The 2nd place qualifying table

[teckno]

Seen as only one team that finishes second in their group will NOT make the playoffs, has anybody got an up to date table on where the teams currently placed second now stand?

[DmanDmythDledge]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%28UEFA%29#Ranki ng_of_second-placed_teams

[tetsujin1979]

We'll probably be bottom of that table after wednesday's games
Croatia are playing Andorra, so that'll put them on 7 points
Iceland are playing Scotland, in Scotland, a win for either team puts them on 7 points, only a draw in that game would keep us out of the bottom spot in that table :(

On the other hand, should Georgia beat Montenegro in Georgia on wednesday, we'll be on 10 points in that table, since Montenegro will be bottom, and we've only taken one point off them.

[NeilMcD]

That table is out of date. We have 8 points on it it does not take into account last nights games.

[tetsujin1979]

We'll probably be bottom of that table after wednesday's games
Croatia are playing Andorra, so that'll put them on 7 points
Iceland are playing Scotland, in Scotland, a win for either team puts them on 7 points, only a draw in that game would keep us out of the bottom spot in that table :(

On the other hand, should Georgia beat Montenegro in Georgia on wednesday, we'll be on 10 points in that table, since Montenegro will be bottom, and we've only taken one point off them.
Sorry, I've got that wrong. Since Andorra are bottom of Croatia's group, when they win on Wednesday, that result will be disregarded in the second placed teams table, they'll still be on four points


That table is out of date. We have 8 points on it it does not take into account last nights games.
Seems ok to me, we're on 11 points according to the official FIFA standings - http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/standings/index.html Georgia are bottom of the table and we've beaten them twice, so those wins are disregarded. 11 - (2 x 3) = 11 - 6 = 5

[Crosby87]

Can't look at it seriously untill after Wednesday.

[NeilMcD]

Yeah but it has us on 7 points not 5 so its not up to date then.

[tetsujin1979]

it's been fixed

[SuperDave]

The important thing is for Georgia not to finish bottom.... If Montenegro finish there, all the better for us.

And this entire forum could do with some perspective.... 7 points clear of Bulgaria and favourites to make the playoffs. We are 4.8 on betfair to win the group and Bulgaria are 16. We're 1.15 for top two and they are 3.1. Lets keep some perspective.

[Dodge]

That betfir market is a bit misleading. There's only a total of €257 backing ireland to finish in top 2, and only €15 on Bulgaria

[zenokelly]

Imo, if Georgia don't finish 6th and we can maintain a healthy enough 2nd spot(i.e. 8-9 points from the next 5 games which we will do) we should have no problem making the play offs. If the Georgians do finish last, we will be in or around that 9th 2nd placed team. I'm definitely looking for as many draws as possible in group 9 which is very tight and at the moment would be favourites to be the group with the worst 2nd place.

[cobra]

Imo, if Georgia don't finish 6th and we can maintain a healthy enough 2nd spot(i.e. 8-9 points from the next 5 games which we will do)

8-9 points, 3pts at home to Montenegro(way were playing, thats not even a certain) the other 5-6 points are going to be hard come by.

[Umberside]

8-9 points, 3pts at home to Montenegro(way were playing, thats not even a certain) the other 5-6 points are going to be hard come by.

I expect we'll get something in Cyprus, maybe a draw at home to Italy and we'll beat Montenegro. So that's at least five points we should have.

[Ringo]

When are the playoffs & where? are they on a two leg basis?

[NeilMcD]

In November and they are 2 legs home and away

[zenokelly]

I dare say it but our group is in pole position to have the 9th place 2nd placed team with Georgia increasingly looking like they will bottome the group:mad:

Looks like it's between us, the English group, and Scottish group.

Croatia have 4 points after 3 games, while Scotland have 7 after 5, and we have 6 points after 4.

My money would be on Scotland from them 2 to do us a favour considering they have Holland at home and Norway away.

[SkStu]

it is imperative that we beat Cyprus away and get a result in Bulgaria. Presuming we beat Montenegro.

[Kingdom]

it is imperative that we beat Cyprus away and get a result in Bulgaria. Presuming we beat Montenegro.

Agreed. I think this Ireland squad will win in Nicosia, I just do. We can scramble a win at home to Montenegro, which just leaves the return matches with the big boys.

The flip side is that if we get any kind of result in Sofia, then its important that we kick on and win in Cyprus which I think we will.

I think if we're gonna come second we'll be grand for the playoff.
2 pts vs Bulgaira
2pts vs Italy
4 pts vs Montenegro
6 pts vs Cyprus.

14pts? That will be enough.

[SwanVsDalton]

Pretty difficult to estimate, there's a lot of football left to be played. And nearly all the groups are very tight.

[eirebhoy]

For me it's between our group, Group 1 and Group 9 for worst runner up. 12 points bar the bottom team is probably going to be close to the magic total to get into the playoffs so we'll probably need 2 wins from our last 4 games. 1 win and 3 draws may not be enough.

[Kingdom]

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.

[Naitch]

Im looking for a draw against Bulgaria and win the remaining 3 games

[tetsujin1979]

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

[holidaysong]

We could really have done with Georgia beating Montenegro last night. It's hard to see anyone but Georgia finishing bottom now..

[Maroon 7]

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.

[blobbyblob]

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

[mattl]

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.

------------------------

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!

[Duggie]

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.

[Closed Account 2]

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.

[jmurphyc]

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.

[RogerMilla]

It would be absolutely devastating to finish second and not even make the play offs. Let's pray it doesn't happen.

its got to happen to someone though , hopefully results in other games will run in our favour

[Morbo]

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.

[eirebhoy]

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.
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.

[carloz]

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.

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

[irishultra]

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.

[bennocelt]

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.




TBH I cant see scotland beating Norway, i reckon they will lose out there

[MeathDrog]

4 points from Bulgaria and Cyprus away and our 2nd place is set in stone IMO.

[Stuttgart88]

once it goes to a play off its a lottery anyway Yes, a special FIFA unseeded lottery where the teams that should be seeded avoid each other and get drawn away first!

[geysir]

Wasn't it 280/1 or something like that?

Anyway this thread is a jinx, it's tempting 3rd place in a big way.

[SkStu]

its only a realy bad jinx if George Hamilton logs in and posts saying that 2nd place is looking likely now.

[SUB of the day]

I can see it now, playing montenegro in the last game at croker with all positions in the group still possible.Jesus we could finish second and late goals in a selection of games across Europe could have us yo yoing between a playoff and elimination.........serious tension ahead, but at least we're in contention and competitive, (no offence Stan).Will the celebration in Bari be eclipsed?....surely croker will give us 1 game to remember?

[geysir]

its only a realy bad jinx if George Hamilton logs in and posts saying that 2nd place is looking likely now.
We can never discount the unexpected.
Proof tonight that the jinx of George is not confined to Ireland, no sooner had he claimed a MU victory than Porto get their second.

[Fizzer]

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.

Totally crap system, can see the fingernails getting chewed off in the last game against montenegro.

couldn't they just have put the three 2nd place teams with the lowest points into a round robin, each team to play each other once, top two go through. Might have been a fairer way to do it. I suppose it would be a playoff to get to another payoff so maybe not ideal.

[lionelhutz]

Wasn't it 280/1 or something like that?

Anyway this thread is a jinx, it's tempting 3rd place in a big way.

Or its tempting 1st...

[RogerMilla]

it really is going to be a rollercoaster this one , best we can hope for is going into the last game needing a win to cement not being the last placed 2nd team

[zenokelly]

A positive is that we'll know what we need in the final 2 games because Group 9 (Scotland's group) finishes in September.

[Kingdom]

A positive is that we'll know what we need in the final 2 games because Group 9 (Scotland's group) finishes in September.

Really really good point. I still see Norway coming second in that group, which would be better again.

I agree with the earlier poster that Croker owes us a magic night and lets hope its either against the Italians or those pesky Montenegrins.

This campaign has been one game at a time, each game more important than the last.

[lionelhutz]

I think this thread is redundant. We'll win our last four games and finish top of the group. So why worry about the 2nd places....

[Fizzer]

I think this thread is redundant. We'll win our last four games and finish top of the group. So why worry about the 2nd places....


Really hope you're right

[cartman]

I think this thread is redundant. We'll win our last four games and finish top of the group. So why worry about the 2nd places....

ridiculous comment in fairness - it will take a huge amount of luck {maybe all professional italian players to retire} for ireland to finish 1st..

so, in this case, its vital that ireland know where they stand when they are trying to secure a play-off place with a couple of games to go..

i think we should all get real about their situation..