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Group
10
Switzerland
emerged victorious from UEFA EURO 2004 qualifying Group 10
with Russia in second, but all five competitors held serious
hopes of qualification at some stage.
The two sides who had reached the FIFA World Cup finals -
Russia and the Republic of Ireland - met in September 2002,
with the Russians winning 4-2 in Moscow. Switzerland also
began their campaign with a win, defeating Georgia 4-1 in
Basel.
However, there were contrasting fortunes for the pair in their
first October matches. The Swiss were held 1-1 by Albania in
Tirana, while Russia brushed aside the same opponents, winning
4-1 in Volgograd with Sergei Semak scoring twice.
Four days later, Switzerland visited Ireland and came away
from Dublin with what proved to be a vital 2-1 away win after
which home manager Mick McCarthy resigned. Under Brian Kerr,
Ireland finally kick-started their campaign in March with a
2-1 win in Georgia, while Albania shocked Russia 3-1 in
Tirana. Albania then held Ireland 0-0 four days later when
Switzerland drew in Georgia by the same score. April then
ended with Georgia celebrating a 1-0 win against Russia -
leaving the group tighter than ever.
The June games were vital, and the month started with a
last-gasp own goal giving Ireland a 2-1 home win against
Albania while two Sergei Ignashevitch strikes earned Russia a
2-2 comeback draw in Switzerland. Four days later, Ireland
beat Georgia 2-0 while Switzerland defeated Albania 3-2 to
remain in command.
Russia's revival continued as they drew 1-1 in Ireland on 6
September, while Georgia were eliminating Albania 3-0. The
Albanians earned a revenge win four days later, 3-1 in Tirana,
but the crucial match was in Moscow where Dmitri Buylkin's
hat-trick sealed a 4-1 win for Russia against Switzerland. On
the final day, Switzerland knew victory at home to Ireland
would win them the group, and a 2-0 triumph ensured that was
the case, as Russia came from behind to overcome Georgia 3-1 -
the only time they did not score four goals at home in Moscow
- and pip Kerr's team to second place.
- UEFA.com
| Russia |
4-2 |
Ireland |
07/09/02 |
Karyaka
21
Bestchastnykh 26
Kerzhakov 69
Babb og 85 |
Doherty
46
Morrison 74 |
| Switzerland |
4-0 |
Georgia |
07/09/02 |
Frei
37
Hakan Yakin 62
Müller 74
Chapuisat 81 |
Arveladze
62 |
| Albania |
1-1 |
Switzerland |
12/10/02 |
| Murati
78 |
Yakin
37 |
| Georgia |
1-0 |
Russia |
12/10/02 |
| Asatiani
11 |
|
| Ireland |
1-2 |
Switzerland |
16/10/02 |
| Magnin
og 78 |
Yakin
45
Celestini 87 |
| Russia |
4-1 |
Albania |
16/10/02 |
Kerzhakov
3
Semak 41, 55
Onopko 51 |
|
| Georgia |
1-2 |
Ireland |
29/03/03 |
| Kobiaschwili
61 |
Duff
18
Doherty 84 |
| Albania |
3-1 |
Russia |
29/03/03 |
Rraklli
30
Lala 79
Tare 83 |
Karyaka
76 |
| Albania |
0-0 |
Ireland |
02/04/03 |
| |
|
| Georgia |
0-0 |
Switzerland |
02/04/03 |
| |
|
| Switzerland |
2-2 |
Russia |
07/06/03 |
| Frei
14, 16 |
Ignashevitch
24, pen 68 |
| Ireland |
2-1 |
Albania |
07/06/03 |
Keane
6
Aliaj og 90 |
Skela
8 |
| Ireland |
2-0 |
Georgia |
11/06/03 |
Doherty
43
Keane 59 |
|
| Switzerland |
3-2 |
Albania |
11/06/03 |
Haas
10
Frei 32
Cabanas 72 |
Lala
23
Skela pen 85 |
| Ireland |
1-1 |
Russia |
06/09/03 |
| Duff
35 |
Ignashevitch
42 |
| Georgia |
3-0 |
Albania |
06/09/03 |
Arveladze
9, 44
Ashvetia 18 |
|
| Russia |
4-1 |
Switzerland |
10/09/03 |
Boulykin
20, 33, 59
Mostovoi 72 |
Frei
12 |
| Albania |
3-1 |
Georgia |
10/09/03 |
Hasi
50
Tare 52
Bushi 79 |
Arveladze
62 |
| Russia |
3-1 |
Georgia |
11/10/03 |
Boulykin
29
Titov 45
Sychev 73 |
Iashvili
3 |
| Switzerland |
2-0 |
Ireland |
11/10/03 |
Yakin
6
Frei 60 |
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