Euro 2012 draw

[elroy]

What is your basis for dismissing Slovakia? It certainly cannot be their results over the last two years:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/prelimi...esresults.html
After a slow start to their campaign, they simply got better and better. And I suspect their late home defeat to Slovenia was a case of nerves getting the better of them when on the brink of qualifying, something which they put right five days later by winning in Poland.
Of course, it may be that qualifying for SA (in a more competitive Group than ROI's, btw) may represent a "high water mark" for them. Alternatively, it might just provide them with the boost they need to push on even further. Remember, Slovakia traditionally provided the bulk of the players when the old Czechoslovak teams were in their pomp - especially the 1976 European Champions (8 or 9 out of 11?).

I admit I am basing my analysis of Slovakia more so on the previous campaign when they were in our group. Im not saying they are a pushover by any means but certainly not one of the more fearsome teams in that pot. In my opinion they came through a relatively low standard group compared to the others. All of the teams were similar in class hence the reason it was competitive but doesnt necessarily mean it was a high quality group. The first seeds were poor in comparison to other first seeds, San Marino were possibly the easiest last seed to get and even Poland who normally qualify very well had a poor campaign.

[Gather round]

Im not saying they are a pushover by any means but certainly not one of the more fearsome teams in that pot

Based on their performances in qualifying, Slovakia are one of the top ten teams in Europe. They obviously weren't in the qualifiers for Euro 08, and maybe won't be in the next series, but you never know.

In my opinion they came through a relatively low standard group compared to the others

I thought the standard was OK, broadly comparable to that in the others as far as you can tell from highlights. And while I think the ratings used for seeding give far too much weight to games three, four or five years ago, the whole point is to have groups of basically equal strength.

All of the teams were similar in class hence the reason it was competitive but doesnt necessarily mean it was a high quality group. The first seeds were poor in comparison to other first seeds, San Marino were possibly the easiest last seed to get and even Poland who normally qualify very well had a poor campaign

The first and second seeds had poor campaigns largely because they underestimated the strength of the others.

[soccerboy]

slovakia looked ordinary in the last campaign but have obviously put things right...topped a group that contained a lot of their neighbouring countries so thats no mean feat....after our performance in the last campaign i'm sure the likes of italy,cyprus and bulgaria thought that we would have been an easy touch...easy to turn things around at international level with a bit of organization and tactical stability or vice versa....look at lithuania in france's group...won their first 4 games then went into free fall

[backtowalsall]

I'd like

Croatia
Romania
Ireland
Wales
Liechtenstein
San Marino

No tricky games in the former USSR. 12 guaranteed points. Trip to Cardiff. Handy qualification

[mypost]

Bound to get someone from the last group, as always. Hope it's not Cyprus again.

[geysir]

Azerbaijan would be the hellishly attractive 6th seed to have in your group.

[joe_denilson]

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/kfaugbmhqlkf/rss2/

2012 playoffs will be seeded (at least they are telling us beforehand)

However, top seeds are guaranteed a Home second leg??

[elroy]

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/kfaugbmhqlkf/rss2/

2012 playoffs will be seeded (at least they are telling us beforehand)

However, top seeds are guaranteed a Home second leg??

This is a disgrace, AGAIN.

[mypost]

I'd like

Croatia
Romania
Ireland
Wales
Liechtenstein
San Marino

No tricky games in the former USSR. 12 guaranteed points. Trip to Cardiff. Handy qualification

Ireland 1-0 Croatia
Croatia 0-0 Ireland
Ireland 1-1 Romania
Romania 0-0 Ireland
Rest all 1-0 wins.

24 points from 10 sleepful games...

Seriously, whoever we get of the seeds above us will be tough. I just hope we don't get any group of 5. 2 defeats and it's campaign over.

More teams in the group, buys more mistakes that you can recover from. Plus, don't want the ludicrous situation of finishing in early September, like the Iceland group for the WC.

[magnumpi]

sorry mypost, i totally disagree.

another team in the group is another chance to f**k things up.

i really think we have a great chance of topping a small 5 tier group, which, unlike the world cup qualifiers, aren't at a disadvantage for reaching the playoffs.


More importantly, it's important to avoid the Militant Eastern Block countries, and far flung sht teams. you want a lichtenstein or san marino, not an Azerbaijan and Georgia types. - nightmares waiting to happen.

Romania as the second seed in your group and you've really got to back yourself...

[backtowalsall]

I'd like

Croatia
Romania
Ireland
Wales
Liechtenstein
San Marino

No tricky games in the former USSR. 12 guaranteed points. Trip to Cardiff. Handy qualification

I must have been sniffing glue when i wrote that.

Croatia would be a disaster.

Give me France, Czech Republic or Greece please.

[Junior]

From uefa.com

The 51 teams will be drawn into nine groups: six groups of six teams and three groups of five. Qualifying matches will be played according to the international match calendar between September 2010 and November 2011, on Fridays/Saturdays and Tuesdays. The nine group winners and the best runner-up will join hosts Poland and Ukraine at UEFA EURO 2012™. The eight remaining runners-up will contest home-and-away play-off games on 11/12 and 15 November 2011, with the four eventual victors also progressing to the finals. The EURO is scheduled to be played between 8 June and 1 July 2012.

A bit of change from the usual International fixtures.

[foureyes]

From uefa.com

The 51 teams will be drawn into nine groups: six groups of six teams and three groups of five. Qualifying matches will be played according to the international match calendar between September 2010 and November 2011, on Fridays/Saturdays and Tuesdays. The nine group winners and the best runner-up will join hosts Poland and Ukraine at UEFA EURO 2012™. The eight remaining runners-up will contest home-and-away play-off games on 11/12 and 15 November 2011, with the four eventual victors also progressing to the finals. The EURO is scheduled to be played between 8 June and 1 July 2012.

A bit of change from the usual International fixtures.

they should say NOW if the playoffs will be seeded or not, and on what criteria.

in fact i'm going to email uefa to ask.

[Junior]

they should say NOW if the playoffs will be seeded or not, and on what criteria.

in fact i'm going to email uefa to ask.

Read some of the other posts. It will be seeded and the seeded team will be home in the 2nd game.

[foureyes]

Read some of the other posts. It will be seeded and the seeded team will be home in the 2nd game.

cheers, i overlooked that.

[SuperDave]

From uefa.com

The 51 teams will be drawn into nine groups: six groups of six teams and three groups of five. Qualifying matches will be played according to the international match calendar between September 2010 and November 2011, on Fridays/Saturdays and Tuesdays. The nine group winners and the best runner-up will join hosts Poland and Ukraine at UEFA EURO 2012™. The eight remaining runners-up will contest home-and-away play-off games on 11/12 and 15 November 2011, with the four eventual victors also progressing to the finals. The EURO is scheduled to be played between 8 June and 1 July 2012.

A bit of change from the usual International fixtures.

It's another example of club power. Clubs were pis*sed off with players only getting back on friday nights from wednesday games in peru, azerbaijan, timbuktu etc so lobbied hard, with the result being friday night games (i'm sure LOI will be happy!) cutting a day out of international prep time (there being no league games since the previous monday) and bringing the midweeks forward to tuesday to give the clubs an extra day.

Fair for big clubs, hard luck for little clubs and international teams.

[jo84]

It's another example of club power. Clubs were pis*sed off with players only getting back on friday nights from wednesday games in peru, azerbaijan, timbuktu etc so lobbied hard, with the result being friday night games (i'm sure LOI will be happy!) cutting a day out of international prep time (there being no league games since the previous monday) and bringing the midweeks forward to tuesday to give the clubs an extra day.

Fair for big clubs, hard luck for little clubs and international teams.

Agreed that its sh1t but apparently teams can decide at the fixtures meeting if they want to play on friday or saturday. so if its not a double-header, saturday is still fine, so teams still get an extra day to prepare. the friday option is there for the double headers, because tuesday is now compulsory, if teams want 4 days between games still, they can play friday and tues.

[Greenforever]

Completely against Fri matches as the athmosphere at home would be poorer similar to a Weds night or Sat afternoon. For Fri away matches its another day off work.

Tuesday wont be any different from Wednesday except for 1 less day off work for away games as we'd do Sun to Weds instead of Mon to Thurs.

Champions League teams are used to playing Sat / Tues or Sun / Weds so it shouldnt be a problem and will most likely be the same for all.

The only potential spanner is if Countries dont have to choose there dates at the fixtures meetings it makes it more difficult to plan ahead if you are not sure of match dates, and TV rights will then influence what dates, for example Sky will pay more for us to play on a Fri if there are no other "home nations" playing that night etc.

[Hibernian]

I really cant believe that UEFA are going get away with the seedings again. I mean to have the seeded team at Home second? I mean I would not mind if it was based on the four best runners up on points getting home advantage but this is another new low.

[Colbert Report]

Drawing Slovakia would be a disaster.