Group 8 updates

[mypost]

Good results for us so far. Staunton must be in charge of Italy. :D

Seriously though, can't see Cyprus holding on.

[pineapple stu]

France pull a goal back in Austria. Paraguay 1-0 up in Argentina.

[beepbeep]

70 mins gone 1-1 : COME ON CYPRUS!! ye jammy feckers!!

[the-blue-harp]

:Dhoh hoh hoh!! off the line!

[irishultra]

Unlucky,but we are better team.I know that know.These Bulgarians does not play football.They are only defending.We should be able to beat them away.Surelly they will not have referee support like this.
Ireland,prepere yourself for defeat;)!Our offense is stroooooong!

Don't worry, we will be qualifed by the time we face you in the last game, we will give you victory in last game...

Nah serious, this game will be tough...one thing is for sure Montenegro will be far up the rankings in time.

[Delbertt]

I've a feeling Italy will sneek one

[adamcarr]

The young fella Christofi just bottled a great chance.

[pineapple stu]

They'd want to hurry up! 15 to go.

Edit - Austria 3-1 France!

[beepbeep]

:dhoh hoh hoh!! Off the line!


for who?

[the-blue-harp]

cyprus cleared one off the line, and have just gone very close from a corner, this is a great game to watch by the way.

[SUB of the day]

:( tight group would make it hot favourite to be one where 2nd placed team doesn't get play-off spot, imagine Italy not goin to 2010 to defend their title:D

[christo]

Austria gone 3-1 up, France shoulda sacked Domenc

[Carrigaline]

1-1 with 7 minutes left to go, c'mon Cyprus!

[pineapple stu]

Ten man Argentina equalise.

[beepbeep]

cyprus cleared one off the line, and have just gone very close from a corner, this is a great game to watch by the way.

WHAT CHANNEL is it on?

[christo]

channel 456 on sky

[pineapple stu]

456 on digital; see the second page of this thread.

[the-blue-harp]

oh my god, what do cyprus have to do to win this, they are thundering in the shots on goal. italy are under pressure.

[tricky_colour]

WHAT CHANNEL is it on?

http://www.justin.tv/gindilla

[beepbeep]

place yer bets now for a cheeky goal.....................

[tricky_colour]

Our 5:2 defeat looks like a decent result based on this game :D

[beepbeep]

http://www.justin.tv/gindilla


thanks man. excellent

[irishultra]

Cyprus a good bet to qualify? If they get their away record together they could spring a real suprise.

I love Group 8 :D

[the-blue-harp]

cheeky cheeky cheeky!

[cavan_fan]

The least surprising last minute goal of all time (2-1 Italy)

[beepbeep]

NNNNOOOOOOOOOO:mad:

[the-blue-harp]

they didnt deserve that at all. but thats the thing with teams like italy and germany, they always manage to get that goal.:(

[adamcarr]

Amazing goal all the same but Cyprus were robbed. This could turn out to be a great result for us.

[Delbertt]

Why are teams like this so feckin lucky

[tricky_colour]

Cyprus are a lot better than Georgia

[irishultra]

Both finished second bottom in their respective groups last time out.

Just because we beat Georgia doesn't mean they're **** in fairness. Bit of positivity Tricky Colour

[shakermaker1982]

I said to herself watch those Italians go grab a winner any minute now...........Cyprus were brilliant. They played some lovely football and deserved the win.

Looks like the Bulgarian's had a lucky escape as well.

[boovidge]

f*******************k :mad:

I cant believe it! 92 minutes!

I managed to persuade the guys in the pub to put the match on. Most people didnt seem to realise how significant the score was.

The worrying thing is Cyprus looked incredible! They clearly deserved to win! It'll be an incredibly tough match against them if they play like that.

[the-blue-harp]

again....we've got shay given!:D the moment i seen cyprus in our group, i was dreading that tie.

[Delbertt]

Two last minute goals tonight that could mean so much in this group, AGHHH

[christo]

Two last minute goals tonight that could mean so much in this group, AGHHH

Three last minute goals ;)

[Stuttgart88]

I looked at Cyprus and compared them man to man against our players, and also collectively and they definitely come out on top. That was proper football and very hard luck on their part. The Italian winner was quality though, and only came about following a manufactured stoppage for a Cypriot's cramp. Credit to Gattuso, one of the most honest players I've ever seen - one of the few modern footballers who'd stack up well against his rugby union or GAA equivalent.

All in all, a good day's work for Ireland I'd say. You don't get marks for technical merit in these games.

[boovidge]

Yeah i'm still pleased we got the 3 points but it could have been so much better. Italy dropping 2 points would have thrown the group wide open, even more than it is now.

For the neutral group 8 is fascinating.

[the-blue-harp]

second place in this group will be a real achievement.

[Delbertt]

Suppose at the end of the day we just have worry about our own results, and take each game as it comes, 3 points against montengro anyone?:)

[irishultra]

I looked at Cyprus and compared them man to man against our players, and also collectively and they definitely come out on top. That was proper football and very hard luck on their part. The Italian winner was quality though, and only came about following a manufactured stoppage for a Cypriot's cramp. Credit to Gattuso, one of the most honest players I've ever seen - one of the few modern footballers who'd stack up well against his rugby union or GAA equivalent.

All in all, a good day's work for Ireland I'd say. You don't get marks for technical merit in these games.

I didn't watch the game but I presume their game is based on high intensity counter-attack like Wales played under Mark Hughes.
It doesn't require much technique, just fast players.

[Stuttgart88]

No, their technique, passing, movement and team balance was superb. Tall, techical and athletic. Twice they narrowly missed from corners with Buffon rooted. I only saw the second half mind you (thanks Dodge or whoever pointed out that it was on cable).

[boovidge]

Cyprus missed two or three sitters so they only have themselves to blame. I watched the second half and they were easily the beter side.

[Montenegrin]

All in all,I think it is safe to say that our group will be most interesting.Italy will be first,off course,but not becouse they play best football,but becouse,simply,they are Italy.Lucky bustards.
I think that we can play on equal basis against any team in our group,but we will have problems with cards.I can not imagine our dissasterous defence even weaker:(.As long as we have our first team going better be prepared for us.Everybody including Italy.
Bulgaria is pretty weak team.Believe me,I know what I am talking about.I dont know what are they playing,it is not football for sure.They are defending with everyone of their 11 players(including Berbatov) and then playing counter-attacks(they are good at that).I can see their tactic work when they are away(although,they will not play against as weak defence as Montenegrin,so I dont think that they will score too many goals away in rest of the matches).I am just wandering how will that look like when they play home and when it is expected from them to attack against defending away team.I am prognosing that this will be disaster for them.Also,referee was on their side tonight.He gave them non existing free kick in 92. minute from which they scored.
I will talk about Ireland next week when
I see you playing against us.Prognosis 3-2 in our favor:).
Cyprus and Georgia are solid sides also.

[TheBoss]

Montenegro and Cyprus were robbed of the 3 points, I saw both games, Montenegro were impressive but at the back they struggled, their attacking play was brilliant but were unlucky that Georgiev scored that free kick. Cyprus were the better team throughout the whole, Italy had control for about 5 minutes in the game, Cyprus realistically, should have won 4-1, they were superior in everything. This group could be won by any of the sides.

[Maroon 7]

Montenegro and Cyprus were robbed of the 3 points, I saw both games, Montenegro were impressive but at the back they struggled, their attacking play was brilliant but were unlucky that Georgiev scored that free kick. Cyprus were the better team throughout the whole, Italy had control for about 5 minutes in the game, Cyprus realistically, should have won 4-1, they were superior in everything. This group could be won by any of the sides.

Well we know it'll be won by Italy and tonight shows why. Second best all game and they still come away with 3 points.

[TheBoss]

You could the say the same for Bulgaria.

[irishultra]

They only got a point, unless you mean something totaly different. We could say Ireland were nowhere near their best, yet still came away with 3 points...

[mypost]

We're in the toughest group by a mile. Cyprus couldn't hold on. There is a major difference between the Nicosia Cyprus, and the away version. Italy always start tentatively, but they have the power to win games like tonight. All to play for on Wednesday.

[tricky_colour]

Both finished second bottom in their respective groups last time out.

Just because we beat Georgia doesn't mean they're **** in fairness. Bit of positivity Tricky Colour

I am not saying Georgia are **** but we were never in danger of losing to them, Cyprus however are a different kettle of fish:-

"There was little difference between the two sides, Cyprus were unlucky many times. We could have lost this game," said Italy coach Marcello Lippi.

And that's coming from the team which is FIFA world ranked number two, we are ranked 38, our next trip to Cyprus will be no easier than the last, if we go into that match with any kind of complancy we can expect a similar result.

Italy had to produce some fantastic skill from a number of players to get the winner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDoxmrBu2-c