QuoteIm looking for a draw against Bulgaria and win the remaining 3 games
EB,
I think its fair to say we'll need to be unbeaten to stay ahead of Bulgaria in 2nd place. I don't think 3 draws and a win at home to Montenegro will be enough. Its simple: draws against the big two, and beat Cyprus away.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Im looking for a draw against Bulgaria and win the remaining 3 games
not lose away to bulgaria
not lose at home to Italy
win the other two
that gives us a minimum of 20 points, minus the 6 points gained against Georgia (assuming Georgia finish bottom) is 14
Could be tight, very tight
We could really have done with Georgia beating Montenegro last night. It's hard to see anyone but Georgia finishing bottom now..
That 2nd place table is actually quite scary. Given the fixtures we have left we could well finish bottom of that table. Our best bet might be if Scotland fail to beat Norway away and Holland at home.
Jumping on the optimism of last nights result and hoping that at worst we got a play off spot, who would we like to play and who would we like to avoid given the current standings in other groups. Ive underlined those who I believe to be likely candidates for play offs given the fixtures that remain in their respective group. Its narrowed down to a choice of 21.
G1 P Pts
Denmark 5 13
Hungary 6 13
Portugal 5 6
G2 P Pts
Greece 6 13
Swiss 6 13
Latvia 6 10
G3 P Pts
Norn Iron 7 13
Slovakia 5 12
Poland 6 10
G4 P Pts Winners : Germany 6 16
Russia 5 12
Finland 4 7
G5 P Pts Winners Spain 6 18
Bos/Her 6 12
Turkey 6 8
G6 P Pts Winner: England 5 15
Croatia 5 10
Ukraine 4 7
G7 P Pts
Serbia 5 12
France 5 10
Lithuania 6 9
G9 P Pts Winners : Holland 5 15
Scotland 5 7
Iceland 5 6
FYRMac 4 3
Norway 3 2
Who is this guy, Trapper Tony?
Yeah it's going to be tight. We have to look at Scotland's group because the others are too hard to judge right now. It's looking very likely they'll get second place.
If they win against Macedonia and Norway and lose to Netherlands they'll be on 13 points.
From our group, lets say Georgia come last (highly likely), we'll then need 20 points to ensure we beat Scotland's record. We'll therefore have to beat Cyprus and Montenegro and draw with Bulgaria and Italy. That will give us the 20 points!
Should Scotland draw away to Norway instead (also likely), Ireland could afford to draw with Cyprus or Montenegro.
It's not an impossible task! But easier said than done.
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Re: opponenants, definitely someone from Group 3 at this stage, Group 2 would be ok, Bosnia in Group 5 would be great. And Scotland as well if they are in the Top 8 alongside ourselves.
I predict 2nd places to be as follows:
Group 1 - Sweden, Denmark or Portgual (too hard to call)
Group 2 - Greece/Switzerland (same again)
Group 3 - N.Ireland/Poland/Slovakia/Czech Rep.
Group 4 - Russia
Group 5 - Bosnia/Turkey
Group 6 - Croatia/Ukraine
Group 7 - Serbia/France
Group 8 - Ireland/Bulgaria
Group 9 - Scotland
Very hard still to narrow it down!
look once it goes to a play off its a lottery anyway no matter who ya get. i still think we should be looking to top this group, forget 2nd place.
I think Russia will win their group, if they win their game in hand (Finland away in June) they will one point behind Germany and host them in Moscow in October. The Russians have a fantastic record on home soil, they are pretty much unbeatable. Having seen the match in Dortmund 6 months ago (Russia dominated but lost 2-1) I think it will be another Red October and the Germans will come a cropper in the snows of Moscow.
It's expecting a lot, but if Georgia somehow manage to avoid finishing bottom we're likely to make it. Otherwise, it's very iffy.
It would be absolutely devastating to finish second and not even make the play offs. Let's pray it doesn't happen.
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its got to happen to someone though , hopefully results in other games will run in our favourOriginally Posted by jmurphyc
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I woke, and found that life was Duty.
Crap system very unfair on whatever 2nd placed team doesn't make it, why can't they just have 1 of the 2nd placed teams play an Asian team.
If that happens I doubt it'll be Scotland finishing 2nd anyway.We can't just look at that table on wikipedia and hope all the teams in it at this moment lose points. Just have to hope for plenty of draws in the other groups.
For me though Group 1 is favourite to miss out. Very competitive group.
3.5 teams qualify from Concecaf, which is a joke. It should be 2.5. But FIFA always seem to have an inflated view of this region, just look at Mexico and USAs rankings in the FIFA rankings
Incidently i dont think we will be the worst second place. Baring San Marino, in Northern Irelands group anyone can take points off anyone. Also Portugal are doing brutal in their group, that wont last and they will take points off Denmark and Sweden. Also Scotland are brutal
simple to finish second anyway we need to win matches...bulgaria cyprus and montenegro. if we are worst runner up then we didnt do enough...look at n.ireland and bosnia..big wins in big games.
TBH I cant see scotland beating Norway, i reckon they will lose out there
4 points from Bulgaria and Cyprus away and our 2nd place is set in stone IMO.
You've got no fans.
Yes, a special FIFA unseeded lottery where the teams that should be seeded avoid each other and get drawn away first!
Wasn't it 280/1 or something like that?
Anyway this thread is a jinx, it's tempting 3rd place in a big way.
its only a realy bad jinx if George Hamilton logs in and posts saying that 2nd place is looking likely now.
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