen's chance in hell. But they ain't out yet.

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I watched the Andorra-Ireland match. Pretty pedestrian, and now Keane may be out against Armenia. They need at least a draw on Tuesday and a good draw in the playoffs.
Keane himself should of had a hat trick.

Also should see some interesting groups drawn 12/2 because of the way the pools will be split.

Ireland made the playoffs! Draw is tomorrow for their opponent.

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Ireland-Estonia
Croatia-Turkey
Czech Republic-Montenegro
Portugal-Bosnia & Herzegovina


Pretty decent draw for Ireland, Estonia has never qualified for an international tournament. I do not think Croatia is looking for to having to play Turkey.

Looks like Rooney will miss the entire group stage, just received a 3 match ban for his red card kicking incident.

This doesn't bode well for England considering that over the last 5 years or so Rooney has basically been the only guy on that team who shows up for big games.

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england is the eagles of national teams.

Don't agree with this so much. Yeah he is their most talented player but he was nowhere to be found in the 2010 WC and got himself red carded in the 2006 WC at the quarterfinal stage. To be fair to Wazza, his supporting cast is mediocre most matches and he has never had another decent player up front to compliment him.

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Judgment Night for Ireland this Friday. First leg against Estonia. Live from Tallinn...it's the Euro 2012 Playoffs!

Curious side-note: Name of the Estonian team's arena is A. Le Coq Arena. They make beer. Not cocks. In case you were wondering.

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Hey Zizou

I'm back.

Tomorrow is going to be day I really appreciate ESPN3. The Euro playoffs should be a great couple of hours of tense, hopefully good futbol.

Fuck yeah. I'm off work tomorrow thanks to our veterans. What we be doing? We be streaming!

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