scores:
Kazakhstan 1-2 Armenia
Wales 0-0 Czech Republic
Russia 4-0 Andorra
Azerbaijan 1-3 Poland
Finland 0-2 Serbia
Belgium 1-2 Portugal
Lithuania 1-0 Georgia
Faeroe Islands 1-2 Italy
France 2-0 Ukraine
Bosnia Herzegovina 3-2 Turkey
Norway 4-0 Malta
Greece 2-0 Hungary
Germany 6-0 San Marino
Macedonia 1-2 Israel
Estonia 0-1 Croatia
Iceland 1-1 Lichtenstein
Latvia 0-2 Spain
Denmark 3-3 Sweden
Belarus 0-2 Bulgaria
Albania 2-0 Luxembourg
Slovenia 1-2 Romania
I watched the Czech Republic/Wales game and the Portugal/Belgium game.
I hadn't ever seen Belgium play before, but they were very, very good. Portugal managed to get through, however, with two brilliant goals, the first from a difficult angle and off the post by Nani in the 1st half, showing he deserves his Man United contract. The second was a beautiful goal by Helder Postiga, after the Belgian equaliser.
Portugal is one of my favorite national teams; their style of play really caught my eye during the last World Cup. Helder Postiga is a brilliant player, and with Pauleta retired, is vital to the squad. Today, Portugal played without big names such as Ricardo Carvalho (injury), Cristiano Ronaldo (suspension for accumulated yellows), Simao, and Nuno Gomes, but still pulled off a convincing win. Younger players like Quaresma and Nani showed their amazing quality, and Deco, Petit, and Tiago kept things neat in the middle. I'm really looking forward to seeing what this younger Portugal can do.
Wales played a very good game against the Czechs, and bid farewell to their skipper Ryan Giggs. Giggs made some amazing runs, as well as a nice chip shot, but was unable to score or give Wales the win. Giggs was substituted off in his hometown, Cardiff, to a great standing ovation. He put his captain's armband onto a heavily tattooed arm of Craig Bellamy and they hugged; it was possibly the cutest thing Bellamy has done in his life. After the game, Giggs gave an interview.
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