Armenia climbed 40 places in FIFA Rankings in 2010Armenia won 3 out of 7 matched during the outgoing year. Armenia climbed 40 places in FIFA Rankings in 2010, finishing 60th with 515 points. December 29, 2010 PanARMENIAN.Net - Vardan Minasyan was appointed chief coach in February, to head the national team through 7 matches, 3 of which ended in a victory. Armenia played 3 friendly matches, beating Uzbekistan and losing to Belarus and Iran. The UEFA EURO 2012 qualification round stated for Armenia with a match against Ireland. Despite the tension that fettered the team at the beginning, gave way to a confident and stubborn struggle. Armenian players were quick and active but let through a goal in the 76th minute, to end the match 0-1. Three days later Armenia tied a match v Macedonia in Skopje, winning the first point in the round. The triumph came in the match against Slovakia, when Armenia took the initiative to score a 3-1 victory, and was crowned in a match v Andorra. Thanks to these victories, Armenia finished the year 2010 in the 3rd place on Group B with 7 points to rival Russia, the Group leader, in 2011. FC Puinik midfielder Karlen Mkrtchyan was named the best footballer. Vardan Minasyan was announced the best coach. Players sharing impressions Forward Edgar Manucharyan says that the match against Ireland was the hardest. “Many think that we will not be able to overcome the qualification round but I disagree. The most important task is to show good football in the matches against Russia. Gevorg Ghazaryan thanks the fans for strong support. “We will do our outmost to justify their expectations,” he says. Fullback Artak Yedigaryan doesn’t like to make forecasts but promises to do his best for his team to play in 2012 European Championship. “We took a good start and will continue the same way,” he is confident. Gohar Nalbandyan, Hasmik Babayan / PanARMENIAN News Most popular in the section Olympic medals and courageous victories When weakness is not a verdict Hard training path Glorious path of Armenian football star More articles in this section How Armenian athlete stole Olympic flag, returned it and got a medal Story worth reading The way to championship Armenian athletes tell about struggle for medals Armenian wrestlers share impressions on European Championship Armenia's Greco-Roman wrestling team headed by Olympic champion Levon Julfalakyan came back home with one gold and two bronze winners. | Erdogan wants “realistic road map” for relations with Armenia Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a “new realistic road map” for relations with Armenia. Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements. Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of Armenia Armenia not going to war over Karabakh, says Pashinyan Armenia is not preparing to fight a war for Nagorno Karabakh, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview. |