Tweet
Armenia in Brazil? Not one miracle but five
by Emil Sanamyan
Published: Friday October 11, 2013
Movsisyan beats the Bulgarians. Photolure
Armenia with Baba Vanga prophesy in background . ArmFootball.com
Washington - Armenia's national football team finally delivered on its
home field, beating Bulgaria 2-1 in an intense match played in Yerevan
on October 11 and thus maintained a slim chance of qualification for
the 2014 World Cup to be played in Brazil.
Like two years ago in its Euro 2012 campaign, Armenia's qualification
chances hinge on a win in its final match played away - but this time
instead of Ireland it will be Italy, currently ranked fourth in the
world and third in Europe. That match be played next Tuesday, October
14 in Naples.
If that was not a steep enough mountain to conquer, Armenia would also
need its Group competitors to lose points: unless Denmark doesn't draw
or lose to Malta, and the Bulgarians and the Czechs don't draw among
themselves, Armenia will be left out of the second spot, with Italy
already guaranteed the first.
But even taking the second spot will not be enough. Of the nine second
spot finishers only eight best group performers will be going into
playoffs. Here Armenia's qualification would depend on both Turkey's
failure to beat the Netherlands and Romania's failure to beast Estonia
or, alternatively, on Croatia losing to Scotland.
And then there are the playoffs, where Armenia would have to contend
with teams such as Croatia (no. 10 in the world), Portugal (no. 11),
Greece (no. 12), Bosnia (no. 18) or, if Armenians get really lucky,
Sweden (no. 22).
So, as things stand, on its way to Brazil, Armenia will need not one
but five full miracles.
Revenge in Yerevan
Armenia would not be facing such long odds had it enjoyed greater
stability in play and a longer bench of quality substitutes.
The home losses to Malta (0-1) and Denmark (0-1) were particularly
costly and they both came in the absence of forward Yura Movsisyan -
for the first half in the Malta match and over yellow card
disqualification vs. Denmark. When Movsisyan played Armenia dominated
Denmark 0-4 in an way match last June and snatched a last-minute 1-2
victory from the Czechs last September.
But the first sign of a troubled campaign came already a year ago
after the 0-1 away loss to Bulgaria. In that match Armenia also lost
two players to red cards and one to a long-term injury in what
Armenians universally considered a "dirty" performance by the hosts
bent on stifling Armenia's offensive prowess by all means possible.
The pitch antiques came after an unusual performance at the airport,
where the Armenian team was met by a scantily clad model handing out
candy.
When it came time for the Bulgarian team to arrive in Yerevan, it was
met at the airport by angry taunts from Armenian fans. At the stadium,
a huge banner unfurled by fans announced that "Justice will be
restored in Yerevan." To make sure prophesy would hit home, the banner
carried a likeness of the late celebrity Bulgarian fortune teller Baba
Vanga. The trick appears to have worked.
Just before the half, a fine play by Aras Ozbilis got one of the
Bulgarian players red-carded and the Istanbul-born midfielder then
beautifully converted a free kick. Man down, Bulgaria equalized from a
free kick it took at one-hour mark, but then lost a second player to
another red card some minutes later. On 87th minute Henrikh
Mkhitaryan's pass found Movsisyan, who beat Bulgarian defense and
threw Armenia fans into wild jubilation.
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-10-11-armenia-in-brazil-not-one-miracle-but-five
by Emil Sanamyan
Published: Friday October 11, 2013
Movsisyan beats the Bulgarians. Photolure
Armenia with Baba Vanga prophesy in background . ArmFootball.com
Washington - Armenia's national football team finally delivered on its
home field, beating Bulgaria 2-1 in an intense match played in Yerevan
on October 11 and thus maintained a slim chance of qualification for
the 2014 World Cup to be played in Brazil.
Like two years ago in its Euro 2012 campaign, Armenia's qualification
chances hinge on a win in its final match played away - but this time
instead of Ireland it will be Italy, currently ranked fourth in the
world and third in Europe. That match be played next Tuesday, October
14 in Naples.
If that was not a steep enough mountain to conquer, Armenia would also
need its Group competitors to lose points: unless Denmark doesn't draw
or lose to Malta, and the Bulgarians and the Czechs don't draw among
themselves, Armenia will be left out of the second spot, with Italy
already guaranteed the first.
But even taking the second spot will not be enough. Of the nine second
spot finishers only eight best group performers will be going into
playoffs. Here Armenia's qualification would depend on both Turkey's
failure to beat the Netherlands and Romania's failure to beast Estonia
or, alternatively, on Croatia losing to Scotland.
And then there are the playoffs, where Armenia would have to contend
with teams such as Croatia (no. 10 in the world), Portugal (no. 11),
Greece (no. 12), Bosnia (no. 18) or, if Armenians get really lucky,
Sweden (no. 22).
So, as things stand, on its way to Brazil, Armenia will need not one
but five full miracles.
Revenge in Yerevan
Armenia would not be facing such long odds had it enjoyed greater
stability in play and a longer bench of quality substitutes.
The home losses to Malta (0-1) and Denmark (0-1) were particularly
costly and they both came in the absence of forward Yura Movsisyan -
for the first half in the Malta match and over yellow card
disqualification vs. Denmark. When Movsisyan played Armenia dominated
Denmark 0-4 in an way match last June and snatched a last-minute 1-2
victory from the Czechs last September.
But the first sign of a troubled campaign came already a year ago
after the 0-1 away loss to Bulgaria. In that match Armenia also lost
two players to red cards and one to a long-term injury in what
Armenians universally considered a "dirty" performance by the hosts
bent on stifling Armenia's offensive prowess by all means possible.
The pitch antiques came after an unusual performance at the airport,
where the Armenian team was met by a scantily clad model handing out
candy.
When it came time for the Bulgarian team to arrive in Yerevan, it was
met at the airport by angry taunts from Armenian fans. At the stadium,
a huge banner unfurled by fans announced that "Justice will be
restored in Yerevan." To make sure prophesy would hit home, the banner
carried a likeness of the late celebrity Bulgarian fortune teller Baba
Vanga. The trick appears to have worked.
Just before the half, a fine play by Aras Ozbilis got one of the
Bulgarian players red-carded and the Istanbul-born midfielder then
beautifully converted a free kick. Man down, Bulgaria equalized from a
free kick it took at one-hour mark, but then lost a second player to
another red card some minutes later. On 87th minute Henrikh
Mkhitaryan's pass found Movsisyan, who beat Bulgarian defense and
threw Armenia fans into wild jubilation.
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-10-11-armenia-in-brazil-not-one-miracle-but-five