Albania 6 Cyprus 1

[SkStu]

probably two games played home and away going on past qualifications...

[gspain]

nah, scotland's group should provide the worst runner up.... but i agree with about montenegro

also, drawing with italy may well be possible, if they come here only needing a draw to qualify.

anyway, i hate this stage of qualifying campaigns as i can't help but speculate and ponder all the what ifs.... i just want the games to happen already.

I agree but Norway need to beat Iceland (A) and Macedonia (H) to reach 12 points. Scotland can make 13 with a bad GD if they beat Holland and Macedonia.

If we get a win and 2 draws then even if Bulgaria lose in Turin we would still likely lose out to Norway on Goal Difference.

We need to win in Cyprus anything else would be a major disappointment.

[shakermaker1982]

Very good post irishfan. Reminds me of Gaelic Football where Kerry hammer Mayo, Mayo do really well against Tyrone and Kerry struggle big time against Tyrone. Different strengths and weaknesses exposed. Don't really agree with the last bit though as Whelan was part of a midfield that struggled in a big way at Croke Park against Cyprus, might be different away though.

boxing even more so. Styles make fights!

If we do make the qualifiers will they seed teams or are they waiting to see how many 'big' nations finish 2nd before making a decision? I had a look on the FIFA website a few months ago and it was vague.

[youngirish]

BTW Montenegro at home is no gimme either. They are a decent side and will cause us problems.
This lad will be delighted if he's up against the likes of Andrews and Whelan in midfield.

http://www.skysports.com/football/transfers/scout/

[geysir]

We'll see if he is as delighted after the game as Petrov and Berbatov were in Sofia.

[gspain]

Jovetic played in Podgorica and was one of their better players. The most we deserved that night was a draw.

[Stuttgart88]

I was away so didn't see this result.

I still think we'll eek out a win.

I thought wewere the better team for most of the first half against Australia, especially considering that Doyle was a passenger. Dunne, St. Ledger and Given hadn't really dusted off the cobwebs at all. I think a match sharp central defence will make a big difference.

That said, the last time we got a pre season spanking at home we went over to Cyprus and got a proper competitive spanking.

Generally speaking I'm pretty happy with how our squad members have started the regular season in England & Scotland.

[SuperDave]

I was away so didn't see this result.

I still think we'll eek out a win.

I thought wewere the better team for most of the first half against Australia, especially considering that Doyle was a passenger. Dunne, St. Ledger and Given hadn't really dusted off the cobwebs at all. I think a match sharp central defence will make a big difference.

That said, the last time we got a pre season spanking at home we went over to Cyprus and got a proper competitive spanking.

Generally speaking I'm pretty happy with how our squad members have started the regular season in England & Scotland.

yes, but in that game we had a superb central midfield not at all in any way overrun by a larger, more muscular cypriot side ;)