Portugal, Greece, France or Russia

[geysir]

Does that mean we won't be getting Greece?

We played them before in a friendly.
Probably most of us have that memory parked away in a dark place.

[Stuttgart88]

0-0 draw under Givens when Glen Crowe played.

1-0 (or 2-1) home defeat under Mick around 2000 I think. We lost back to back home friendlies to Greece and Scotland. I think it was prior to the WC02 campaign but not really sure.

[Noelys Guitar]

Does that mean we won't be getting Greece?

We played them before in a friendly.
Probably most of us have that memory parked away in a dark place.

Was that a Givens as manager match? 0-0. Did you watch the Russia game yesterday? And if you did what did you think of them. I just have this gut feeling it will be Greece or it miight be that half eaten Doner.

[DeNiro]

0-0 draw under Givens when Glen Crowe played.

1-0 (or 2-1) home defeat under Mick around 2000 I think. We lost back to back home friendlies to Greece and Scotland. I think it was prior to the WC02 campaign but not really sure.

Yeh we played Greece in April 2000, lost 1-0 I think. Gary Doherty and Alan Mahon made their debuts that night if I remember correctly

[geysir]

Was that a Givens as manager match? 0-0. Did you watch the Russia game yesterday? And if you did what did you think of them. I just have this gut feeling it will be Greece or it miight be that half eaten Doner.
Thats the game


The stream I had for the Russian game was no good but the Ukrainian game more than compensated.

That last minute goal for the Italians has disturbed the connections to my gut felings.

[cavan_fan]

If you look at english League Playoofs one thing you tend to find is that teams who are in form at the end of the season do best. It's often the team that was written off but just makes it into the playoff that are best. On that basis Id worry about Portugal who will have had to fight their way thropugh. Both russia and france have been guaranteed at least a plyoff for a while now. On that basis I'd have Portugal as my fourth choice. Only really attractive one would be Greece

[mypost]

Worst for travelling would be Russia, for numerous reasons. Greece would be a bit better, but still a long journey. Compared with France which is down the road, or Portugal which wouldn't be too bad.

Worst for football would be France. Everyone else I would fancy us to get a result out of.

[boysingreen]

Denmark, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Holland.

What do these 6 teams have in common? Of the 53 teams in European qualifying, they're the only ones who've remained unbeaten. Of course, we're the only unbeaten side that won't qualify automatically. Go figure! This ought to give us a fair amount of confidence though, and we're probably the pot 2 team the seeded teams will hope to avoid.

Cavan fan makes a great point. Portugal were on the verge of missing the playoffs, but they scored in the 87th minute to draw away to Denmark 1-1, then won 1-0 away to Hungary, and just beat Hungary 3-0 at home. That streak has left them just 1 point ahead of Sweden and 3 points ahead of Hungary. They've resurrected their campaign, and no doubt are a playoff team to be weary of.

[rambler14]

Ronaldo out for a month so he could be a major doubt for the play-offs.

[Stuttgart88]

If you look at english League Playoofs one thing you tend to find is that teams who are in form at the end of the season do best. It's often the team that was written off but just makes it into the playoff that are best. On that basis Id worry about Portugal who will have had to fight their way thropugh. Both russia and france have been guaranteed at least a plyoff for a while now. On that basis I'd have Portugal as my fourth choice. Only really attractive one would be Greecegood point. Then again, Greece have just won 5-2!

[KR's Post]

When we qualified for Japan/Korea in 02 we went the whole campaign unbeaten! The last time we qualified. Might be an omen. Hears hoping. What i'd do to face iran again though!!

[sheao]

There will be no easy game in this obiviously, but over 2 legs we are capable of beating those sides imo .

[Lionel Ritchie]

Preference would go Greece, Portugal, France, Russia.

[backstothewall]

The only team I don't would hold out no hope at all against is Russia. Any of the other 3 I give us a fighting chance against.

That said, even if we do get Russia, history tells us that one Whelan volley from 35 yards could change everything :D

[philliyk]

If it has to be Russia how hard will it be to get a visa to get into the country?? If i remember correctly did the mancs & chelski fans not have loads of trouble with this. Does anyone know more about this??

[backstothewall]

If it has to be Russia how hard will it be to get a visa to get into the country?? If i remember correctly did the mancs & chelski fans not have loads of trouble with this. Does anyone know more about this??

Most of that was to do with a fall-out between the Brits and Russia over the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. I would assume for us it will be tricky, but nowhere near as hard as it was for them.

[Gather round]

Most of that was to do with a fall-out between the Brits and Russia over the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. I would assume for us it will be tricky, but nowhere near as hard as it was for them

Congratulations on reaching the play offs.

If you do draw Russia, the currently high volume of visa applicatons may be a problem at short notice. More below:

http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.ie/home/index.aspx?id=437

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/europe/russian-federation

[Arnold Layne]

I've gone through the hassle of getting a Visa for Russia. Believe me it's an absolute nightmare. The Embassay opens for 3 hours a day and the queue's do be forming from early. If you're not there at 9am you won't make it to the top of the queue by 12. They are so slow it's unbelievable.

You'll have to get a letter of invitation too from the hotel you're staying at. It's got to the stage that when I have to get a Visa I go down at 7am to be first in the queue.

If Ireland get Russia and more then a couple of hundred are going the Embassay won't be able to cope with the demand, especially with the short time frame involved, add into that all the thicks that'll just turn up at the Embassay expecting to just get a Visa.

If you don't have the forms filled in correctly, your letter of invitation, your proof of travel etc, they won't entertain you.

[Razors left peg]

Seems more than bit ridiculous for a visa to be an issue to travel anywhere for the European Qualifying stages. I realise that they arent a european member but surely if they are competing in european competition UEFA should make it a condition of their entry that fans have easy access for games

[skimcg]

Visa is a pain to get for moscow, I remember champions league final, there was many issues, if we do get russia you would really need to get on the ball ie visa straight away. Portugal as cavan fan said will be tough, another night in the stade de france would be electric i think and i woulsnt fear them either after all the turbalence in their camp. all in all whether it will be athens or moscow or where ever it is , its going to be tough but i think out of them all id take france..!

[NeilMcD]

wont be an issure, what will happen i guess is that your match ticket will act as a visa. that is how they did it for the european cup final i believe.

[Arnold Layne]

wont be an issure, what will happen i guess is that your match ticket will act as a visa. that is how they did it for the european cup final i believe.

They did, but they were expecting 50 or 60 thousand applications in the UK. Only when they realised how many were going to that game from Ireland did they lift the restrictions here.

I reckon more Irish people went to the CL final then will be going to a play off should Ireland get Russia.

It would make sense to lift the restrictions though.

[SuperDave]

The worst thing about Russia would be the weather. If it wasn't in Moscow in November, I wouldn't mind. I mean, if we had two games against Russia on neutral territory, I believe we would stand a chance. It's just the Russian winter that worries me..... average daily low of -4 degrees, with a high of 0. And those are only averages!

The climate in Greece, Portugal and France at this time of the year is largely similar to ours, Athens slightly warmer (like September here) and Lisbon slightly wetter (more akin to Galway than Dublin).... though frankly no real difference in any of them.... and that is one of the key reasons I don't want Russia, cos they would freeze us out.

[Closed Account 2]

If it has to be Russia how hard will it be to get a visa to get into the country?? If i remember correctly did the mancs & chelski fans not have loads of trouble with this. Does anyone know more about this??

I've been there a few times and the visa is a pain in the arse, as is the OVIR registration (if you stay somewhere more than 72hrs you need to sign in at the local council - some hotels do this for you). It's a bit easier the last few times as my Russian is a bit better.

Also if you live abroad it can be difficult getting a visa on your domestic passport. By that I mean say you live in Frankfurt, London or NYC and want to travel on your Irish passport you are supposed to get the visa at the embassy in Dublin. Trying to get it at the embassy in London is, I can tell you from experience, hit and miss. If people hold dual nationality it will be easier to apply with the passport of the country you reside in.

To get a visa you need an invitation letter (usually a half decent hotel can provide this) and an itinerary of towns you are staying in. Put every place you might want to visit on this, eg. Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Volgograd... etc) as you wont get any hassle for missing out places on list, but might (unlikey but possible) get grief if you turn up somewhere like Ufa when your list just says Moscow.

If we do draw the Russians, I'll post more stuff on here about Moscow, and stuff to see and do, basic phrases and if people post the name of hotels etc I'll transcribe the cyrillic text so you can show it to a taxi driver or someone working on the metro and they can point you in the right direction.

[Crosby87]

**** any of them. I mean really. At this point, **** them.
We are Irish and we go right?

[back of the net]

**** any of them. I mean really. At this point, **** them.
We are Irish and we go right?

so u will be there right??

[Closed Account 2]

it's saying on soccernet Ronaldo is out for 3-4 weeks, meaning he'd probably be out for the first leg of the play offs.

[tetsujin1979]

Was that a Givens as manager match? 0-0.Yeah, it was a friendly after Mick had left and before Kerr was appointed. Doherty and Crowe were up front. Richie Partridge was on the bench. Dire game of football. Richard Dunne was given MOTM for playing at left full.

[Duggie]

i dont want portugal most of all. guarantee ya we wont bloody draw greece.

[Pád Von Tirpitz]

Thats the spirit. We are better as underdogs so the bigger the "name" we play the better. I watched Russia today and was not impressed. Not good enough to beat a poor German team at home. And never really looked like scoring.

That's a gas post. Germany played the best football I've seen in the qualifiers by any team in the first half in Moscow. They have a real gem in Ozil, the kind of player they've been missing for years, i.e. a genuinely creative attacking midfielder. And still Russia could have got something, and definitely should have had a penalty at the end. Actually, overall that was one of the best games I've seen in a while.
As for never looking like scoring, they had a hatful of chances, especially in the second half, but they had a 1-on-1 in the first half too.

[blobbyblob]

**** any of them. I mean really. At this point, **** them.
We are Irish and we go right?

It depends where you are standing of course but if you go right , you might get to Portugal, France or Greece, Straight on is Russia. Theres no top seeds left to the left, right?

[reder]

good point. Then again, Greece have just won 5-2!

You need to take the quality of opposition into account there. Over 2 legs we can beat Greece. If the away leg is first I would expect and away score draw on current form.

[Den Perry]

Jesus h christ where is you lots pride in your country.I dont give two ffs who we get ive been following ireland for close on 40 years and this has been the best campaign i can remember for a whole lot ofr reasons. We are the biggest shower of knockers i have ever seen including number one on the list is is that excuse of an Irishman who us fools are paying 0ver €500k a year to spout **** on our national airwaves.

While im at it how can the bertie ahern chuckle club get away with the bull we had to endure from one of the most corrupt politicians ever on Todd Andrews Grandsons show on friday night.


Of course its relevant who we get in the play-offs. Just because we we want the easiest draw possible does not make us "knockers".I agree wholeheartedly that Dunphy was way off target the other night. Nonetheless, this bravado of "I don't give two ffs who we get" is nonsense.

However, I'm wth you all he way regarding your point on Bertie Ahern and Tubridy

[Den Perry]

I've gone through the hassle of getting a Visa for Russia. Believe me it's an absolute nightmare. The Embassay opens for 3 hours a day and the queue's do be forming from early. If you're not there at 9am you won't make it to the top of the queue by 12. They are so slow it's unbelievable.

You'll have to get a letter of invitation too from the hotel you're staying at. It's got to the stage that when I have to get a Visa I go down at 7am to be first in the queue.

If Ireland get Russia and more then a couple of hundred are going the Embassay won't be able to cope with the demand, especially with the short time frame involved, add into that all the thicks that'll just turn up at the Embassay expecting to just get a Visa.

If you don't have the forms filled in correctly, your letter of invitation, your proof of travel etc, they won't entertain you.

Read "Zone 22" by Tig Hague before you go to Russia!!!

Did any of you lads experience the problems Irish fans had when we played there in the 4-2 defeat under Mick?

[shakermaker1982]

This is the response back I got from FIFA after I sent an email in about the recent seeding announcement.

We thank you for your enquiry. As this is a decision taken by the Executive Committee in Rio last month, please understand that we're not in a position to give you any comments.

very helpful.

[donalmcdonagh]

I hear that the FAI have said they are giving first preference for the home leg of the playoff to people who go to the match on wednesday. Does anybody know anything about this.
I have a feeling the match on wed will be empty...Im going regardless.

I think I am mid flight for the 2nd leg so if its at home I will miss it anyway...sh!t.

[skimcg]

Yes I also heard this, if you post or return your Ticket stub from the Montenegro game you will recieve ticket however this on a first come first served basis but I presume this only applicable to ticketmaster and the extra tickets fai will sell as everybody else has their tickets block booked anyways ...

[likealion]

I'd definitely want greece out of those 4 and want to avoid russia for footballing and travel reasons. Portugal with no Ronaldo would be okay too but if he's fit he could tear us apart. France would be beatable too over 2legs plus we owe them one!

[likealion]

[QUOTE=donalmcdonagh;1248352]I hear that the FAI have said they are giving first preference for the home leg of the playoff to people who go to the match on wednesday. QUOTE]

Heard this on radio this morning alright but they gave f*ck all details, nothing on the fai site about it earlier either

[punkrocket]

I think I am mid flight for the 2nd leg......

Mid flight?? cor, are you superman?
I know someone who nicked a pair of your pants, you should go over and sort him out.

[punkrocket]

Tickets for the playoffs
I hear that the FAI have said they are giving first preference for the home leg of the playoff to people who go to the match on wednesday. Does anybody know anything about this.


Details are on over at eleven a side. It's for people who aren't members/block bookers,and buy their tickets from Ticketmaster etc. You send your stub to the FAI after the game on Wednesday along with your details and then hope that you are one of the first that they open.

[wexfordman]

i wonder how soon after the draw is made will the country we are facing confirm the venue.

So far france have played all their home matches in the stadium st denis in paris, portugal alternate between lisbon, braga and oporto greece alternate their home venue as do russia.

would it be fair to say the most likley the games will be played in the country's capital and national stadiums or will some have it in less appealing locations to tryand deter a large away support from travelling.

hoping to watch the draw and book asap before the airlines jack up their prices

[Crosby87]

It depends where you are standing of course but if you go right , you might get to Portugal, France or Greece, Straight on is Russia. Theres no top seeds left to the left, right?

Sorry had way too much to drink yesterday.
Ugh.

[philliyk]

i wonder how soon after the draw is made will the country we are facing confirm the venue.

So far france have played all their home matches in the stadium st denis in paris, portugal alternate between lisbon, braga and oporto greece alternate their home venue as do russia.

would it be fair to say the most likley the games will be played in the country's capital and national stadiums or will some have it in less appealing locations to tryand deter a large away support from travelling.

hoping to watch the draw and book asap before the airlines jack up their prices

Going by the scenario we had going to Italy I would assume venues would have to be announced at the draw(90 day rule i think it was)- but i aint done any research here so most likely the guy's in the know will confirm it

Cheers to all the posters for the info on russian visa's - god i hope it aint there - i'll need to take 2 weeks of work just to sort the visa out alone:eek:

[NeilMcD]

i wonder how soon after the draw is made will the country we are facing confirm the venue.

So far france have played all their home matches in the stadium st denis in paris, portugal alternate between lisbon, braga and oporto greece alternate their home venue as do russia.

would it be fair to say the most likley the games will be played in the country's capital and national stadiums or will some have it in less appealing locations to tryand deter a large away support from travelling.

hoping to watch the draw and book asap before the airlines jack up their prices


France did not play all ther matches in Paris, They played the Faroes the other night in Brittany I think Althought if they play us it will be in Paris no doubt.

[boysingreen]

I'm trying to forget Greece are in the draw, because we won't get the most favorable of the bunch. Preparing for France, Portugal, or Russia. If there's a consensus so far it seems to be to avoid Russia. Then again, Russia could be the least experienced of the "big 3."

Without Ronaldo I'd probably say Portugal. With him, hard to choose between Portugal and a talented yet underperforming French side. Will the playoffs turn out to be the straw that breaks Domenech's back or, like Italy, will they turn it on just enough to get over the finish line?

I've butterflies already thinking about the draw, nevermind the ties. Going to be a long month of anticipation. Soak it in boys, cuz there's a lot of countries around the world would give their right arm to be in our boots, and that was us 4 years ago!! Very grateful we have a playoff to direct our attention to, really takes the edge off that bloody equalizer.

[Yard of Pace]

I watched Russia against Germany and wasn't too impressed. You'd hardly fear Portugal either.

[Duggie]

the reason id fear portugal is.....
nightmare scenario they have a good night in lisbon, passes start sticking, free flowing one touch passing through midfield and then there is ronaldo(if fit). nooooo i could see a bad result against them. id put money on us getting them.

[Kingdom]

It really is a tough draw in terms of the playoffs and the seeds. To be fair there are a couple of groups (GR 1,3,5,6,7) where the uninformed (and that includes a few of us :D) wouldn't have expected the teams that finished 2nd to actually finish there.
So does that mean we overestimated the quality of say, France and Portugal, or did we underestimate the ability of Serbia and Denmark?

I'd go along with what the likes of CF Ed have been saying re: Russia. Moscow is a horrible place to go to, and the Russians I feel would eat us alive over there.
I would like to see us getting Greece as on paper they would appear to be the most functional of all teams left, quite similar to ourselves, and that we would have a real shot at qualifying.

France and Portugal are very similar. Yes they stuttered through qualifying, but look at the two groups. Portugal were in a nasty enough group with a grudge between Sweden and Denmark, without taking into account a resurgent Hungary who were right in the mix with three games to go, while France were demoted to runners up by arguably the most impressive of group winners, so while some might say 'they're in decline', perhaps they were just were just edged out by better teams? I mean realistically a France attack of Henry and Benzema supported by Malouda and Ribery attacking Killer puts the shivers down my back. Portugal not as much but they have a very, very skillful group of players and the thoughts of Raul Merieles sitting in the park dictating play makes me feel queasy.

We really need to be drawn away first. For a few reasons. It would suit Trapper Tony's tactics I'd imagine to play away for the draw or to nick a goal and sit back, and keep the game alive going to Dublin. Having to set his team out for either a narrow victory first or prevent conceding a goal would be more difficult first up at home. Also having the second leg, alive at home, would make a massive difference to the atmosphere in Croker. No disrespect, but we seem to have a serious amount of either unknowledgable, or stupid 'supporters' at our home matches, and this can be good and bad.
Can you imagine how people would perceive a 0-0 draw at home first off? A shocker thats how, and the longer the game would go on, the more frustrated the fans would get, and this always permeates its way to the players. Whereas if we bring a team to Lansdowne with the tie 0-0 or 1-1 and we need some specific result, the atmosphere would be exceptional.

[magnumpi]

i wonder how soon after the draw is made will the country we are facing confirm the venue.


hoping to watch the draw and book asap before the airlines jack up their prices


yeah, it'd have to be fairly soon after the draw. don't wanna go booking flights to the wrong city. i think france would be wary of playing it in paris following 2004, but we'll see.

portugal could have it anywhere. i can't afford russia, but any of the other three i'll do.