World Cup Qualifying Group 8

[geysir]

Yeah it's true.

Anyway, like a few others, if it came to it, I would prefer a crunch must win against Italy than a 2 legged tie with Russia or croatia.

[Duggie]

I havent been looking forward to a game that hasnt included ireland like this ever.

[Schumi]

I find very little enjoyment in watching a game hoping for a draw. You spend the whole game hoping people will miss any chances that come up.

[DeLorean]

I havent been looking forward to a game that hasnt included ireland like this ever.

I can totally see it being an anti-climatic comfortable Azzurri win. The Italian match at Croker will then bare resemblance to the 0-0 draw with Germany in the last campaign, except of course a playoff spot will be as good as assured.

[Stuttgart88]

It's not a no brainer for the pessimistically inclined, fearing a Murphy's Law scenario.cautiously inclined?

I dunno: I prefer an outcome that means we're still likely to be in the WC on 15th October over an outcome that makes it far less likely.

If you play Russian Roulette you'd obviously prefer a gun with one bullet in the barrel rather than 2, even if the second gun included a chamber where you'd get a shag with Angelina Jolie if you miss a bullet.

[DeLorean]

I find very little enjoyment in watching a game hoping for a draw. You spend the whole game hoping people will miss any chances that come up.

Well Italy scoring first wouldn't be too bad because at least it puts the worst case scenario pretty much to bed, ie. a Bulgarian win.

[Duggie]

I can totally see it being an anti-climatic comfortable Azzurri win. The Italian match at Croker will then bare resemblance to the 0-0 draw with Germany in the last campaign, except of course a playoff spot will be as good as assured.

cant see that, bulgaria will surely be going all out for the win. i dont rate this italian team much atal at the minute. if gilardino plays he might nick a goal other than that i dont really see where the goals will come from.

[paul_oshea]

That would be like 3 bullets to me Stutts.

Is there a stream for this or will i have to go to teh pub as usual?!

[Duggie]

I find very little enjoyment in watching a game hoping for a draw. You spend the whole game hoping people will miss any chances that come up.

ya know what u mean, unless 1 team scores then ud be willing the other team to equalize :ball:

[elroy]

cant see that, bulgaria will surely be going all out for the win. i dont rate this italian team much atal at the minute. if gilardino plays he might nick a goal other than that i dont really see where the goals will come from.

Well if we were supporting Bulgaria, I think we'd be realistically saying that we need to go for it and try win this game tonight. Almost the position we were in away to Swiss a few years back. With the attacking power they have, they will cause the Italians problem. The Italians tactics will be more interesting, what kind of mindset will they have. I think tactics ala Trap may be employed, sit back defend and hit them on the break.

[DeLorean]

I think tactics ala Trap may be employed, sit back defend and hit them on the break.

I think that is always the Italians tactics, regardless.

[SuperDave]

That would be like 3 bullets to me Stutts.

Is there a stream for this or will i have to go to teh pub as usual?!

rte 2 730...

and i'd certainly like a draw tonight.... the italy game then becomes a one-legged playoff.... at home.... with no away fans!!

also, come on the dutchies!

[paul_oshea]

Dave as super as you are and all im outside ireland so cant watch rte unless in a pub. I dont really wantt o go to the pub and was hoping for a stream.

[Eirambler]

I'd say there'll be a few streams kicking about as usual. I just have to decide whether to watch Italy or Scotland. Don't fancy watching a game where I'm hoping for a 0-0 draw, so I might just watch the Scots and keep an eye on here for Ita/Bul updates.

[tricky_colour]

A couple of sites, iraqgoals and adthe have it listed so it should be shown, they are often just copies of justintv links.
Again they could have the plugs pulled on them any at anytime, however you should be able to get it somewhere as Italy are a 'big team' so to speak.
Montenegro V Cyprus ayt 7:15 might be somewhat harder to find.

[SuperDave]

Dave as super as you are and all im outside ireland so cant watch rte unless in a pub. I dont really wantt o go to the pub and was hoping for a stream.

myp2p.eu usually have links, though quality is sporadic....

also, I thought you were in Ireland cos your location says mayo, but you are obviously only there spiritually.

[Sproston Green]

Sorry to those looking for a link to RTE outside Ireland....I watched via proxy server

http://www.ukproxyserver.co.uk/info/Irish-TV-Streaming-RTE-Player-and-TV3

Too late now, but it's there for future reference - sorry I didn't check here earlier

I am in the Uk and watched the match on RTE2...proxy server for poxy match

[tricky_colour]

1 Italy .............8 5 2 0 11 3 +10 20
2 Rep of Ireland. 8 4 4 0 10 6.. +4 16
3 Bulgaria .........8 2 5 0 10 5.. +3 11
4 Cyprus .......... 8 1 2 4 7 11 ...4 _6
5 Montenegro.... 8 0 4 3 6 12 ..-6 _5
6 Georgia ......... 8 0 3 5 4 11 ..-7 _3

10/10/09 Montenegro - Georgia Georgia
10/10/09 Cyprus - Bulgaria
10/10/09 Republic of Ireland - Italy
14/10/09 Republic of Ireland - Montenegro
14/10/09 Italy - Cyprus
14/10/09 Bulgaria - Georgia

I think that's right, we need 2 points to guarantee qualification, one is not enough because of goal difference.

So either two draws or one win.
Should we lose to Italy we go into the last game agaist Montenegro needing to win, assuming Bulgaria win their matches.

It would be great if Cyprus could hold Bulgaria to a draw, that is a good possibility as Bulgaria have drawn away to Montenegro and Georgia, that would give us a play-off place.

[shakermaker1982]

Even if we beat Italy and Montenegro we'd still still need Cyprus to do us a favour away from home. Play offs it is then!

[Claret Murph]

Yep the play offs , now who we get is another question ..........

[SuperDave]

It would be great if Cyprus could hold Bulgaria to a draw, that is a good possibility as Bulgaria have drawn away to Montenegro and Georgia, that would give us a play-off place.

no, cos we would then probably need one point to avoid being the worst runner up....

[eaststand85]

Just to throw the cat amongst the pigeons a little, been looking again at the tables and unless I'm mistaken:

We could still finish in second and not qualify if we don't pick up any more points and Bulgaria don't win their last two matches. Both Norway and ourselves currently have a goal difference of +2 so obviously if we lose both matches we'd remain on the same actual points as them (and if Montenegro beat us then Georgia would remain bottom of the group so our second placed team ranking total points would also remain unaffected) but have a worse goal difference .

[boovidge]

If we don't beat Montenegro at home we don't deserve to go. Simple as that.

[SuperDave]

Just to throw the cat amongst the pigeons a little, been looking again at the tables and unless I'm mistaken:

We could still finish in second and not qualify if we don't pick up any more points and Bulgaria don't win their last two matches. Both Norway and ourselves currently have a goal difference of +2 so obviously if we lose both matches we'd remain on the same actual points as them (and if Montenegro beat us then Georgia would remain bottom of the group so our second placed team ranking total points would also remain unaffected) but have a worse goal difference .

you are correct, but the bigger risk is losing to italy, drawing with montenegro and the bulgarians overtaking us.... though as the cyprus v bulgaria games is over before our game v italy starts, if bulgaria do not win, i absolutely expect our game to be a mutually convenient draw!