Coral’s Heroes and Villains of Euro 2016 qualifying

The penultimate fixtures for Euro 2016 qualifying meant there was much at stake, and consequently, plenty of heroes to step up to the plate, or villains to spoil the party.

Who makes our list of football saints and sinners this week? Read on to find out…

Heroes

Tenacious Turkey topple Czechs
The Turks needed to triumph in Prague, having lived up their fitting title of Comeback Kings to position themselves within four points of pinching a play-off place. Winning away to the Czech Republic would be no easy task, but Fatih Terim’s team produced the goods to take the spoils 2-1 on the night, denting their hosts’ chances of clinching Pool A top spot.

Captain Arda Turan may not have been on the scoresheet this time, but played provider with a perfect ball for Bayer Leverkusen star Hakan Calhanoglu to slot home and make it safe. Now the Crescent Moons require just a draw against Iceland to claim their ticket to France.

The Bayern Munich marksman then popped up as if from nowhere to save the White Eagles again, his powerful and precise header putting the Republic of Ireland on the backfoot and automatically propelling Poland to the France finals, simultaneously equalling Euro qualifying scoring records with his 13th strike this campaign. Not bad for a week’s work. There is no other forward in such formidable form, and the Balkan boys (50/1 outsiders with Coral to win Euro 2016) can go far in summer with this sharpshooter up top.

Long road to France
Of course, Shane Long struck an incredible winner versus World Cup winners Germany, but the Southampton striker’s ability to score important goals is somewhat secondary to 28-year-old’s all-round excellent recent play.

Long could not conjure up another history-making moment for the Boys in Green while in Warsaw, as the Republic of Ireland lost attacking impetus after their frontman came off with a knee niggle, but he had previously kept Polish centre backs Michal Pazdan and Kamil Glik terrifically on their toes.