Brazil friendly?

[gspain]

England are playing Egypt on March 3rd at Wembley. Not sure we'd be allowed to play in London that night but maybe the night before.

[elroy]

Would be a very bad PR move for the FAI to play the game in the UK. There is alot of goodwill towards the Irish team at the moment, after the paris saga so i think a friendly against Brazil would sell Croker out (i think it did last time as well). Would be better if the game was on a wkd.

It will be likely to be the last game in Croker, a bit of negotiating will be required but Im sure the GAA may be flexible on this. They are going to lose out alot on rent after this year so best to maximise the final years return. They wont get enough concerts in future years to replace the FAI/IRFU revenue and the aviva deal means there wont be any football/rugby games there.

[gspain]

Would be a very bad PR move for the FAI to play the game in the UK. There is alot of goodwill towards the Irish team at the moment, after the paris saga so i think a friendly against Brazil would sell Croker out (i think it did last time as well). Would be better if the game was on a wkd.

It will be likely to be the last game in Croker, a bit of negotiating will be required but Im sure the GAA may be flexible on this. They are going to lose out alot on rent after this year so best to maximise the final years return. They wont get enough concerts in future years to replace the FAI/IRFU revenue and the aviva deal means there wont be any football/rugby games there.

Game must be on Wed 3rd (may allow Tuesday 2nd).

I can't see it selling out not with Brazil here for the 3rd time in 6 years. It didn't sellout last time.

I suspect the posturing about the venue is to get the GAA to do a deal. I can't see them budging though.

[Schumi]

A piece on RTE seems to suggest that the friendly is related to FIFA attempts to keep the FAI happy.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/1221/delaneyj.html

[elroy]

I can't see it selling out not with Brazil here for the 3rd time in 6 years. It didn't sellout last time.



Not sell out but was in the region of 70k, im sure the fai would happily take that again.


A piece on RTE seems to suggest that the friendly is related to FIFA attempts to keep the FAI happy.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/1221/delaneyj.html

Have a feeling FIFA may have organised the friendly alright, perhaps they are paying a portion/all of Brazils fee? Better than some poxy award anyways.

[EastTerracer]

England are playing Egypt on March 3rd at Wembley. Not sure we'd be allowed to play in London that night but maybe the night before.

I think this would definitely throw any London venues into doubt although there was a night in 2007 when London hosted 4 International matches on the same night:

Brazil v Portugal : Emirates
Nigeria v Ghana : Brentford
Greece v South Korea : Craven Cottage
Australia v Denmark : Loftus Road

Obviously England playing in North London would be a completely different scenario though so I think Dublin and Manchester would be favourites at this stage.

[geysir]

70k at the last Brazil friendly, after a dire campaign and with Givens as caretaker.
The omens should surely point to a higher profile game this time around.

[irishultra]

Ah London what a city.

[philliyk]

Anyone any further info as where this game will be played or when they will announce it??

[geysir]

The latest sports news speculation was on 4 venues, Celtic Pk, Glazer Pk. Emirates and Croker.
Keep tuned in for further news.

[shakermaker1982]

Emirates or OT please.

[drummerboy]

According to Des Cahill on the news this morning, its looks like its going to be the Emirates.

[gspain]

According to Des Cahill on the news this morning, its looks like its going to be the Emirates.

UEFA website claims our U21 game v Armenia is now on Wednesday March 3rd in Tallaght (moved from Tuesday).

The significant thing in that is there is no way that game would be moved if we were playing Brazil in Dublin on the 3rd.

Of course we could still play in Dublin on the 2nd but my reading of this is that the Emirates on the 2nd is more likely. England play in Wembley on the 3rd so 2 games of that magnitude in the same city on the same night probably wouldn't get police approval.

Today's Indo claim the GAA offered to lower their fee from €1.5 million but couldn't do a deal with Kentaro.

16 euro return incl T&C on Ryanair to Luton for the Tuesday/back wed for those who fancy a gamble. You could even drive a rental car to Manchester and back as well if the venue is wrong.

[twoenz]

I'm tempted to go to this if it's in the UK. No interest in going to the game in Dublin. The 2004 friendly was terrible, me and my mate ended up at a corporate thing, had a dinner that Ray Houghton spoke at and the guy beside me at the table was yacking about how he didn't know anything about football, but thought it was a great way to entertain clients.

They gave us all an umbro polo shirt, with the match date inscribed on it. Every one was in XL. Sums up the crowd they were aiming at.

[geysir]

Considering an extra €500,000 (approx) rent for Croke Park,
is it still not a false economy to schedule the game outside Ireland?

[elroy]

Considering an extra €500,000 (approx) rent for Croke Park,
is it still not a false economy to schedule the game outside Ireland?

I dont think it will reflect too well on the FAI if the game is scheduled outside Ireland. You can be sure the press will scold the FAI rather than the gaa in any case. Rumours of the rent for croker more than double that for emirates appears to be correct and right.

Are the FAI getting this friendly for free?? Surely its more than a coincidence that this friendly was arranged quite quickly after the 'moral compo' comment by our friend Sepp.

[Greenforever]

I dont think it will reflect too well on the FAI if the game is scheduled outside Ireland. You can be sure the press will scold the FAI rather than the gaa in any case. Rumours of the rent for croker more than double that for emirates appears to be correct and right.

Are the FAI getting this friendly for free?? Surely its more than a coincidence that this friendly was arranged quite quickly after the 'moral compo' comment by our friend Sepp.



Why should it be held in Ireland, it's not been organised by the FAI as a home game, they are merely receiving a fee for playing, which is the normal for the away team.

Also as its not an FAI game block bookers wont be obliged to buy tickets and this would in my opinion result in a crowd of c30K unless ticket prices are droped drastically.

Anyway Ive just booked Ryanair to GAtwick on Tues back Weds for €20 inc taxes etc so heres hoping!

[endabob1]

Moving it to London is a terrible move by the FAI & I think it may well be something of a false economy as pointed out, will they sell 60,000 tickets in London?

[gspain]

confirmed for the Emirates on Tuesday March 2nd on www.fai.ie. kickoff time and ticket details tbc

[gspain]

Moving it to London is a terrible move by the FAI & I think it may well be something of a false economy as pointed out, will they sell 60,000 tickets in London?

The FAI did not pick the venue. Kentaro paid the FAI a fee to play the game. They picked the venue. We played Norway in Oslo 2 years ago and Nigeria in Fulham last year. We can't play all our friendlies at home.

No doubt the GAA will try and ensure negative publicity for the FAI. However if they were anyway competitive with the Emirates they would have surely got the game in Croke Park. Kentaro are run by business people. They obviously looked at a number of venues and the Emirates clearly made the most sense financially.

[gspain]

16 euro return incl T&C on Ryanair to Luton for the Tuesday/back wed for those who fancy a gamble. You could even drive a rental car to Manchester and back as well if the venue is wrong.

Thought I'd done really well on this until I checked Ryanair for my sister.

Now €10 return incl t&c.

[balanced view]

what would be the best airport to fly in to for this game?

[elroy]

Why should it be held in Ireland, it's not been organised by the FAI as a home game, they are merely receiving a fee for playing, which is the normal for the away team.

Also as its not an FAI game block bookers wont be obliged to buy tickets and this would in my opinion result in a crowd of c30K unless ticket prices are droped drastically.

[/B]


The FAI did not pick the venue. Kentaro paid the FAI a fee to play the game. They picked the venue. We played Norway in Oslo 2 years ago and Nigeria in Fulham last year. We can't play all our friendlies at home.

No doubt the GAA will try and ensure negative publicity for the FAI. However if they were anyway competitive with the Emirates they would have surely got the game in Croke Park. Kentaro are run by business people. They obviously looked at a number of venues and the Emirates clearly made the most sense financially.

Fair enough but I assumed, like many others i think, that this was a 'home' friendly for the FAI. This does not appear to be the case now as ye have pointed out. That the FAI are been paid to fulfill a friendly fixture essentially as the away team.
However, I think the FAI should do a bit of sensible PR on this to get the message across and make sure this is made clear that the FAI are essentially playing as the away team here, that the game is organised and run by Kentaro. It would save us listening to the usual bashers on the likes of Joe D going on about what a disgrace the FAI are and how this is no help to the economy etc etc.

[seanfhear]

Moving it to London is a terrible move by the FAI & I think it may well be something of a false economy as pointed out, will they sell 60,000 tickets in London?
There are probably lots of Brazilians in London (There are lots of people from everywhere in Lonon)

I doubt if it will be a problem to fill the stadium.

The question to ask, is it worth that much (how much) to watch a friendly.

Are these matches worth it ?

[lopez]

There are probably lots of Brazilians in London (There are lots of people from everywhere in Lonon)

I doubt if it will be a problem to fill the stadium.

The question to ask, is it worth that much (how much) to watch a friendly.

Are these matches worth it ?Lots of Brazilians but I doubt many can afford to pay these prices. More like the usual b*llsh*tters goiong on about the beautiful game etc will be there. Anyway, it's obviously good news for us in London, and looking at the air deals, you're paying less from Dublin than I would pay for a cheap day return on the train from where I live (which I don't pay anyway). Just hope the snow's gone by then.

[gspain]

what would be the best airport to fly in to for this game?


Frankly the cheapest.

Heathrow is probably the most convenient given the trains/tubes. However Ryanair have great deals at the moment.

[geysir]

The FAI report that Kentaro selected the Emirates, fair enough.

The Examiner (http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/london-calling-as-irish-to-face-samba-boys-109758.html) reports more that the FAI had some choice in the matter and agreed based on common sense. I suppose the choice of venue is fair game, no one is forcing an fan to travel over to a game that any real fan knows is not more than a profile exhibition game.

'Agreement has been reached with sports management agency Kentaro, which acts on behalf of the Brazilians. The game could prove a financial fillip for the FAI, still reeling from the impact of their controversial failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

While renting Croke Park was an option, the combined cost of it and the contract with Kentaro was prohibitive, even allowing for reported sweeteners from the GAA.

The FAI looked at options including Anfield, Celtic Park and Old Trafford. But they’ve gambled that sufficient numbers of travelling fans will bolster the swelling number of emigrants that have returned to the English capital in recent times'.

[shakermaker1982]

Brazil-Sweden was packed when I went. They'll sell this out.

[Ash]

Frankly the cheapest.

Heathrow is probably the most convenient given the trains/tubes. However Ryanair have great deals at the moment.

€20 return to Standsted and then its about an hour train+tube to the stadium

[Newryrep]

Brazil-Sweden was packed when I went. They'll sell this out.


That mighnt have anything to do with the football though:)

[EastTerracer]

Thanks to gspain and Greenforever for the Ryanair tip. I got a return to Gatwick for €10 - it looks a little higher now but still less than €50 return.

[seanfhear]

Brazil-Sweden was packed when I went. They'll sell this out.There should only have allowed female fans and myself to attend that match

Brazilian Samba and Swedish blondes. What could go wrong.

[aidz1]

"The fixture was given to the Football Association of Ireland as part-compensation for the controversial 'Hand of Henry' defeat to France in the World Cup play-offs."

Thats grateful of them. Playing in Ireland would have been more considerate instead of getting fans to pay for flights, airport car parking, transport in london, accomadation and more annual leave.

Think i'll swerve this one.

[paul_oshea]

and get ****ed in anotehr city!!

[paul_oshea]

although london is sh1t on a tuesday night.

[Larssonisghod]

although london is sh1t on a tuesday night.

london is great EVERY night!!
soho hear i come..:D:D:D

[finbarrk]

Flights from Shannon - Gatwick are €10 return. Times are ok too.

[Larssonisghod]

Flights from Shannon - Gatwick are €10 return. Times are ok too.

cheers for those. guy in work from limerick was askin me prices. booked stanstead from dublin for 20eur return ( at 10am) but went to book another flight for a pal at 1oc and it shot to 80 squid! just txtd him and hes goin that route.
message to michael o leary - C U Next Tuesday for the flight :)

[irishultra]

footballs coming home.

why is it in london? how is this compensation. the economic gains of having a match with brazil are quite large, so yeah what a dud.

[Greenforever]

footballs coming home.

why is it in london? how is this compensation. the economic gains of having a match with brazil are quite large, so yeah what a dud.

As previously posted it is not a home game, we have played Brazil several times over the last few years at Lansdowne.

The match has nothing to do with FIFA r Blatter, and is arranged by Brazil's agents who chose the venue.

Had they picked Croker they would have been lucky to get 40,000 as BB's would not have been obliged to buy tickets, besides as previously posted the FAI are being paid a flat rate for the match and for an away match that is the normal.

[Greenforever]

cheers for those. guy in work from limerick was askin me prices. booked stanstead from dublin for 20eur return ( at 10am) but went to book another flight for a pal at 1oc and it shot to 80 squid! just txtd him and hes goin that route.
message to michael o leary - C U Next Tuesday for the flight :)

You are probably on your 1st trip as a young lad, my first trip was 1980 to Wembley as a 17yr old kid paying £30 by boat and train when a pint was about 60p so a crude comarison would be about €210 for the boat, planes were for the rich..... so all I can say is thank God for Ryanair as without them it would still be a boat trip for most of us.

All airlines increase the prices automatically as seats sell, eg 1st 10 @ Price A, next 10 @ price B etc, its all computerised. For big matches the starting price will be hiked up as soon as the fixture is announced, no different than bank holidays etc, so you need to be one step ahead of the possee to get the real bargains, anyway anything under €100 return is good value to London from Ireland.

Enjoy the trip and if it is your 1st trip welcome aboard and hope you get the bug and become a regular:D


Maybe you should change your log in to MOLISGOD:D

[Plastic Paddy]

although london is sh1t on a tuesday night.

I understand you actually lived in London but, if this is what you think, you clearly didn't venture outside of your neighbourhood! :D

:ball: PP

[stiffler]

For anyone who knows london, how much time should you give yourself for landing in Stanstead to arrive at the Emirates half an hour before the game?

thanks

[aidz1]

This may not be a home game, but it certaintly is not an away game. A game played in London against Egland would be an away game, not Brazil. The FAI had a choice to play this in Dublin, but took a few grand more to play in London expecting fans to pick up additional cost t travel.

How can the FAI seriously hope and sell corporate tickets for landsdowne to Irish business when they chose to take a potential windfall for Dublin business away from a match in Croker Park to play it in London? Very short sighted of the FAI i think.

[EastTerracer]

This may not be a home game, but it certaintly is not an away game. A game played in London against Egland would be an away game, not Brazil. The FAI had a choice to play this in Dublin, but took a few grand more to play in London expecting fans to pick up additional cost t travel.

How can the FAI seriously hope and sell corporate tickets for landsdowne to Irish business when they chose to take a potential windfall for Dublin business away from a match in Croker Park to play it in London? Very short sighted of the FAI i think.

Read the posts above - this was not a decision made by the FAI. They were invited to play the match by an Events Management company. We all would have preferred the game to be played in Dublin but when you're invited to an event you can't decide where it will be held.

The FAI are rightly criticised for many things but I think this one is a bit unfair.

[lopez]

This may not be a home game, but it certaintly is not an away game. A game played in London against Egland would be an away game, not Brazil. The FAI had a choice to play this in Dublin, but took a few grand more to play in London expecting fans to pick up additional cost t travel.

How can the FAI seriously hope and sell corporate tickets for landsdowne to Irish business when they chose to take a potential windfall for Dublin business away from a match in Croker Park to play it in London? Very short sighted of the FAI i think.Brazil don't play home friendlies, a bit like we won't play away friendlies when Lansdowne Road is opened. Two reasosn for this: The Brazilians mostly play in Europe now. Secondly, there's more money to be made with a game in London than in Brazil. So it is at least an away game for Ireland, as we have had Brazil at home twice in the last six years.

I mean, how often do you want Ireland to play at home? Don't you think there should be a balance for the team of home and away friendlies? I can understand that in soccer terms Ireland games are the only time you will see 'top class' football in Ireland as the League of Ireland has fallen behind so much in the last thirty years and the moneying of the European Cup has meant that its champions can no longer hope for a big game against Real Madrid like Limerick United achieved in 1980. But I think this pursuit of money by the FAI is ridiculous. Leaving aside the games at Fulham - games that would be once more in Dublin had Lansdowne Road not been rebuilt - and the usual Mickey Mouse cup in London in 2004 and the US in 2000 and 2007, exactly how many 'away' friendlies have been played outside Ireland since January 2000? As far as I can recall, they were Finland and Greece in 2002, Scotland in 2003, Poland and Holland in 2004, Denmark in 2007 and Norway in 2008. That's seven. In that time we have played 29 friendlies in Ireland including the World powerhouses of China and Canada. Also in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2009 we did not play an away friendly.
http://www.soccer-ireland.com/irish-football-results/match-results.htm

[Greenforever]

Brazil don't play home friendlies, a bit like we won't play away friendlies when Lansdowne Road is opened. Two reasosn for this: The Brazilians mostly play in Europe now. Secondly, there's more money to be made with a game in London than in Brazil. So it is at least an away game for Ireland, as we have had Brazil at home twice in the last six years.

I mean, how often do you want Ireland to play at home? Don't you think there should be a balance for the team of home and away friendlies? I can understand that in soccer terms Ireland games are the only time you will see 'top class' football in Ireland as the League of Ireland has fallen behind so much in the last thirty years and the moneying of the European Cup has meant that its champions can no longer hope for a big game against Real Madrid like Limerick United achieved in 1980. But I think this pursuit of money by the FAI is ridiculous. Leaving aside the games at Fulham - games that would be once more in Dublin had Lansdowne Road not been rebuilt - and the usual Mickey Mouse cup in London in 2004 and the US in 2000 and 2007, exactly how many 'away' friendlies have been played outside Ireland since January 2000? As far as I can recall, they were Finland and Greece in 2002, Scotland in 2003, Poland and Holland in 2004, Denmark in 2007 and Norway in 2008. That's seven. In that time we have played 29 friendlies in Ireland including the World powerhouses of China and Canada. Also in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2009 we did not play an away friendly.
http://www.soccer-ireland.com/irish-football-results/match-results.htm


Are you not contradicting yourself here, we either play away friendlies or we dont.

Once we are not the home team we do not choose venues - simple

A lot of South American and African nations play "home" friendlies in Europe.

Surely the FAI when deciding who to play in a friendly should seek to maximise revenue, I could understand if we knew who we were playing in the next Euros that maybe opponents with a similar style to one of our future opponents could then influence a choice of oponents.

Anyway f*** the recession, we're on a session Mar 2nd in a pub near the Emirates, with hopefully plenty of nice Brazillian Eye Candy :D:D:D

[Stuttgart88]

Read the posts above - this was not a decision made by the FAI. They were invited to play the match by an Events Management company. We all would have preferred the game to be played in Dublin but when you're invited to an event you can't decide where it will be held.

The FAI are rightly criticised for many things but I think this one is a bit unfair.Well said.

[Irish_Praha]

it's an absolute disgrace if you ask me
wum :D

[Colbert Report]

Brazil has some hot cuties as some european sides have and the US has some hot babes as well. Sadly the Irish & English are lacking in that department.

The Truth! I like this guy.