No Agreement reach at Irelands Euro2012 fixtures meeting

[back of the net]

Looks like one of the countries in our group couldnt agree on the fixture dates - I presume as the same issue occurred in Wales and Englands group , the fixture list for Irelands group will now be decided by an open draw in a couple of weeks - this is what will be done for englands group so i presume UEFA will follow suit with our group.

If so , is it a good or a bad thing for ireland?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0316/fai_ireland.html


(MODS: - if thread has already been started please move to relevant thread, rgds , BOTN)

[Lenny82]

Is it a computerised draw for the fixtures so like the Premier League? If so, this could be a very bad thing. We could end up playing in Moscow in the pits of winter!!! Suppose it's all down to chance now!!

[pineapple stu]

I can't see Andorra being bothered enough to apply their veto, so it has to be Macedonia.

[back of the net]

Is it a computerised draw for the fixtures so like the Premier League? If so, this could be a very bad thing. We could end up playing in Moscow in the pits of winter!!! Suppose it's all down to chance now!!
I doubt its computerised ---but thats just my opinion

as for the draw itself ,well my thinking was that it can only be a good thing.
as it should not overly affect us badly as russia and slovakia had first dips on the fixture dates


i.e it takes away slovakia and russias right to have the second leg against ireland in their place so we could get russia in dublin towards end of the group (i.e september 2011) and avoid going to moscow in october/nov 2010 so then that would be a blessing

or am i wrong?

[Cuyahoga]

I can't see Andorra being bothered enough to apply their veto, so it has to be Macedonia.
I Believe it was Armenia.

[geysir]

According to UEFA

Euro 2012 Qualifying Fixtures

The football associations in a group have 30 days after the UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying draw in Warsaw on 7 February 2010 in which to agree on the order of their matches.

If the associations in question are unable to reach agreement the matches will take place according to a standard fixture list drawn up by the UEFA administration. This standard fixture list will take into consideration relevant factors for the match organisation, such as weather conditions.

The following 12 dates are reserved for group matches in qualifying:

a) 3/4 and 7 September 2010
b) 8/9 and 12 October 2010
c) 25/26 and 29 March 2011
d) 3/4 and 7 June 2011
e) 2/3 and 6 September 2011
f) 7/8 and 11 October 2011

The following dates are reserved for the play-off matches between the remaining eight runners-up:

a) 11/12 November 2011
b) 15 November 2011

[mypost]

It was Armenia. What exactly they objected to is hard to say. They were 5th seeds. The random draw is supposed to take into account weather conditions. If so, that rules out going to Moscow in the depths of the Russian winter. That apart, it's pot luck what we end up with now.

That's 3 groups to be decided by UEFA. Croatia's group also failed to agree fixtures. So another 10 days to go.

[pineapple stu]

I Believe it was Armenia.
Forgot about them. :o

[gspain]

Can end up with top seed v 2nd seed in last match. However UEFA don't always use the set formula and tend to punish the awkward team.

My big concern is Macedonia at 3pm in blazing heat. Moscow will be ok in early october or late march.

[eaststand85]

Can end up with top seed v 2nd seed in last match. However UEFA don't always use the set formula and tend to punish the awkward team.

My big concern is Macedonia at 3pm in blazing heat. Moscow will be ok in early october or late march.

Based on the last campaign venues and times aren't part of the fixtures meeting/draw and are at the discretion of the the host nation so this could have happened even if consensus had been reached today.

For 2010 Qualifiers the hosts had to inform the visitors three months in advance of venue and 60 days beforehand of ko time and the Italians at least took it right to the wire (see post from Superhoops in the pre match thread at http://foot.ie/threads/77520-Italy-Away-1st-April-2009?p=899509&viewfull=1#post899509). Therefore I presume this will be the case again and all this draw will do is set the dates for each match, nothing more.

[mypost]

With the possible exception of Slovakia, all our other games should be in the capitals of the countries we have to go to.

[eaststand85]

With the possible exception of Slovakia, all our other games should be in the capitals of the countries we have to go to.

Don't Russia sometimes play outside Moscow? In the last campaign they played Liechtenstein in St. Petersburg (http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/matches/round=250471/match=300041185/report.html) although maybe they only play there against the 'minnows' (for want of a better word)?

And the Andorra game will presumably be held in Barcelona rather than in Andorra le Vella (did have to look that one up! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andorra_la_Vella)? :p

[Serb]

Weird one, but it looks like it'll just be pure randomness that decides the fixtures now. Would be interesting to know what Armenia got so worked up about that they applied their veto.

[Wolfie]

It appears Armenia will be making an announcement on the matter.

Apparently they refused to co-operate with a nation that was responsible for the unforgivable crime of unleashing Crytsal Swing upon the world.

[carloz]

At a guess it might have something to do with Armenias dealings with Russia. History can be a cruel mistress and I am sure that had something to do with dealings between the two. It is shocking that all the countries can agree on fixtures and the 5th seed can royally **** things up for everyone else

[gwhite]

No biggy. And if we´re going to start worrying about Macedonia in the heat we can forget about it. Same thing was said about playing Bulgaria in June when the last draw was made. What would tickle my fancy would be back to back games against Slovakia this September.

[EastTerracer]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0317/1224266443422.html

An interesting account of the fixtures that the FAI had actually agreed to at the meeting in Moscow before the Armenians scuppered things:

Slovakia at home on the friendly date in November
Russia and Armenia in an away double-header in 2011
Slovakia and Macedonis in an away double-header in 2011

It also seems that Andorra are keen to play their home game against us in the Principality rather than in Barcelona.

[mypost]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/the-road--to-nowhere-2101188.html

Looking at the prospective list, I'm actually relieved the Armenians pulled the plug. 3 home games to start, all away games next year. Macedonia and Slovakia double header, and Andorra away the only highlights. The rest was potentially the fixture list from hell.

[eaststand85]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0317/1224266443422.html

An interesting account of the fixtures that the FAI had actually agreed to at the meeting in Moscow before the Armenians scuppered things:

Slovakia at home on the friendly date in November
Russia and Armenia in an away double-header in 2011
Slovakia and Macedonis in an away double-header in 2011

It also seems that Andorra are keen to play their home game against us in the Principality rather than in Barcelona.






http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/the-road--to-nowhere-2101188.html

Looking at the prospective list, I'm actually relieved the Armenians pulled the plug. 3 home games to start, all away games next year. Macedonia and Slovakia double header, and Andorra away the only highlights. The rest was potentially the fixture list from hell.



Thank you Armenia for saving us from ourselves, looks to me like the FAI were determined to get in as many home games as quickly as possible to be sure of filling Lansdowne Road while interest is high in the new stadium without any regard for how it might affect our chances of actually qualifying! No great surprise I suppose but glad it didn't work out.

Was also interesting to see Delaney say "The draw with Uefa is an open draw, they do take climate into account but that won’t affect us in this case."




And the Andorra game will presumably be held in Barcelona rather than in Andorra le Vella (did have to look that one up! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andorra_la_Vella)? :p



Looks like I got that one wrong! :o

[Dodge]

Some cheek by Delanet complaining about the "smaller" teams. They've every bit as much rights as we do to get the fixtures they want.

[Junior]

Thank you Armenia for saving us from ourselves, looks to me like the FAI were determined to get in as many home games as quickly as possible to be sure of filling Lansdowne Road while interest is high in the new stadium without any regard for how it might affect our chances of actually qualifying! No great surprise I suppose but glad it didn't work out.

Was also interesting to see Delaney say "The draw with Uefa is an open draw, they do take climate into account but that won’t affect us in this case."


Spot on. What a $hitey set of fixtures that would have been, cant believe Trapatoni was on board with 3 home fixtures to start with.Smells of $$$$$$$$ alright.....

[geysir]

Some cheek by Delanet complaining about the "smaller" teams. They've every bit as much rights as we do to get the fixtures they want.
Where is "smaller" quote from?

Like others I was more disturbed by the fixtures Delaney had agreed to.
But on the actual failure to reach consensus, his explanation was descriptive rather than condescending.
“What is strange is that the top three seeds, ourselves, Russia and Slovakia, had all agreed when to play each other and, normally, when that happens things fall into place. But there was one country, I don’t want to say who, who was vetoing everything. It’s easy to say no all the time but sometimes you have to say yes. It was frustrating. I think you need the experience of being at these meetings."

[zenokelly]

glad we didn't get that fixture list. We don't have a good record in double headers, and we could've been out of contention by the end of the year if we failed to beat either Slovakia or Russia at home.

The proposed November fixture is pure madness, suppose it could have gone either way, but preparation of 48 hours isn't long enough for a decisive fixture like that.

Nothing less than disturbing that Delaney agreed to this.

[Dodge]

Where is "smaller" quote from?


He used the term smaller countries on an RTE radio report yesterday.

This report mentions lower seeds, and isn't nearly as condenscending as the radio report was ; http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/euro-draw-is-now-a-lottery-2100926.html

[mypost]

Nothing less than disturbing that Delaney agreed to this.

He must have turned up with a model of his shiny new stadium and waxed lyrical about it, until he was reminded he had to play away games as well. 3 home games to begin with, would have put us at an enormous disadvantage.

Journos seem upset, because nothing happened. One is warning of having to play a home game followed by a trek to Yerevan days later. They didn't seem that bothered when Kerr insisted that trips to France-Switzerland, and Cyprus-Israel were all at separate times.

Any chance someone could send a Paddy's Day card to the Armenian FA, for looking out for our own interests as well as theirs?

[elroy]

The three home games to start with is maddness alright. If Delaney wanted his cash why not start with two home games and play a November friendly at home, he gets his cash and we arent jeopardising our campaign. You'd really wonder about these guys, I know they have to balance the books but if anything imo friendlies in LR are more likely to sell out in the first few months (novelty factor etc) than thereafter, therefore it would make sense to play a couple of friendlies in there shortly after opening and save the attractive guaranteed sell out of the qualifiers till later next year.

[SuperDave]

I actually thought some of the fixtures agreed to were okay. Particularly playing Russia and Armenia away as a doubleheader (lessens jetlag to Armenia plus suits fans) and Slovakia and Macedonia as a doubleheader too (useful again for fans and players). Lest we forget, it is also in the team's interest to have as many fans as possible at each away game.

[eaststand85]

I don't have any objections to away double headers like that either, the issue I had was that the FAI were trying to play too many of our home games in one bunch at the start of the campaign which could go either way and doesn't leave much, if any room for error should things go wrong.

[mypost]

I actually thought some of the fixtures agreed to were okay. Particularly playing Russia and Armenia away as a doubleheader (lessens jetlag to Armenia plus suits fans).

I don't think any of the travelling to Russia and Armenia will suit fans. The experience should be good but the logistics of getting in and out will be chaotic to say the least.

Hopefully we'll know for sure when this time next week.

[gspain]

I don't think any of the travelling to Russia and Armenia will suit fans. The experience should be good but the logistics of getting in and out will be chaotic to say the least.

Hopefully we'll know for sure when this time next week.

Obviously neither are easy however doing both in one trip is better than 2 separate trips. It is not going to happen now but it would have meant a couple of flights to get to
Moscow and then a return trip to Yerevan from Moscow.

I don't think the Macedonia/Slovakia doubleheader was particularly helpful for fans but would have allowed train travel in between. I did separate trips to Prague and Bratislava in
2007 and would most likely have done the same had that doubleheader worked out this time.

[SUB of the day]

I'm no apologist for the FAI, but a constant theme running through the threads, is one of damning them whatever they do.Getting points on the board early in the group, would in my opinion provide a platform to ultimately top the section.Obviously failing at home would hamstring our campaign, but all fixtures must be played at some stage.Three home wins would also inject incredible momentum for team and fans alike.

[eaststand85]

The issue imo is that playing too many important home games together at the start of the campaign risks putting all our eggs in one basket. Great if we get three home wins but not so great if we're struggling with injuries/form etc. and don't. In that scenario we then make it almost impossible to recover.

[mypost]

Meanwhile, maybe it's not quite the open draw UEFA say it is:

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/news/newsid=1465821.html

Will the fixtures be decided according to this?:

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/01/46/58/30/1465830_DOWNLOAD.pdf

[EastTerracer]

Meanwhile, maybe it's not quite the open draw UEFA say it is:

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/news/newsid=1465821.html

Will the fixtures be decided according to this?:

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/01/46/58/30/1465830_DOWNLOAD.pdf

This could lead to a horrible amount of travelling for the supporters. Only the team selected in Position A or in Position C will get a home double header and an away double header. All 4 other teams will alternate home and away games. Even in the two positions I mentioned we could in theory get an Andorra / Moscow double header which would be a nightmare.

I know the original FAI suggestion wasn't ideal but, from a supporter's perspective, this could turn out to be a lot worse.

[mypost]

I had thought that A-F were awarded based on the seedings in the group. If it is, then we're Team C, and the schedule is a home-away format. No double headers, and after 5 games, they're directly reversed. Wouldn't be great for travelling, but at least we wouldn't be putting ourselves at a competitive disadvantage like last week.

[EastTerracer]

I had thought that A-F were awarded based on the seedings in the group. If it is, then we're Team C, and the schedule is a home-away format. No double headers, and after 5 games, they're directly reversed. Wouldn't be great for travelling, but at least we wouldn't be putting ourselves at a competitive disadvantage like last week.

Reading the details on the UEFA website it looks like none of the places (A-F) are pre-determined and there will be an open draw next week in Tel Aviv to decide the order.

[eaststand85]

Just been looking at the standard fixture list on which tomorrow's draw is based (http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/01/46/58/30/1465830_DOWNLOAD.pdf) and in all cases where there's two matches to be played in the same week the weekend ones are scheduled for Fridays which would mean any of our weekend matches this year would be on a Friday (presumably at night).

Does anyone know if the associations can switch a game to the Saturday after the draw if they both agree? They may not want too, particularly if there's travelling to be done but be interested to know if it's a possibility.

[mypost]

Reading the details on the UEFA website it looks like none of the places (A-F) are pre-determined and there will be an open draw next week in Tel Aviv to decide the order.

I presume we'll be the first group to be drawn, as it's the first in alphabetical order that hasn't been decided. If so, we should know by about 1pm. Although Ryanair and Aer Fungus will probably know before then for "seat protection".

This place will be in overdrive tomorrow. :plane:

[bwagner]

When is the draw?

[mypost]

McDonnell is still grumpy (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ireland-faced-with-prospect-of-a-long-and-winding-road-2110712.html)

No team drawn out today in our group will start and finish at home or away. If you start at home, you finish away, and vice versa. All games will be reversed, i.e. who you play first, you will also play last, second = second last etc. In that case, I'm looking for Team B, D, or F, as it means we'll be home last.

Though if we, and Russia or Armenia are at home last and the group is not settled, with time difference taken into account, there could be an early ko on the last Tuesday to ensure everyone plays at the same time. e.g. 4-5pm ko for us.

[Kingdom]

That would be October for us, so it would still be under lights. I never want to see a competitive match during the day in Ireland again. We just can't do them.

Having looked at the pdf we'd prefer to be away from Russia and Slovakia, i.e. Ireland = A and Slovakia & Russia being D and F respectively, perhaps?

I know it met with almost universal disapproval, but I actually fancied the previous arranged draw. With the floating Armenian home match either at the start or the end of the campaign, I think we'd have done well. Helps that I'm super positive towards this group!

[mypost]

Armenia is 4 hours ahead, so if we and they were at home and their match influenced the group, they'd have to play by 9pm their time at the latest.

That means a 5pm ko here on a Tuesday afternoon in October. I'm assuming we'll still be in contention then.

Anyway, we'll see what the draw brings.

[DannyInvincible]

I never want to see a competitive match during the day in Ireland again. We just can't do them.

I always thought this one went OK.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePNST9aczFI

:p

[SwanVsDalton]

Draw has been made. Fixtures below, haven't had a proper look yet but Armenia away is a tricky first tie:

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/EuroExperience/competitions/Draws/01/46/80/13/1468013_DOWNLOAD.pdf

Edit - Whoa, had a proper look. Two home and away double headers against Russia and Slovakia. It's not a million miles from what the FAI wanted but those double header's are going to be tough.

[Yard of Pace]

Not bad. Should we need maximum points from our last two games it's set up nicely for us.

[Serb]

If you don't want to open a PDF, the fixture list looks like this:


Friday, 3 September 2010: Armenia (a)
Tuesday, 7 September 2010: Andorra (h)
Friday, 8 October 2010: Russia (h)
Tuesday, 12 October 2010: Slovakia (a)
Saturday, 26 March 2011: Macedonia (h)
Saturday, 4 June 2011: Macedonia (a)
Friday, 2 September 2011: Slovakia (h)
Tuesday, 6 September 2011: Russia (a)
Friday, 7 October 2011: Andorra (a)
Tuesday, 11 October 2011: Armenia (h)

[Junior]

Not bad. Should we need maximum points from our last two games it's set up nicely for us.

Yep and Russia to play Slovakia 2nd from last game could help also....

[Cymro]

We've got three home games on a Friday night. Bit of a joke, really. :rolleyes:

[elroy]

We've got three home games on a Friday night. Bit of a joke, really. :rolleyes:

Ive obviously missed something here, didnt realise we were moving to a Friday night and Tuesday games. We've only 2 sat games and no Wed. Is this a Platini thing I seem to recall?!?

Reasonably happy with our draw, we should be aiming for 9 points from the first three games. Macedonia away in June would want to be a late kick off. We've a relatively easy finish, so we'll have to have our work done by the Sept.

[Dodge]

Ive obviously missed something here, didnt realise we were moving to a Friday night and Tuesday games. We've only 2 sat games and no Wed. Is this a Platini thing I seem to recall?!?.
Nope, this is rich clubs looking for their players back a day earlier