Baron Dants Posted October 29, 2003 Report Share Posted October 29, 2003 This article is taken from UEFA.com. Armenia just took first place of its group in the first qualifying round of the UEFA under-17 championship, in a pretty strong group (Serbia & Montenegro, Netherlands, and Bulgaria). Our last win over Bulgaria was highlighted by Manucharyan's FOUR goals!!! This guy, I think, will be a good one. He's already a fan favourite in Yerevan (the crowd would chant EDGAR! EDGAR! every time he came on the field for FC Pyunik) and is about 16-17 years old. Can he be the star we've been lacking? What about the (older) Karamyan twins? Armenia also took first place in its group in the under-19 championship, beating out France, Ukraine, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. So, the question is: are we on the rise??? Armenia spring surprise Saturday, 25 October 2003 Armenia upset all expectations by winning an extremely competitive UEFA European Under-17 Championship Group 7 mini-tournament to move into the second round. Dutch eliminatedSerbia and Montenegro finished as runners-up and also progressed - meaning third-placed Netherlands and fourth-placed hosts Bulgaria were both eliminated. Few indicationsThe Armenians' opening game, a dramatic 2-1 loss against the Serbo-Montenegrins, offered little indication that they would ultimately top the group. Josip Projic put Serbia and Montenegro ahead after 20 minutes but Zhora Hovhannisyan levelled matters nine minutes after the interval. The game looked to be heading for a draw but Gojko Kacar's last-minute strike snatched a 2-1 win for the Serbo-Montenegrins. Dutch impressMeanwhile, the Netherlands began their campaign with an impressive 2-0 win against Bulgaria courtesy of second-half goals from Sergio Zijler and Henrico Drost. However in the second set of games the group was blown wide open as Armenia produced a sensational display to beat the Dutch 2-0 - with Balep Ndounbuk and Edgar Manucharyan netting the crucial goals. Bulgaria fight backIn the day's other game Bulgaria delighted their home fans by fighting back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against Serbia and Montenegro. Stojan Pilipovic gave his country the lead after four minutes and when Nemanja Djurovic doubled the advantage in the 24th minute the game looked all but over. Bulgaria's response was immediate though. Dimitar Vodenicharov halved the deficit in the 25th minute and Lachezar Baltanov capped a fine comeback with an equaliser nine minutes after the break. Four maintain hopesTherefore all four countries advanced to the final set of games still entertaining hopes of finishing in the top two. The Serbo-Montenegrins, with four points, were favourites to win the group, while Armenia and the Netherlands lay just behind on three points and Bulgaria, with one point, needed a last-day win to stay alive. Astonishing ManucharyanIn the event, the hosts' ambitions were ended by a stunning 4-1 reverse against Armenia - with Manucharyan hitting all four of his side's goals in an astonishing individual performance. The first goal arrived after just nine minutes and further strikes on eleven minutes, 23 minutes and 63 minutes left Bulgaria in disarray - although to their credit Baltanov scored a late consolation. Armenia finish topThe result was enough to ensure the Armenians topped the group after news came through that the Dutch and Serbo-Montenegrins drew 1-1 in the other final-day encounter. A tense game was goalless going into the final ten minutes, before Pilipovic netted for Serbia and Montenegro in the 72nd minute. However Rachid Ofrany equalised within 60 seconds. Serbo-Montenegrins settle for secondThe Serbo-Montenegrins were therefore forced to settle for second spot, while the Dutch were eliminated as their third-placed record was not sufficient to displace Hungary, who remain in pole position to clinch the second round spot on offer to the best third-placed side from the 12 first-round groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrystalHye Posted November 4, 2003 Report Share Posted November 4, 2003 Well, i don't know. You know, there is only one reason that Armenians don't play well these days. The reason is fitness. We have tallented players but they don't show themselves. After five minutes on the field, they get tired and can barely run. If you're tired i don't think you can show your skills. FITNESS. that's what they gotta work on. Manucharyan is a good player. No doubt. But he has to work on himself every day to get somewhere if he wants to devote his life to football. The under-17 nad 19 is nothing. I mean, it's a good thing that we finally won the first stage, but 17 and 19 year olds don't show much to the world. Its the national team that has to play good. The Karamyan brothers, i don't know. I've watched them play and i dont think they're the answer. They are both quick but have a huge problem of FINISHING. A striker, which Arman is, needs to know how to finish. It doesn't have to be a nice goal. It just has to be one. He needs to finish his chances. The chances he had agains't Ukraine couple months ago, I mean, hehad to put away at least one of them. Now we have only Artur Petrosyan scoring and he is going to retire in about a year or two, and he is not even a forward. He's a midfield player. We NEED forwards and good ones. If you take Raul from Real Madrid, or Van Nistelrooy from Manchester United, what do they do. They just put the ball in the net. I mena, you will never see Van Nistelrooy score a beautiful goal. He doesn't care how he scores, he just does. That's what we need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gurgen Posted November 20, 2003 Report Share Posted November 20, 2003 Van Nistelrooy just scored 3 goals vs Scotland and I think they illustrate your point. They were not great goals, but they were goals. I think the most important thing in a national team is passion, willing to fight for your country, and I think we certainly have that. Now the only thing they have to work on is consistency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 http://www.a1plus.am/arm/?go=issue&id=2260...a4d50b9b2508e9c WOW! Edgar Manucharian is going to be tested for Amsterdam's Ajax! Good job! I cross my fingers for the guy. He had an amazing season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gurgen Posted November 20, 2004 Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 Van Nistelrooy just scored 3 goals vs Scotland and I think they illustrate your point. They were not great goals, but they were goals. I think the most important thing in a national team is passion, willing to fight for your country, and I think we certainly have that. Now the only thing they have to work on is consistency. style_images/master/snapback.png That said I hate Van Nistelrooy's guts, the dirty little cheat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harut Posted November 20, 2004 Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 http://www.a1plus.am/eng/?go=issue&id=22540 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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