We saw a full round of Euro 2016 qualifiers at the weekend with some intriguing results along the way as the nine qualifying groups start to take shape. Ironically, just a few months after their disastrous World Cup campaign England is the best placed of any nation following their 3-1 win over Slovenia. Roy Hodgson’s men are one of just three teams to have won all four games – alongside Slovakia and the Czech Republic – so far and sit six points clear in Group E.
Wales held firm in Belgium for a scoreless draw to maintain second spot in Group B, with group favorites Belgium languishing in fourth spot and with some work to do to qualify for France. The Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Switzerland all enjoyed crushing wins, however there were a couple of huge upsets with Lichtenstein downing Moldova 1-0 and the Faroe Islands stunning Greece in Athens by the same scoreline.
Ranked 187th in the world, the Faroe Islands’ 1-0 victory was their first win in more than three years and quickly resulted in Greece coach Claudio Ranieri being sacked.
India’s Kidambi Srikanth scored the biggest win of his young badminton career when he upset home favorite Lin Dan to win the China Open Super Series event yesterday. The 21-year-old prevailed 21-19, 21-17 in 46 minutes to complete a wonderful event for India, with compatriot Saina Nehwal won the women’s final against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi.
Switzerland will be sweating on the fitness of Roger Federer ahead of next week’s Davis Cup final against France after the world number two was forced to withdraw from the ATP World Tour Finals with a back injury. Federer injured his back in his semi-final win over his Davis Cup teammate Stanislas Wawrinka with Novak Djokovic winning the title by default to finish the year as world number one yet again.
And there were some surprise results in the NFL with Denver slumping to a 22-7 loss to the Rams and Philadelphia thrashed 53-20 by Green Bay, while the Chiefs put another beat on defending Super Bowl champions Seattle to leave the Seahawks in third in the NFC West. It was business as usual for the Cardinals though who won a tight one 14-6 over the Lions to extend their record to 9-1 for the season.
