Portugal, Greece, France or Russia [Archive] - Page 5

Arnold Layne

15/10/2009, 3:10 PM

My Post; did you see the draw for the 2000 european play-offs? The one that UEFA wanted to seed, had to back down because of complaints and then proceeded to keep the 4 would be seeds apart with home ties second.... Sorry that was a fix if I ever saw one.

Too right it was

Scotland v England
Israel v Denmark
Slovenia v Ukraine
Ireland v Turkey

blobbyblob

15/10/2009, 3:10 PM

We just need to be the home crowd on both occasions then

The Celtic Tiger will be back for one night only

DeLorean

15/10/2009, 3:15 PM

Too right it was

Scotland v England
Israel v Denmark
Slovenia v Ukraine
Ireland v Turkey

But outside of maybe England why would they care who made it from the other ties, granted they look to be the slightly stronger teams?

Arnold Layne

15/10/2009, 3:28 PM

But outside of maybe England why would they care who made it from the other ties, granted they look to be the slightly stronger teams?

The problem was, they wanted to seed the 4 teams that got draw away first, thats why the finger of suspicion was pointing at them. They only backed down when a fuss was made of it, but the 4 still got what UEFA wanted.

DeLorean

15/10/2009, 3:31 PM

The problem was, they wanted to seed the 4 teams that got draw away first, thats why the finger of suspicion was pointing at them. They only backed down when a fuss was made of it, but the 4 still got what UEFA wanted.

Ok, I understand what you're saying I just don't see why they'd even bother.

Polster

15/10/2009, 3:34 PM

As for the reffing debate, it has as much validity as "the ridden rock solid" theory. A stonewall decision will be given by any ref in any game around the world. That has always and will continue to be the case.

You must be joking, how stone wall was McShanes hand ball, and the ref looking straight at, unblocked, seemed he bottled it in favour of the home team, thank god.

Thats one of millions of examples.

elroy

15/10/2009, 4:02 PM

We're weaker than Greece. Many of their players have experience of playing in Champions League year in year out and not just making up numbers actually being competitive. Players like Andrews and Whelan wouldn't be any better than what Greece have.

I think if you need a player for player analysis of the eight teams in the play offs, ourselves and greece would be one of the weakest. However, you've gotta take into account the shape and organisation of the team and under Trap we are certainly strong in that regard. A team will always make mistakes but generally we are well drilled and have a sense of purpose. Arguably last night was the first match (competitive) under Trap that we got a result that we wouldnt have been satisified with beforehand.

Look, the draw is the draw. It's a game of luck.

Its not a game of luck with FIFA rig it the way they have so far and clearly couldnt care less what anyones think judging by their comments. In a sense, I think we may perform better if we are the clear underdog, however I would prefer France or Greece over Russia or Portugal.

geysir

15/10/2009, 4:35 PM

I think Paul is right, Greece will be the sacrificial lambs from the first pot, thrown to the wolves- us and will be the only team from Pot 1 to play at home first.

mypost

15/10/2009, 4:41 PM

My Post; did you see the draw for the 2000 european play-offs?

Yes I did see it, and no it wasn't a fix.

there are many ways of fixing a public draw by the use of heating the balls, diff texture on the balls etc. and no one watching is any the wiser

And cameras can and do zoom in on the balls while they're been stirred around. Every single ball is identical in the pot it's in.

Another ridden rock-solid theory. If we were first seeds, none of this would be discussed.

You must be joking, how stone wall was McShanes hand ball, and the ref looking straight at, unblocked,

Didn't see it at the game, so didn't think it was a penalty. Having seen it today, it still wasn't a penalty. Ball to hand if anything.

Cymro

15/10/2009, 5:58 PM

If I were Irish I'd want to avoid Portugal more than the others.

Having watched Russia a few times recently I think they are a little over-rated and could be beaten if you defend well because they do occasionally give you chances. Although they have good attacking players they often try and pass the ball into the net so a well organised defence stands a decent chance.

France are a team that can get complacent at times I think, they don't have as good a record historically as teams like Germany and Spain in qualification rounds. For all their talented individuals I'm not sure of their teamwork.

Greece on the other hand had a nice group containing no really big teams in it. Hard to say whether they'll come through the play-offs, probably the side I'd most like to get.

The trouble with Portugal is that they have a tendency to score 3 or 4 on their good days even when the opposition doesn't really do anything wrong, simply because of the quality they have. for that reason I'd say they're the team to avoid.

mypost

15/10/2009, 6:23 PM

Greece on the other hand had a nice group containing no really big teams in it.

That might have something to do with their top seed status in the group.

The Legend

15/10/2009, 6:53 PM

If I were Irish I'd want to avoid Portugal more than the others.

I agree with you, "hey ronaldo, you're not going to the world cup unless you get your finger out.... " ehm, no thanks, we dont need that!

jackaroo

15/10/2009, 6:56 PM

What time is the draw on Monday.

Drumcondra 69er

15/10/2009, 10:20 PM

1 in the afternonn according to the radio.

Predator

15/10/2009, 10:23 PM

Don't know if this has been posted before, but St. Ledger is confident:

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1118976.html#st+ledger+well+silence+critics

"We are going to be coming up against a very good team, so we are probably going to have to step up another level. That's the nature of being in the play-offs. The best teams have got through to the World Cup and now the remaining ones are there. "They are there for a reason, we are there for a reason and they are going to be really, really tough games. Whoever we are going to get at this stage is going to be a tough team to play, but I feel we can beat anybody.
"We are unbeaten in the campaign, and I would imagine it's a long time since that has happened. That's what the boss has brought in here, a lot of steel, grit and mentality not to lose."

Polster

16/10/2009, 7:15 AM

Yes I did see it, and no it wasn't a fix.

Didn't see it at the game, so didn't think it was a penalty. Having seen it today, it still wasn't a penalty. Ball to hand if anything.

Save of the night for me

seanfhear

16/10/2009, 7:19 AM

Save of the night for me
Shay would have been proud of that one.

Leeside Swagger

16/10/2009, 9:28 AM

Too right it was

Scotland v England
Israel v Denmark
Slovenia v Ukraine
Ireland v Turkey

All the 2nd seeds had their home legs first aswell, something was a bit fishy about it alright.

Leeside Swagger

16/10/2009, 9:31 AM

France are a team that can get complacent at times I think, they don't have as good a record historically as teams like Germany and Spain in qualification rounds. For all their talented individuals I'm not sure of their teamwork.

Personally im sh*tting it of France, I can see them delivering when it matters. Fair enough they've been poor so far but the talent they have is frightening compared to us.

wexfordman

16/10/2009, 12:54 PM

I think Paul is right, Greece will be the sacrificial lambs from the first pot, thrown to the wolves- us and will be the only team from Pot 1 to play at home first.

as i said in another thread
yeah for all the conspiracy theory people, Russia Portugal and France will all qualify and Ireland will draw greece and the ref will favour us and we will qualify because Trap used to manage Platini at Juve and will have a word in the ear of his former star pupil.

thus fifa will then say they did not favour the seeded teams as they all did not qualify. so iam in favour of fifa/uefa and their underhand ways

Ireland will also be drawn away to greece first as Trap has said he wants an away draw first and low and behold his "lucky" manager tag will come through again. But it is not what he knows in football but who he knows that will be the hallmark of this story.

This tongue in cheek comment was made in jest but i for one will not complain if we benefit some favourtisim and get through

paul_oshea

16/10/2009, 1:10 PM

Wolfie

16/10/2009, 1:48 PM

Im sorry but if i thought there was underhandedness in the way we didnt qualify, and it was pretty clear cut, I dont think I could support the team again, its not the teams fault i know but it would be brick wall stuff.

Jaysus, Paul!!! That's not the attitude!!

If that was the case nobody who was around in the 70's would bother with us!!!

carloz

16/10/2009, 7:09 PM

as i said in another thread
yeah for all the conspiracy theory people, Russia Portugal and France will all qualify and Ireland will draw greece and the ref will favour us and we will qualify because Trap used to manage Platini at Juve and will have a word in the ear of his former star pupil.

thus fifa will then say they did not favour the seeded teams as they all did not qualify. so iam in favour of fifa/uefa and their underhand ways

Ireland will also be drawn away to greece first as Trap has said he wants an away draw first and low and behold his "lucky" manager tag will come through again. But it is not what he knows in football but who he knows that will be the hallmark of this story.

This tongue in cheek comment was made in jest but i for one will not complain if we benefit some favourtisim and get through

This is exactly what will happen:D. Plus out of the 4 unseeded teams, i think FIFA will know we will bring a lot more fans to South Africa than Bosnia, Ukraine and Slovenia. 92nd minute Paul McShane handball on the line will be missed by the ref while we score the winning goal in the 97th minute. Bound to happen

Arnold Layne

16/10/2009, 7:11 PM

That won't bother FIFA, it's TV audiences they're interested in. In Japan/Kores Spain only had about 50 fans.

Ireland is a small market.

paul_oshea

16/10/2009, 8:02 PM

Jaysus, Paul!!! That's not the attitude!!

If that was the case nobody who was around in the 70's would bother with us!!!

cant think of a good analogy here, ok i dont mean that but it would feel like supporting the mafia, fifa that is. Corrupt to the core and nothing can be done about it as all competitions are run by them, like playing in a casino where ye know ye cant win any money as you are being cheated cos its mafia run. Obviouslly on a far bigger scale.

irishfan86

16/10/2009, 9:01 PM

cant think of a good analogy here, ok i dont mean that but it would feel like supporting the mafia, fifa that is. Corrupt to the core and nothing can be done about it as all competitions are run by them, like playing in a casino where ye know ye cant win any money as you are being cheated cos its mafia run. Obviouslly on a far bigger scale.

I know what you're saying, but I honestly think the seedings thing is the worst they will do.

Call me naive, but I think refs have an interest in making the correct calls.

In addition, with the Euro tournament expanding in future years, this is not the time to jump off the Ireland bandwagon, as we will be playing in many more tournaments in the years to come.

mypost

17/10/2009, 7:16 AM

All the 2nd seeds had their home legs first aswell, something was a bit fishy about it alright.

That was the procedure used. They happened to come out in that order. Only Ukraine failed to qualify.

carloz

17/10/2009, 5:11 PM

This is shamelessly robbed from another forum, but its from a portuguesse tabloid and asks a few people who they want in the playoffs

Oct�vio Machado a former Portuguese football player and coach picked Bosnia cause he reckoned they were the weakest and also Ireland because he reckoned their style of football suited Portugal. He wanted to avoid Ukraine as 'they have a fearsome selection'.

Manuel Fernandes - some other old foggie - wanted Bosnia or Slovenia - he reckons Ireland are very dangerous at home and also Ukraine are good.

�lvaro Magalh�es - wanted to avoid Ireland first because of Trappatoni and supposedly cause of the high level of our players. Bosnia he reckoned would be the one to get.

Toni - also wanted Bosnia. He wanted to avoid us and the Ukraine.

I guess they are judging Bosnia simply on the home defeat they had to Spain. Other than that they have been very impressive

Poll from a French paper saying who the fans wanted in the playoffs

L'Irlande - 22.68%.
La Bosnie - 22.43%.
L'Ukraine - 14.24%.
La Slov�nie - 40.65%
http://www.lefigaro.fr/sport/2009/10/14/02001-20091014QCMWWW00664-quel-adversaire-souhaitez-vous-pour-l-equipe-de-france-en-barrage-.php

MeathDrog

17/10/2009, 11:49 PM

What time is the draw at?

carloz

18/10/2009, 11:00 AM

2pm local time for Zurich, so i think thats 1 pm here

dr_peepee

18/10/2009, 11:34 AM

Had a dream we got Portugal last night....

ofjames

18/10/2009, 1:47 PM

is the sequence of who plays at home/away first also determined by the seeding? or is this decided by the draw?

i.e. will the seeded team play us away or at home first?

sorry if this question has been asked already

a quick search answered my own question:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/273423-fifa-world-rankings-what-it-means-for-the-european-play-offs

Quote:
"The draw will pair the teams into four ties and then a separate draw will decide which team will host the first leg. Therefore, the seeded team will not necessarily enjoy home advantage in the crucial second leg"

Bungle

18/10/2009, 2:47 PM

In the playoffs for world cup 98, euro 2000 and world cup 2002, we played at home in every game first so hopefully this time we get a bit of luck.

DeNiro

18/10/2009, 2:56 PM

In the playoffs for world cup 98, euro 2000 and world cup 2002, we played at home in every game first so hopefully this time we get a bit of luck.

Dunphy made a good point on Wednesday about this though. If we lost 0-2 away could you really see us overturning that in Croke Park? As you could see from Italy we're nervy holding a lead and very often concede it.

back of the net

18/10/2009, 3:23 PM

Had a dream we got Portugal last night....

thats spooky man

:D

geysir

18/10/2009, 3:27 PM

It took me a few seconds to get proper focus, when I read it first, I was sure I saw the word wet in there.

back of the net

18/10/2009, 3:46 PM

It took me a few seconds to get proper focus, when I read it first, I was sure I saw the word wet in there.

lol lol....brilliant

shakermaker1982

18/10/2009, 8:52 PM

Gut feeling? I think we'll get Portugal.

I'm hoping for Greece. PLEASE. Even then we'd probably be classed as underdogs.

noddy102

18/10/2009, 9:38 PM

Hoping for anybody but Russia, and a home draw on the Wednesday.

If that happens, then I'm off to the away leg!

philliyk

18/10/2009, 9:40 PM

I still think we're nailed on for Russia who are weaker than France + Portugal.

My cynical draw prediction -
I'll go for Portugal v Ukraine, France v Bosnia or vice versa leaving us either Russia or Greece so that FIFA are playing it safe by numbers so to speak i.e The 2 big guns go thru & the 4 other teams will all bring relatively the same income from TV & fans attending the matches although for this reason they may pair Eire with Greece & Russia with Slovenia - some russian billionaire will offer a bit of spare cash for this no doubt:D:D.