This Week's Interesting Stories:

A lot of good soccer this week and a lot of transfers. In EURO 2008 Qualifying, Armenia made a sensational shock by defeating Poland 1:0, Finland defeated Belgium 2:0 and Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan played a 1:1 draw. Serbia and Portugal sitting this one out and is almost clear that Portugal and Serbia will be the contenders for the first spot in that group as Poland seems to be losing the "magic touch". Another great game took place in Zagreb, Croatia where Croatia and Russia ended in a 0:0 draw, but an excellent played game with a lot of attacking football. As far as club football goes, it's very interesting that Buffon extended his contract with Juventus even though he said that he wanted to leave, the contract is valid until 2012 when Buffon will probably end his career. Roberto Carlos will join LA Galaxy as his contract had expired with Real Madrid and will join Galaxy on a free transfer, nothing new on Ivica Kralj who is also supposed to sign for the LA side. Frank Ribery the Frenchman has signed a contract with Bayern Munich and Finally, Danko Lazovic had signed with PSV Eindhoven. He is the second Serbian in 3 years to wear number nine for the club after Mateja Kezman a.k.a "Batman". Lazovic reminds me more of the "Punisher" which is what he literately does for a living 'punishing the opposing team for every mistake made and sometimes has a problem with his attitude" In the next post I will give every Serbian player who is in the starting 'A' squad a Super Hero nickname. Thank you for reading this post.

Check Out The Second Half Highlights From The Armenia-Poland Match:

Finland vs Serbia 0:2 (0:1)

Excellent game in Helsinki for the Serbs. The early goal scored by Bosko Jankovic allowed Serbia to control the game how they wanted to. Serbia dominated 70% and Finland only looked dangerous only in a few occasions but Serbian star defenders Nemanja Vidic and Mladen Krstajic made it almost impossible for The Finland side to convert. Serbia scored their second goal in the last quarter of the second half where Milan Jovanovic scored on his debut from Danko Lazovic's assist. Serbia today didn't just get the two goals and three points, Serbia can also be proud of Antonio Rukavina and Zdravko Kuzmanovic as they were the two youngest players on the field and yet probably the bravest. They both had a few cracks on the goal and I must say that this new attribute is mostly important for Serbia. Serbia finally has not one, but two players that have courage to take long shots. Finally, I must congratulate the whole Serbian squad for their immaculate performance against Finland and the superiority that they showed.

Serbia VS Portugal 1:1

Yesterday's EURO 2008 qualifying game of the day, Serbia against Portugal ended in a 1:1 draw. The game was played in a wonderful soccer atmosphere in Serbia's capital Belgrade's stadium "Marakana". A little off subject, but miraculously there were no incidents with fans. 55,000 Serbian fans came to support their nation against arguably, the best national team in Europe (Portugal).

Portugal drew first blood as Chelsea's former midfielder, now playing for Olympique Lyon Tiago, scored a beautiful goal from about 35 meters in the 5th minute. Serbia's goalkeeper Stojkovic got caught being too much in front of the goal an so Portugal were winning 1:0. This early goal was like a motivation booster for the Serbs as the rest of the first half belonged to them. As a result of great will and hard work Serbia equalized in the 37th minute from Stankovic's corner kick being blasted in the net by Bosko Jankovic's powerful header. When Serbia equalized, the stadium went euphoric as 55,000 fans sounded like 550,000 fans.

The second half belonged more to Portugal as they had a few chances. However, Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic saved the day with a few great saves. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo had no chance with his trickeries against Serbia's Igor Duljaj who marked him very well. All in all, the game was played with fast pace, a lot of attacking and a lot of heart was left by both sides. Serbia and Portugal demonstrated today how soccer should be played. Both, Serbia and Portugal along with Finland have 11 points and are behind Poland who have 16 points. Poland has played an extra game. There are many games left and I think that the race for EURO 2008 will be till the end as Group A could be the "group of death".

EURO 2008 Qualifying Scores & Standings:

Group A:
Azerbaijan 1 - 0 Finland
Poland 1 - 0 Armenia
Serbia 1 - 1 Portugal

Teams Pld W D L GF GA Pts
Poland 7 5 1 1 12 5 16
Portugal 6 3 2 1 13 4 11
Serbia 6 3 2 1 8 4 11
Finland 6 3 2 1 7 3 11
Belgium 6 2 1 3 4 6 7
Kazakhstan 6 1 2 3 3 8 5
Azerbaijan 6 1 1 4 2 13 4
Armenia 5 0 1 4 0 6 1


Group B:
Ukraine 1 - 0 Lithuania
Georgia 3 - 1 Faroe Islands
Italy 2 - 0 Scotland

Teams Pld W D L GF GA Pts
Ukraine 5 4 0 1 8 4 12
Scotland 6 4 0 2 11 6 12
France 5 4 0 1 12 2 12
Italy 5 3 1 1 9 5 10
Georgia 6 2 0 4 13 12 6
Lithuania 5 1 1 3 3 5 4
Faroe Islands 6 0 0 6 1 23 0

Group C:
Hungary 2 - 0 Moldova
Malta 0 - 1 Greece
Turkey 2 - 2 Norway

Teams Pld W D L GF GA Pts
Turkey 5 4 1 0 14 3 13
Greece 5 4 0 1 8 4 12
Bosnia-Herzegovina 5 2 1 2 10 12 7
Norway 5 2 1 2 9 6 7
Hungary 5 2 0 3 8 8 6
Malta 5 1 1 3 5 10 4
Moldova 6 0 2 4 3 14 2

Group D:
Czech Republic 1 - 0 Cyprus
Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 Slovakia
Wales 3 - 0 San Marino

Teams Pld W D L GF GA Pts
Germany 5 4 1 0 21 3 13
Czech Republic 6 4 1 1 15 4 13
Republic of Ireland 6 3 1 2 10 7 10
Slovakia 6 3 0 3 15 11 9
Wales 5 2 0 3 8 9 6
Cyprus 6 1 1 4 9 16 4
San Marino 4 0 0 4 0 28 0

Group E:
Estonia 0 - 2 Russia
Israel 4 - 0 Estonia
Andorra 0 - 3 England

Teams Pld W D L GF GA Pts
Croatia 5 4 1 0 15 4 13
Israel 6 3 2 1 13 6 11
Russia 5 3 2 0 7 1 11
England 6 3 2 1 9 2 11
F.Y.R. Macedonia 6 2 1 3 5 5 7
Estonia 5 0 0 5 0 10 0
Andorra 5 0 0 5 1 22 0

Group F:
Liechtenstein 1 - 0 Latvia
Northern Ireland 2 - 1 Sweden
Spain 1 - 0 Iceland

Teams Pld W D L GF GA Pts
Northern Ireland 6 4 1 1 10 7 13
Sweden 5 4 0 1 9 4 12
Spain 5 3 0 2 9 6 9
Denmark 4 2 1 1 7 2 7
Latvia 4 1 0 3 4 3 3
Liechtenstein 5 1 0 4 3 15 3
Iceland 5 1 0 4 4 9 3

Group G:
Bulgaria 0 - 0 Albania
Romania 3 - 0 Luxembourg
Slovenia 0 - 1 Netherlands

Teams Pld W D L GF GA Pts
Netherlands 6 4 2 0 8 2 14
Romania 5 3 2 0 10 3 11
Bulgaria 5 2 3 0 7 3 9
Belarus 5 2 1 2 9 11 7
Slovenia 5 1 1 3 4 8 4
Albania 5 0 3 2 3 6 3
Luxembourg 5 0 0 5 1 9 0

My Picks For Tomorrow's EURO 2008 Qualifying:

Poland-Armenia (X)
Serbia-Portugal (1)
Italy-Scotland (1)
Ukraine-Lithuania (X)
Turkey-Norway (X)
Andorra-England (2)
Spain-Iceland (1)

Serbia VS Portugal Preview:

Serbia hosts Portugal tomorrow in Belgrade in a sold out Marakana. Serbia is coming off a 2:1 defeat to Kazakhstan and Portugal are coming in the game with a 4:0 win against Belgium. Serbia's coach Javier Clemente stated that Serbia will be attacking the whole game and that Saturday's loss against Kazakhstan is buried in the past. On the other hand Luis Felipe Scolari might have a big problem as in today's training Portugal's star winger Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the field injured which leaves Ronaldo questionable for the game tomorrow. Serbia's Zigic is suspended due to the red card he received for elbowing a player against Kazakhstan.

Serbia plays very well against good teams on its soil and the fans tomorrow will enjoy attacking soccer. I am Serbian and as a Serbian fan I wish my national team best of luck.

EURO 2008 Results & Standings:

Group A:

Poland	5 - 0	Azerbaijan
Kazakhstan	2 - 1	Serbia
Portugal	4 - 0	Belgium

Azerbaijan	28/03/07	Finland
Poland	28/03/07	Armenia
Serbia	28/03/07	Portugal

Teams	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts

Poland	6	4	1	1	11	5	13
Finland	5	3	2	0	7	2	11
Portugal	5	3	1	1	12	3	10
Serbia	5	3	1	1	7	3	10
Belgium	6	2	1	3	4	6	7
Kazakhstan	6	1	2	3	3	8	5
Armenia	4	0	1	3	0	5	1
Azerbaijan	5	0	1	4	1	13	1

Group B:

Scotland	2 - 1	Georgia
Faroe Islands	0 - 2	Ukraine
Lithuania	0 - 1	France

Ukraine	28/03/07	Lithuania
Georgia	28/03/07	Faroe Islands
Italy	28/03/07	Scotland

Teams	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts

Scotland	5	4	0	1	11	4	12
France	5	4	0	1	12	2	12
Ukraine	4	3	0	1	7	4	9
Italy	4	2	1	1	7	5	7
Lithuania	4	1	1	2	3	4	4
Georgia	5	1	0	4	10	11	3
Faroe Islands	5	0	0	5	0	20	0

Group C:

Moldova	1 - 1	Malta
Norway	1 - 2	Bosnia-Herzegovina
Greece	1 - 4	Turkey

Hungary	28/03/07	Moldova
Malta	28/03/07	Greece
Turkey	28/03/07	Norway

Teams	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts

Turkey	4	4	0	0	12	1	12
Greece	4	3	0	1	7	4	9
Bosnia-Herzegovina	5	2	1	2	10	12	7
Norway	4	2	0	2	7	4	6
Malta	4	1	1	2	5	9	4
Hungary	4	1	0	3	5	8	3
Moldova	5	0	2	3	3	11	2

Group D:

Republic of Ireland	1 - 0	Wales
Cyprus	1 - 3	Slovakia
Czech Republic	1 - 2	Germany

Czech Republic	28/03/07	Cyprus
Republic of Ireland	28/03/07	Slovakia
Wales	28/03/07	San Marino

Teams	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts

Germany	5	4	1	0	21	3	13
Czech Republic	5	3	1	1	14	4	10
Republic of Ireland	6	3	1	2	11	8	10
Slovakia	5	3	0	2	15	10	9
Cyprus	5	1	1	3	9	15	4
Wales	4	1	0	3	5	9	3
San Marino	4	0	0	4	1	27	0

Group E:

Croatia	2 - 1	F.Y.R. Macedonia
Israel	0 - 0	England
Estonia	0 - 2	Russia

Israel	28/03/07	Estonia
Andorra	28/03/07	England

Teams	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts

Croatia	5	4	1	0	15	4	13
Russia	5	3	2	0	7	1	11
England	5	2	2	1	6	2	8
Israel	5	2	2	1	9	6	8
F.Y.R. Macedonia	6	2	1	3	5	5	7
Estonia	4	0	0	4	0	6	0
Andorra	4	0	0	4	1	19	0

Group F:

Liechtenstein	1 - 4	Northern Ireland
Spain	2 - 1	Denmark

Liechtenstein	28/03/07	Latvia
Northern Ireland	28/03/07	Sweden
Spain	28/03/07	Iceland

Teams	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts

Sweden	4	4	0	0	8	2	12
Northern Ireland	5	3	1	1	8	6	10
Denmark	4	2	1	1	7	2	7
Spain	4	2	0	2	8	6	6
Latvia	3	1	0	2	4	2	3
Iceland	4	1	0	3	4	8	3
Liechtenstein	4	0	0	4	2	15	0

Group G:

Luxembourg	1 - 2	Belarus
Albania	0 - 0	Slovenia
Netherlands	0 - 0	Romania

Bulgaria	28/03/07	Albania
Romania	28/03/07	Luxembourg
Slovenia	28/03/07	Netherlands

Teams	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts

Netherlands	5	3	2	0	7	2	11
Bulgaria	4	2	2	0	7	3	8
Romania	4	2	2	0	7	3	8
Belarus	5	2	1	2	9	11	7
Slovenia	4	1	1	2	4	7	4
Albania	4	0	2	2	3	6	2
Luxembourg	4	0	0	4	1	6	0

PIcks For EURO 2008 Qualifications:

Kazakhstan-Serbia (2)
Portugal-Belgium (X)
Scotland-Georgia (1)
Greece-Turkey (1)
Croatia-FYR Macedonia (X)
Spain-Denmark (1) Spain must win
Albania-Slovenia (X)
Holland-Romania (2)