It's France

[alltogethernow]

cheap flight to london and get the eurostar.

€60 return at the minute on the train. just booked it

[Sheridan]

Great draw, but I'm worried Domenech's incompetence will do for France. The fact that he'd be lynched is little consolation.

[magnumpi]

well, not ideal, but i still think do-able. possibly.

[Schumi]

I don't understand the pessimism. France haven't been great in the qualification so far and we've seen that we can get results against good teams. Given a choice of Portugal, Russia or France, I'd definitely take France. Greece would have been ideal but this is still second best IMO.

[magnumpi]

Our best performances generally come when we are big underdogs.

I'd say Trap won't be overly bothered.

The one real positive are that France are French..... By that I mean that on a semi-regular basis they underperform drastically and have a complete howler, with the apathy of the Parisian crowd (not) ringing in their ears.

Nil all in Croker and I'd nearly back us.


totally agree. if we could nick an away goal, y'never know.

french press over here did not want ireland. fact.

[Noelys Guitar]

French teams WC results
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/teams/team=43946/fixturesresults.html

Not very frightening at all.

[RonnieB]

Its gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
Theres nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in africa, I bless the rains down in africa
I bless the rains down in africa, I bless the rains down in africa
I bless the rains down in africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

BELIEVE! :)

[Reality Bites]

Great draw, but I'm worried Domenech's incompetence will do for France. The fact that he'd be lynched is little consolation.

Strange message!

[DeNiro]

Going to be a great night in Croker on 14th November. Trappatoni's choices at full back are key. Could we really trust Kilbane with Ribery? It might be an idea to put Finnan to left back, once he shows some degree of fitness over the next month or so. Steven Reid is crucial for this game.

[pineapple stu]

I wonder will Brian Kerr pass on any info?

[dingbat]

Sat 14th will be huge. Can't wait! We'll lift the roof off the place for 90 minutes.

[Junior]

What the **** happened to the second draw to determine who plays home first? Another last minute movement of the goal posts by FIFA?

Jaysus thats an awful draw but better than getting Russia or Portugal.

So much for Trap being the luckiest manager ever. Didn't see much luck there!!

There was 2 draws.

One ball from Pot 1 and one ball from Pot 2 went in to a central Pot.

Then the first ball drawn from the Central Pot was the Home Tie first.

[dr_peepee]

Merde...

[Dun Laoire]

I don't understand the pessimism. France haven't been great in the qualification so far and we've seen that we can get results against good teams. Given a choice of Portugal, Russia or France, I'd definitely take France. Greece would have been ideal but this is still second best IMO.

i agree, it was more the home/away draw i was looking out for. Didn't go in our favour but still............

[youngirish]

Any suggestions of where the best place to get tickets for the game in Paris? We can make their home game as hostile an atmosphere for them as possible. Can't see the FAI having anywhere near enough for the demand. I'd prefer to not be stuck in the French section as if we nicked a win I'd say it could get fairly hostile and also I don't like the smell of onions and garlic.

[dr_peepee]

I don't understand the pessimism. France haven't been great in the qualification so far and we've seen that we can get results against good teams. Given a choice of Portugal, Russia or France, I'd definitely take France. Greece would have been ideal but this is still second best IMO.


Nah.. Too much individual quality to turn us over. Like Henry did at Lansdowne..

I was hoping for Portugal (Ronaldo's lack of fitness) or Greece..

[Jon'o]

Any suggestions of where the best place to get tickets for the away game is? Can't see the FAI having anywhere near enough for the demand. I'd prefer to not be stuck in the French section as if we nicked a win I'd say it could get fairly hostile and also I don't like the smell of onions and garlic.

From the last trip, tickets WONT be a problem, there were patches of ireland fans dotted all around the stadium and the stewards couldn't care less.

I would suggest that an admin looks at unlocking or bumping the thread on the fans site as it had all the info you'd need.

[pineapple stu]

I would suggest that an admin looks at unlocking or bumping the thread on the fans site as it had all the info you'd need.
Which thread is that?

[youngirish]

From the last trip, tickets WONT be a problem, there were patches of ireland fans dotted all around the stadium and the stewards couldn't care less.

True my good friend but that was a fairly run of the mill qualification game early in the group (at least as far as the French fans were concerned) and as such the demand for tickets from the home supporters would have been considerably less than for this play-off.

[FarBeag]

We have no hope with the team we currently have. We have some hope if we can find a proper left back, Steven Reid is fit and remains so, we find someone who is good enough to partner him and A Reid is drafted back into the squad so we have something different up our sleeve instead of predictable hoof it up the park and hope someone gets lucky.

[Duggie]

if we can just keep a clean sheet at home then we have a good chance. IF though. a 0-0 wouldnt be to bad even. will be tough with there fire power.

[noddy102]

if we can just keep a clean sheet at home then we have a good chance. IF though. a 0-0 wouldnt be to bad even. will be tough with there fire power.

What are the chances that if we draw 0-0 at home, then are drawing 1-1 at half time that Fifa will clarify during half time that away goals don't count?

[an_ceannaire]

I dont buy into all this pessimism atall! And here is why. France for me is the ideal draw. Right now, they are rubbish. Their manager is a joke. Their talismatic leader is having a nightmare season. There is no Zidane. There is no Viera of 98. There isnt even a Makelele. Their man man is Ribery and he is over rated. Quality, yes, Zidane...no! More Arjen Robben than Zinadine!
They have a dodgy keeper, they cant defend set pieces. Ask the Bulgarians about Irish set peices :D Their defence is shaky. The parisian Crowd will turn quicker than a runny egg on them. Remember France Romania??!!
And, and this is a major plus. Say we had drawn Russia....we would be lucky to get 1000 fans going over. So we would be going over to a freezing, completely hostile environment to face Arshavin and co. As it is, we could have as many as 10,000 fans in the stadium that night and the place will be buzzing.
So long as the tie is still alive (which it will be) going to Paris, then we have a HUGE shout.

ps...on a side note, given his form in recent days and the monumental game we have coming up, Trap really needs to swallow his pride and get Andy back. For the sake of the team! Imagien the 2 reids in the centre. Different team completely.

[Emmet7]

I'm actually quite happy with the draw.

France on paper look a great side. But the reality as has been shown over the last few years is something different.

As a unit they aren't great. Anelka seems a completely differnt player playing for France, not half as good as for Chelsea.

And sometimes it's not a good idea to have a lot of talented creative players in your team. You need someone to do the tracking back, to do the harsh tackling, to throw their bodies into it and shove other players off the ball. If France have 7 or 8 creative players who want to be on the ball and pass it, who will be the holding midfielder, who will be the rugged central midfielders to win the ball and pass it to the creative players. You cannot win matches with creative players alone.

I am highly doubtful of the battling qualities of the French. Sure they have the talent. They can produce a moment of brillance to turn a game. But it seems only one or two moments in a game.

Ireland have matchwinners of our own who will get at the French and produce chances.

And France have been poor at setpieces, while Ireland are good at scoring from setpieces. If the French are poor at defending the high ball, corners, free kicks into the box, then Caleb Folan might just be the man at a certain stage.

I see the French as being similar to the Italians. Good technically with the ball at their feet, but poor from setpieces and dealing with big aggressive players from opposing teams such as Dunne and Folan.

We can beat the French and setpieces might be the key area where we do it.

As for the football purists, I don't care what they think. If we beat the French by lobbing high ball after high ball at Caleb Folan up front, I will be well pleased.

[paul_oshea]

€60 return at the minute on the train. just booked it

just got £60 return over tuesday back thursday morning.

[noddy102]

Ignoring the ability of France, I'm just happy we have to chance to seek revenge for the match in Lansdowne Road, 2005.

Domenech famously called the Irish fans that night 'like animals in a barn', so it is the perfect opportunity to stick the two fingers up at him, and hopefully be the reason for his sacking!

[Herr Dots]

who will be the holding midfielder, who will be the rugged central midfielders to win the ball and pass it to the creative players.

Lassana Diarra

[luka]

I'm moving house for the week anyway. French Wife..........................

[DeLorean]

I think people are overly concerned about the fact that we are at home first. I'm not even so sure it is a disadvantage. I recall Celtic's UEFA Cup run where they got to the Final and I think they were drawn at home first in nearly every round. It suits some teams and I think we could be one of them. France will more than likely be fairly content with 0-0 at Croke Park, which gives us a real chance of keeping it tight and hopefully keeping a clean sheet.

[endabob1]

I'm moving house for the week anyway. French Wife..........................

Surely she should be the one moving ;)

[an_ceannaire]

with the away goals rule in operation, being at home first could actually be an advantage

[Scram]

Merde! Ribery v Kilbane!

[elroy]

Home draw wont be a disadvantage if we dont lose or score draw. A win obviously is ideal but a nil nil wouldnt be a disaster by any means.
I think we have the more tactically astute manager and I think our style of play will work well against the French. The French can be hit and miss and if their star players turn it on then we could be in trouble. However I would not rule us out, I think our system may stifle and frustrate them and with a few decent set pieces we might just sneak through.

[geysir]

Imo, to have Paris as the away venue in the second leg is not as daunting as the other 3 venues.
France have always had very good teams and we have usually managed to play well against them.
I don't have a bad feeling about it.

[francesco_1]

With Sagna and Evra flying up the flanks it leaves lots of space in behind i think mcgeady will be a massive player for the two games.

[Pauro 76]

If it was Platini's idea, no better way to settle things than to knock the French out of the World Cup fair and square. We'll be hyped up for this...

[Duggie]

With Sagna and Evra flying up the flanks it leaves lots of space in behind i think mcgeady will be a massive player for the two games.

will he play mcgeady..could be duff+lawerence.

[gspain]

Merde! Ribery v Kilbane!

Assumje you are French are you are right to be concerned. Kilbane is miles better.

[Tipp Townie]

A number of people have already commented on how 'crucial' it is that Steven Reid stays fit and returns to the side. Basically, its just NOT going to happen and we should stop banging on about it. Its not going to happen because:

a) lets be honest, there's a very good chance that he won't stay fit;
b) even if he remains physically fit, he's had virtually no first team action for about a year (?). Would you risk him in a big match like a World Cup play-off v France?? Surely he's not ready. Whatever your doubts about the respective qualities of Whelan and Andrews, its still a safer bet IMO; and
c) Trap is a pragmatist, plays it safe. I cannot see any way that he will change his now established centre-mid pairing unless injuries get in the way.

Don't mean to rant, but the constant S.Reid issue does my head in. I like him and wish he was less injury prone but most of the time i feel that we're kidding ourselves. How much football has he actually played since Japan/Korea?

[geysir]

10:10 AM

Think we'll get France with the home leg first..

Do you think we will get through :D

[francesco_1]

will he play mcgeady..could be duff+lawerence.

I thinks duff's pace wouldnt be ideal to exploite the space left behing the full backs.

[blobbyblob]

Delighted with the draw for a few different reasons

1. No chance of complacency
2. Easy to get "up" for
3. Easy to get to Paris - fans will play a huge role and will travel in numbers
4. France are openly declaring that the have no leadership
5. Chance to get something at home in first leg and hold on away
6. We have Trap - If ever there was a man to have going into a 2nd leg, its him
7. We've played our best football against the best team in our group. Do not write us off
8. French are beatable. Both ourselves and them have scored little in tight games so I dont think that at any stage over the two legs will more than a goal seperate the two sides so it could come down to a kick of a ball.

[Leeside Swagger]

With Sagna and Evra flying up the flanks it leaves lots of space in behind i think mcgeady will be a massive player for the two games.

Cant see him getting in the team, I think will Traps will stick with Lawrence and play Duff on the other wing. Lawrence has a much better chance of grabbing a goal or an assist then McGeady imo.

[PartySaint]

Class will prevail, France will just scrap threw, probably with a late goal,

Remember this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ0pxDDEJvM

[Scram]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scram
Merde! Ribery v Kilbane!



Assumje you are French are you are right to be concerned. Kilbane is miles better.

Au CONTRAIRE MON Ami, and I think you mean Kilometers?

[back of the net]

bring them on!!!


it aint gonna be easy us , but it aint gonna be easy for them

They are beatable and beat them we can.

[BradyIsMyHero]

Got a good deal (as I thought) with Ryanair via charleroi.
After completing all the click ons and confirm bookings etc, it cancelled the booking and told me to try again1! When I did, it had jumped by €150 in price

Swines

[FarBeag]

The present French team are beatable with the right team to do it. I really cant see us keeping a clean sheet at home, we have not had many of them recently. I just feel that we will have to go away and score two goals to win it. Hope i a wrong.

[seand]

A glimmer of hope in France's dismal away record in qualifying. Scraped single goal win against Faeroes/Lithuania, lost in Austria, draws in Serbia/Romania

[magnumpi]

just been reading some comments on french newspaper websites, opinion seems pretty divided.

some of them are saying they will destoy us "amateurs", but others think they're gonna take a shoe-ing from corners and free kicks because they're organisation is terrible with no great height.

they're also worried about the noise of 80,000 at croker, as opposed to 40,000 "whistlers" at Stade de France.....