Euro 2000 qualifying games

Hoddle angrily dismissed tabloid speculation of a dressing room mutiny, but it was clear all was not well after a mediocre start to the qualifying campaign. Before England played their next qualifier in late March against Poland, they had a new boss.

Kevin Keegan, the man England so often turned to for on-field inspiration in the late s and early s, was now tasked with helping leading the team towards the Euro finals. He had won managerial plaudits for the free-flowing football his Newcastle United side had played a few years earlier, although major honours had eluded him after the Premier League title slipped through their grasp in He got the right response in his first match, Paul Scholes scoring three times against Poland in a win at Wembley to boost their qualification hopes.

All seemed well with the world and Keegan duly left Fulham and took the role on a permanent basis, but doubts were setting in again. Scholes became the first England player to be sent-off at Wembley in a frustrating draw with Sweden. Four days later there followed more disappointment with an underwhelming draw in Bulgaria , leaving them still with much to do to make the finals. Summing up the qualifying campaign: Paul Scholes sees red at home to Sweden.

It came as no surprise that England beat Luxembourg at Wembley in early September, with Shearer scoring a hat-trick. But it was the match four days later in Poland that really mattered. If England won they would definitely finish second; if Poland won they would be runners-up and England would be out. It was if it ended in a draw that things became complicated, as Poland would then need a result in their final match in Sweden to edge out England. Indeed, they could easily have lost and been definitely out of the running.

They still had a chance, but it was out of their hands. England now had a month to wait and hope Sweden could do them a favour. Although there was little doubt the Swedes were a better team than Poland and had a near-perfect qualifying record, they were already through and could potentially take their foot off the pedal whereas the Poles needed a result and that extra desire could see them achieve it.

Two goals in the final half hour gave Sweden a win and the feeling across England was one of sheer relief. Jamie Redknapp scored a cracking goal in the win , as cousin Frank Lampard made his international debut.

For the first time since England would now be involved in a two-legged tie as they awaited the play-off draw. And what a draw — Scotland v England. The sides had met just once in the previous decade since the demise of the Rous Cup and now they were reacquainted with a place in the Euro finals at stake. Although England would start as favourites, the Scots had a good recent qualifying record and, like England, the only major tournament they had missed in the s was the World Cup.

Paul Scholes helps England to a win at Hampden Park. After a month of build-up, the talking could finally end on November 13 at 2pm at Hampden Park. Although many would have disputed that version of events, given England rode their luck a bit during the afternoon, there was no question they looked odds on to go through. What should have been a comfortable passage into the finals turned into a night of tension for England and it could have been even worse.

David Seaman had to deny Christian Dailly from levelling the aggregate scores late on, as Scotland went in search of extra-time. They never got it, with it not being quite clear who was comforting who as Keegan and Brown hugged at the end. England were through but it was Scotland who could leave the field to greater cheers from their fans after winning on the night. But at least England had progressed, something that had looked unlikely after the match in Poland two months earlier.

For the Scots, the play-off exit marked the beginning of a long absence from major tournaments — which they are looking to finally end by making it to Euro They had managed just four victories in their 10 qualifying matches, two of them coming against minnows Luxembourg. England Qualifying Campaigns , European Championship.

Blogging about the history of the England national football team, particularly in the s and s. The winger came to the tournament fresh from winning the first of four domestic league titles with Anderlecht.

In the latter part of his career, Goor made headlines by promoting a hangover cure he had discovered with a business partner. The Flora Tallinn striker was just 19, and would become in May , aged 27 the youngest player to win caps though his record no longer stands. More recently, he coached Estonia's beach soccer team. They were trailing at the time. For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome , Firefox or Microsoft Edge. Love the EUROs?

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