The 2nd place qualifying table

[SuperDave]

So is this settled after tonight?..... All games appear to be over in group 9 and the total is 10 points, we also have a better goal difference(unless we lose our last two)

yeah, 'cept 0 pts is quite unlikely to get us second in our group.... also, our GD is same as Norways....

anyway, 2pts in our two games is enough now, plus as the italians only need 1pt in dublin, i predict a draw

[backstothewall]

What is it about Ireland needing a draw, Italy needing a draw, and the Ireland manager being a legend in Italy that makes you think its going to be a draw? :D

[Montenegrin]

Congratulations Ireland,you deserved it!I think that it is better for you that Bulgaria lost against Italy.Now,you have nothing to worry about.You are 2nd certanly and there is no chance for you to finish worst 2nd.
Congratulations once again!

[stiffler]

Will 1 point from our 2 games be enough to get us 2nd place?

[eaststand85]

Congratulations Ireland,you deserved it!I think that it is better for you that Bulgaria lost against Italy.Now,you have nothing to worry about.You are 2nd certanly and there is no chance for you to finish worst 2nd.
Congratulations once again!

Fair play Montenengerin thanks, how was your match? Disappointed not to win or happy with draw?

[thepiedpiper]

Will 1 point from our 2 games be enough to get us 2nd place?
Hamilton was saying it does but not if Bulgaria win their last two and we get 1 point they are ahead of us by my reckoning.

[tricky_colour]

Hamilton was saying it does but not if Bulgaria win their last two and we get 1 point they are ahead of us by my reckoning.

Yes I think we need 2 points if we lose one and draw one our goal differnce will be at best +3, however if Bulgaria win their last two games their goal difference will be at least +5.

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.

[Stuttgart88]

Congratulations Ireland,you deserved it!I think that it is better for you that Bulgaria lost against Italy.Now,you have nothing to worry about.You are 2nd certanly and there is no chance for you to finish worst 2nd.
Congratulations once again!

Thanks. Nothing is certain yet though!

[Stuttgart88]

we need 2 points to guarantee qualification, one is not enough because of goal difference.Correct. Assuming Bulgaria win both of theirs but Cyprus away won't be a sure thing.

I think we're in a good enough place to be honest. We can complain about dropped points against Bulgaria (twice) but we'd all have accepted this situation a year ago. There look to be some beatable teams in the play offs too.

Just out of interest: were Italy any good tonight?

[kingdomkerry]

Will FIFA seed the qualifiers ie top four teams seeded and bottom four not. In that case we will need 4 points to get in to the top four.

[Eirambler]

You'd have to fear some kind of seeded play-off at this stage.

Portugal, France, Germany/Russia and Czech Republic in one pot

Greece, Bosnia, Croatia/Ukraine and Ireland in the other.

If Michel Platini gets anywhere near the draw it'll happen.

[MeathDrog]

You'd have to fear some kind of seeded play-off at this stage.

Portugal, France, Germany/Russia and Czech Republic in one pot

Greece, Bosnia, Croatia/Ukraine and Ireland in the other.

If Michel Platini gets anywhere near the draw it'll happen.
It's a joke really. Should've been clarified before the group games began.

[Montenegrin]

Fair play Montenengerin thanks, how was your match? Disappointed not to win or happy with draw?


Well,we worked hard to gain the lead.We finally succeded in 57th minute,only to concede few minutes later from first Cyprus corner,first chance and,alas,first shot on our goal during the whole game:(.We were lucky not to lose later,though...
It seems that we dont have much problems to get the lead,but than there is not chance for us to hold on to it(in friendlies we dont have such a problems:mad:).We are simply to naive.
Our goal now is to finish fourth(if we succede,we will be in fourth poth for next cyclus).
For that,we need to beat Georgia,but if we lose,we will finish last.That would not be pretty.

[Sproston Green]

They didn't need to be, but looked better than they have done recently. Good goals, very good move for 2nd - lovely interplay and build-up. Bulgaria had some half decent chances, but either good saves from Buffon, tame finishing or very lacklustre movement let them down.

I'm satisfied with 2nd - like you say, S88 we would have settled for this last year

[Montenegrin]

Thanks. Nothing is certain yet though!


You will beat us,dont worry.If we score one,you will score at least two,if we score 2,you will score at least 3...if we score 10,you will score at least 11:o.

[Eirambler]

It's a joke really. Should've been clarified before the group games began.


It should be, but this way they can set it up to suit themselves. They can use points in the group, world ranking or anything else they fancy to set up a seeding that puts the teams in the pots they want them. Or alternatively, as happened in Euro 2000, they can say its an open draw, yet pick the balls out in a ridiculously suspicious order that suits the bigger countries.

In other news, the footballing heavyweights that are Bahrain will be playing off against the other footballing heavyweights of New Zealand for a place at the World Cup. Man are we on the wrong continent.

[tricky_colour]

Correct. Assuming Bulgaria win both of theirs but Cyprus away won't be a sure thing.

I think we're in a good enough place to be honest. We can complain about dropped points against Bulgaria (twice) but we'd all have accepted this situation a year ago. There look to be some beatable teams in the play offs too.

Just out of interest: were Italy any good tonight?

I 'watched' the match on a stream but it was not very good and I was also watching England on TV so I didn't really get much of an idea, I missed the goals too so I don't know, but I think they may have been poor/lucky goals
so I would not say they were impressive and hence Bulgaria were not also.
I agree Cyprus is not a sure thing for them, I can see them drawing there which gives us second place.
Also hoping Cyprus could hold Italy to a draw but I can't see that happening somehow! However if they did it is possible for us to top the group!!


[Edit] seems I was wrong about Italy.

An Azzurri side containing seven Juventus players delivered their best performance of Marcello Lippi's second reign.
On 10 minutes Italy took the lead with a fantastic goal from Grosso.
On 39 minutes, Italy doubled their lead with another brilliant goal.

I was just going by some of the comment by someone in the room, which seem to be somewhat wide of the mark, probably why I missed most of the game reading some of the garbage they were typing , + the stream was froze half the time and hence pretty unwatchable especially as it was a very poor picture anyway.

http://goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/09/09/1491071/italy-2-0-bulgaria-grosso-iaquinta-on-the-scoresheet-as-italjuve-

[Montenegrin]

It should be, but this way they can set it up to suit themselves. They can use points in the group, world ranking or anything else they fancy to set up a seeding that puts the teams in the pots they want them. Or alternatively, as happened in Euro 2000, they can say its an open draw, yet pick the balls out in a ridiculously suspicious order that suits the bigger countries.

In other news, the footballing heavyweights that are Bahrain will be playing off against the other footballing heavyweights of New Zealand for a place at the World Cup. Man are we on the wrong continent.


It is utter stupidity,the way how they choose play off matches.It is not fair,becouse team rankings are taken into consideration twice,when they draw the groups and again now.Imagine champions league semi finals where they are puting teams into pots.
I think that every team that made it to the play-offs should have an equal chance.

[richieos]

I 'watched' the match on a stream but it was not very good and I was also watching England on TV so I didn't really get much of an idea, I missed the goals too so I don't know, but I think they may have been poor/lucky goals
so I would not say they were impressive and hence Bulgaria were not also.
I agree Cyprus is not a sure thing for them, I can see them drawing there which gives us second place.
Also hoping Cyprus could hold Italy to a draw but I can't see that happening somehow! However if they did it is possible for us to top the group!!

Both Italy goals were excellent flowing moves, with pirlo heavily involved, he looks to be in good form.

[Eirambler]

It is utter stupidity,the way how they choose play off matches.It is not fair,becouse team rankings are taken into consideration twice,when they draw the groups and again now.Imagine champions league semi finals where they are puting teams into pots.
I think that every team that made it to the play-offs should have an equal chance.

Well, we can only hope. We more or less know where we're headed now, so maybe there's enough time for John Delaney and the boys to have some input into how this is worked out.

[Crosby87]

I dont want any part of the Czechs. I guess either way it will be tough although people on here actually seem to be pretty upbeat about the chances to win a playoff.....Cant say I understand.

[elroy]

Would it be worthwhile getting onto the fai about this to urge them to get some clarification from uefa? We have nothing to lose.

[elroy]

I see Slovakia are almost guaranteed automatic qualification in Group 3. This is more or less the same team that we shouldve between twice under Stan!!

[stiffler]

You will beat us,dont worry.If we score one,you will score at least two,if we score 2,you will score at least 3...if we score 10,you will score at least 11:o.



No point in turning up if thats the case!!


Football can be a funny game at times!

[mypost]

alternatively, as happened in Euro 2000, they can say its an open draw, yet pick the balls out in a ridiculously suspicious order that suits the bigger countries.

Pure luck that it came out that way. Some people don't understand what the phrase "open draw" means.

Liverpool and Chelsea have met in the last 5 CL seasons. That's the luck of the draw.

[backstothewall]

I dont want any part of the Czechs. I guess either way it will be tough although people on here actually seem to be pretty upbeat about the chances to win a playoff.....Cant say I understand.

Your in luck. It looks like the Slovenians will be going into the playoffs from that group. It won't be the north anyway : ) (Couldn't resist it)

[geysir]

Just out of interest: were Italy any good tonight?
Best news for us was Cannavaro getting a 2nd yellow.

Italy were top class when they needed to be, scored 2, sat on that. Cannavaro razor sharp at the back. Bulgaria had a lackadaisical approach with a bunch of individually gifted players not functioning as a team.
Strange game in the second half, anything could have happened at any time Bulgaria did not care enough, missing that outlaw gunslinger grit that you had with players like Stoichkov and Balakov, to nail Italy.

Though I watched the game recorded and speeded up through much of the play.
I went to see Iceland play, of all teams, Georgia.
Weird world sometimes.

[geysir]

Beanhacker gone.

Lucky we didn't get him :)

[backstothewall]

Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD AG Pts
4 Russia 7 6 0 1 16 4 +12 4 18
7 France 7 3 3 1 9 8 +1 5 12
3 Slovenia 7 3 2 2 8 4 +4 1 11
6 Croatia 7 3 2 2 11 12 −1 4 11
5 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6 3 1 2 15 7 +8 5 10
2 Greece 6 3 1 2 9 6 +3 6 10
9 Norway 8 2 4 2 9 7 +2 1 10
8 Republic of Ireland 6 2 4 0 6 4 +2 4 10
1 Sweden 6 2 3 1 4 3 +1 2 9

Looks good doesn't it. If we avoid France and Russia I think we have a great chance of going through. Even Croatia don't worry me that much without Modric

[geysir]

France are in rag order it appears.
Not to be feared.

[SwanVsDalton]

Fingers crossed for Greece, Norway or Slovenia. I wouldn't much fancy anybody else. Croatia and Sweden are nowhere near the teams they were, but they'd still have too much for us imo.

[geysir]

Norway would be the dream team.

[richieos]

according to wikipedia, the draw for the 2006 world cup playoffs were seeded due to world rankings, which is stupid IMO. has nothing to do with performances in the qualification process

[eekers]

according to wikipedia, the draw for the 2006 world cup playoffs were seeded due to world rankings, which is stupid IMO. has nothing to do with performances in the qualification process

Fifa are gonna keep the big teams apart in a draw. Its in their commercial interests. Same way its in their interest to have 32 teams from around the world in the competition and not just having the best 32 teams.

[Eirambler]

Pure luck that it came out that way. Some people don't understand what the phrase "open draw" means.
Liverpool and Chelsea have met in the last 5 CL seasons. That's the luck of the draw.

Ya. FIFA. :(

[jbyrne]

In other news, the footballing heavyweights that are Bahrain will be playing off against the other footballing heavyweights of New Zealand for a place at the World Cup. Man are we on the wrong continent.

think the bahrain v saudi match had an unbelievable end last night. 1-1 going into injury time with bahrain going through as it stood, then saudi score and they are going through only for bahrain to equalise with seconds to go and now they face nez zealand. was on eurosport

[endabob1]

Norway would be the dream team.

Yes but it'll never happen because.....


Fifa are gonna keep the big teams apart in a draw. Its in their commercial interests. Same way its in their interest to have 32 teams from around the world in the competition and not just having the best 32 teams.

Just like UEFA did for Euro 2000 when we ended up with the Turks

[bennocelt]

Beanhacker gone.

Lucky we didn't get him :)

he did as much as he could............the players never stepped up to the plate......anyway he did get them into a Euro champs

[Bungle]

Personally, I think that FIFA will have to have an open draw. Anyhow, a number of groups are still up for grabs. Croatia could be pipped by Ukraine and there is a real possibility that Portugal will finish ahead of Sweden. Latvia could pip Greece too.

Anyhow here comes the predictions of all teams we are likely to meet:

Ireland 1 Sweden 0
Sweden 1 Ireland 1

Ireland 0 Portugal 1
Portugal 2 Ireland 1

Ireland 1 Greece 0
Greece 1 Ireland 1

Ireland 2 Latvia 1
Latvia 1 Ireland 1

Ireland 1 Czech Republic 2
Czech Rep 1 Ireland 1

Ireland 1 Slovenia 0
Slovenia 1 Ireland 1

Ireland 1 Russia 1
Russia 2 Ireland 1

Ireland 2 Bosnia 1
Bosnia 1 Ireland 1

Ireland 2 Croatia 0
Croatia 1 Ireland 0

Ireland 0 Ukraine 0
Ukraine 1 Ireland 1

Ireland 0 France 0
France 2 Ireland 0

Ireland 2 Norway 0
Norway 0 Ireland 0

[shakermaker1982]

I wouldn't fancy our chances against Russia/Germany, France and Portugal.

I think we'd give Sweden and Croatia a game but they would still be massive favourites.

Greece, Slovenia, Norn Iron and Bosnia are our best bets but I don't think FIFA will allow us to be paired up with them. The dreaded away goals rule as well......

[Bungle]

I wouldn't fancy our chances against Russia/Germany, France and Portugal.

I think we'd give Sweden and Croatia a game but they would still be massive favourites.

Greece, Slovenia, Norn Iron and Bosnia are our best bets but I don't think FIFA will allow us to be paired up with them. The dreaded away goals rule as well......

Funny enough, I think we'd have a much better chance against Germany than Russia. Even when Germany have had the best team in the world, Ireland have always given them a game. Our style seems to be able to match their style okay. Would be really worried about Russia.

[graham_d]

Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD AG Pts
4 Russia 7 6 0 1 16 4 +12 4 18
7 France 7 3 3 1 9 8 +1 5 12
3 Slovenia 7 3 2 2 8 4 +4 1 11
6 Croatia 7 3 2 2 11 12 −1 4 11
5 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6 3 1 2 15 7 +8 5 10
2 Greece 6 3 1 2 9 6 +3 6 10
9 Norway 8 2 4 2 9 7 +2 1 10
8 Republic of Ireland 6 2 4 0 6 4 +2 4 10
1 Sweden 6 2 3 1 4 3 +1 2 9

Looks good doesn't it. If we avoid France and Russia I think we have a great chance of going through. Even Croatia don't worry me that much without Modric

If these teams were seeded according to the world rankings, we'd get:

6 Russia
9 Croatia
10 France
12 Greece
38 Ireland
41 Sweden
43 Norway
45 Slovenia
46 Bosnia and Herzegovina

So we're currently unseeded. Greece could be overtaken by Latvia, I suppose, who are at #58, and that would get us seeded. However Portugal (17), Czech Republic (18) and Turkey (27) are all higher-ranked and could still get in from their respective groups.

[Duggie]

portugal and france would be 2 no no's. could see us been done badly in lisbon. if henry, benzema and ribery had a good night either it would be bye bye SA.

[ifk101]

Portugal have been very poor so far in the qualifiers. Similar to South Africa against us actually - lots of possession but nobody to score the goals.

[geysir]

Like Norway, NI have no chance of making it.

Somehow I think Germany will manage to do what they have to and Russia will be in the play offs.
Slovenia next have to play Slovakia away who will want to secure top spot. To me it looks like the Czech Rep will nip in there.

Russia is the only team that would be strong favourites (based on form) against us.
For the rest, we have slightly better or slightly worse than a 50/50 chance of getting through..

[Stuttgart88]

France are in rag order it appears.
Not to be feared.Coming from 1 down in Serbia with only 10 men was pretty commendable though.

I can see Ireland boring anyone into submission over two games in a few days.

[shakermaker1982]

you only need a bit of magic from Henry/Ribery and it's game over. The last time we played France at home being a prime example. Domenech should have gone after Euro 2008 and his tactics IMO do weaken them as a team but they have enough individual quality to punish us if our back four switches off (which is not beyond the realms of possibility). I'd hope we kept well away of France but saying that Paris would be a good away trip......

[fergalr]

Norway will be the worst second place team so they're out - right?

We'd want to avoid France and Hiidinck's Russia. Like to avoid Greece too. Otherwise the rest look emminently beatable.

If Portugal manage to rescue themselves and get drawn against us then we simply have to draft Bermingham in from the U21s as he's got a proven track record of marking Ronando out of a game.

[Duggie]

greece would be beatable. hardly going to tear us apart. i cant believe people would think portugal wouldnt be a disaster. mightn be 100% right now but i cud see us getting beaten well out there. them and france. everyone else is a lottery. dont think russia are world beaters.

[Colbert Report]

I agree, Portugal would tear us apart. Ronaldo vs. Kilbane. Enough said.