© EuroFootball.com
On Friday, the first matches were played for the remaining four tickets to the final stage of the 2012 European Championship.
An almost historic chance to qualify for the tournament was practically wasted by Estonia, losing 0-4 at home to Ireland. Although they have the second leg in Dublin on Tuesday, our neighbors will go into it with heads down and hoping for a big miracle.
Although the hosts started the match brightly - with a dangerous long-range shot from Konstantin Vassiljevas - the first goal fell into their own net when Keith Andrews scored with a header in the 13th minute. Soon after, the local fans had to grab their heads again - Andrei Stepanov received a second yellow card for a last-ditch tackle.
The Irish took advantage after the break - firstly Jonathan Walters scored a header followed by Robbie Keane getting the third goal.
The tragic evening for Estonia did not end there, as Raio Piiroja, who received two yellow cards, was also sent off, and the final nail in the hosts' coffin was hammered in by Keane, who converted the penalty earned by Stephen Hunt.
Croatia practically secured a ticket to the European Championship on the Old Continent, also defeating a Turkey without any lack of ambition 3-0 away.
Ivica Olic put the visitors ahead with a close-range shot, and Mario Mandzukic doubled the lead before the break. Taking advantage of the hosts' sluggish defense, Vedran Corluka added the third goal.
In another match, Bosnia and Herzegovina played a draw at home with Portugal 0-0, while the former opponent of the Lithuanian national team, the Czech Republic, defeated Montenegro 2-0 in Prague.
Results:
Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 - 0 Portugal
Turkey 0 - 3 Croatia
2' [0 - 1] I.Olic
32' [0 - 2] M.Mandzukic
51' [0 - 3] V.Corluka
Czech Republic 2 - 0 Montenegro
63' [1 - 0] V.Pilar
90' [2 - 0] T.Sivok
Estonia 0 - 4 Ireland
13' [0 - 1] K.Andrews
67' [0 - 2] J.Walters
71' [0 - 3] R.Keane
88' [0 - 4] R.Keane (from the penalty spot)
34' A.Stepanov (Estonia) sent off
77' R.Piiroja (Estonia) sent off
