Russia v Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 6th September 2011 - Euro 2012 Qualifier

[tommy_c12000]

Given -9
kelly - 7
Dunne - 11
O'Dea - 7
Ward - 3
Duff - 6
McGeady - 7
Andrews - 4
Whelan - 4
Keane - 5
Doyle - 6

Cox - 7
Hunt -6

Trappatoni - 1/10

[tricky_colour]

Performance of a lifetime from Dunne.

On a par with McGrath in the Giants Stadium. Unreal

Was thinking the same myself.
What a player.

[Closed Account 2]

how long left ?

[Jicked]

A decent team would have ripped us apart tonight.


They were a top seed, that means there's not many teams better than them in Europe. They couldn't score, and the team that shipped 5 goals to Cyprus has now gone ten and a half hours without conceding.

[zero]

do i understand correctly that if we win our next two games we will finish at worst second?

[Sullivinho]

I was really impressed by O'Dea. Dunne was the star but best supporting actor from an unfancied player was O'Dea.

Ditto. I feel guilty being so surprised at his continued strong performances tbh.

[Juanace]

Richard Dunne deserves a medal of honor or something after that. Beyond unbelivable his commitment to the cause.

Same for ALL the players. I'll never question their commitment thats for sure.

The fact that we are rubbish at actually playing football is the problem.

[Fixer82]

Performance of a lifetime from Dunne.

On a par with McGrath in the Giants Stadium. Unreal

Yes I must agree. Possibly even better than McGrath with that clearance off the line

[Bayern Munchies]

I'd let Richard Dunne do unimaginable and unspeakable things to me...what an epic performance from him, he was by far the star of the game and he almost single handily stopped Russia by himself...Thought O'Dea and Kelly did well as did most of the team part from the usual suspects in the middle and Ward who was disappointing

With how we played, it's a great point...we're still alive in the group and probably have the easiest run in of the three teams competeting to win the group

[Sullivinho]

A decent team would have ripped us apart tonight.

They are decent and they did rip us apart.


They just didn't score. :D

[Noelys Guitar]

I was very happy with most of the players. McGeady was getting flak from Ray Houghton for running the ball around his own box. But he can do that. He got himself out of trouble and gave a good ball to Whelan who gave straight back to a Russian. Kelly and O'Dea really put in a great shift. Robbie played well got better as the game went on. Held the ball up nicely a couple of times and gave the defense a breather. Doyle came more into the game and I was surprised when he went off but Cox did very well. Can't fault Whelan and Andrews for effort but their just not good enough. Can really look forward to the Slovakia game now and roar on Armenia.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well that was some sort of miracle.

All eyes on Slovakia-Armenia now. Let's hope our friends can do us a favour and draw with/beat Slovakia. If they drop any points, it means qualification is in our own hands.

[Real ale Madrid]

If we manage to stumble into a play-off we will be beaten because we still don't have capable central midfielders. Thats the bottom line. A Depressing night regardless of how lucky we were because hand on heart I know we can't qualify unless we change the personel in there. Maybe Gibson / McCarthy is a solution but anything, ANYTHING would be better than what just went on for the last 90 mins - its was a horror show. How a manager with the wealth of experience that Trap has can't see this is mystifying. 7 clean sheets in a row - thats the only beacon of light.

[ArdeeBhoy]

I was really impressed by O'Dea. Dunne was the star but best supporting actor from an unfancied player was O'Dea.

I was also, but he made some basic mistakes towards the end which almost cost us goals. So down from an 8 to a 4.5 for those....

[Sullivinho]

do i understand correctly that if we win our next two games we will finish at worst second?

I'm not really thinking straight atm but I think there exists the possibility of Slovakia and Russia conspiring to draw their game, which might screw us over.

[Murfinator]

When Dunnies in the zone theres no better centre back in the world, smashing game.

[ArdeeBhoy]

They are decent and they did rip us apart.


They just didn't score.

Their finishing was as woeful as our central midfield. And they're not a decent side.
Which makes many of our performances are worrying.

Concentrate on the play-offs for 2014 and end the illusion of 2012. It's the hope I can't stand.

[Murfinator]

I'm not really thinking straight atm but I think there exists the possibility of Slovakia and Russia conspiring to draw their game, which might screw us over.

If they did that and we all finish on 21 don't Slovakia top the group? Why would Russia willingly accept playoffs?

[Noelys Guitar]

I'm not really thinking straight atm but I think there exists the possibility of Slovakia and Russia conspiring to draw their game, which might screw us over.

Then can and will unless the Slovaks drop some points before hand (hopefully beginning tonight)

[zero]

I'm not really thinking straight atm but I think there exists the possibility of Slovakia and Russia conspiring to draw their game, which might screw us over.

i thought it went head to head in that scenario, in which case we finish above the slovaks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2012_qualifying_Group_B

anyway as i've said elsewhere i reckon there are a couple of more twists to come.

[Stuttgart88]

Roy Keane was credited with a massive performance at home to Portugal - a draw. It was the finest individual performance by an Irishman since Brady at home to Bulgaria and McGrath in NY. Dunne's individual performance tonight was better.

[Philly]

Dunne put in one of the best performances I've ever seen for Ireland. Unreal. He deserves to qualify for the Euros as a one man team!

O'Dea proved a lot of us wrong tonight. Ward improved in the 2nd half but his delivery from the flanks was terrible. We need Cunningham to come along soon I think. Kelly also done ok.

Midfield - well, same story. Good work from the wings and very little offered from the middle. Andrews did track back well in fairness though.

Given was a hero.

So, do we have a decent shot at qualifying or it is all looking grim now?

[Stuttgart88]

i thought it went head to head in that scenario, in which case we finish above the slovaks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2012_qualifying_Group_B

anyway as i've said elsewhere i reckon there are a couple of more twists to come.I think so too. In fact I can see us getting 0-0 in Andorra.

[BonnieShels]

I'm still in awe of that performance from Dunne.

Let's never forget it and make sure our grandchildren never forget the one we call HoneyMonster.

[zero]

I think so too.

rte are saying otherwise. talking absolute rubbish though.

dunphy seems to have a partial handle on it.

[French Toasht]

Superb result. Doing basic maths here and presuming Ireland, Russia and Sloavakia win all their games against the Armenia, Macedonia and Andorra, then the only way we can be denied at least a play-off is if Russia and Slovakia draw. Result probably means we lose out on automatic qualification, but really we didn't throw that away today, the two games against Slovakia is were the finger can be pointed on that front. If all three teams are level on points at the end, we lose out, and my concern is that Russia and Slovakia will know this and conspire to play out for a draw.

[Metrostars]

do i understand correctly that if we win our next two games we will finish at worst second?

Actually no. If we win our final two games and the Slovakia-Russia game ends in a draw and they win their other games, we will all finish on 21 points with us in 3rd after the tie breakers.

I'm actually hoping Armenia can get something out of their game against Slovakia today as they are still in with a shout if they win their 3 remaining games.

[Real ale Madrid]

rte are saying otherwise. talking absolute rubbish though.

dunphy seems to have a partial handle on it.

Dunphy hasn't a clue " hold on Bill - I know this" :)

[backstothewall]

Given - 9
Kelly - 8
Dunne - 10
O'Dea - 8
Ward - 5
Duff - 6
Andrews - 6
Whelan - 5.5
McGeady - 6.5
Keane - 6
Doyle 5.5

Hunt - 7
Cox - 7

[Stuttgart88]

If I was Slovakia I wouldnt play out a draw v Russia with a trip to Macedonia to come. I wouldn't go all out for the win either I suppose.

[Maroon 7]

Actually no. If we win our final two games and the Slovakia-Russia game ends in a draw and they win their other games, we will all finish on 21 points with us in 3rd after the tie breakers.


That's what Bill just said as well although I have no idea how they work that out considering we may well have a better goal difference than Slovakia and we drew 1-1 over there compared to the 0-0 they got in Dublin but apparently a 3 way tie will see us lose out and finish 3rd.

[French Toasht]

Think about it this way. After the first round of matches, all three teams were tied on points and Ireland came third in the tie-breaker. So if Russia and Slovakia draw then, there has been three draws since then, so effectively nothing has changed and we lose out again.

[tricky_colour]

do i understand correctly that if we win our next two games we will finish at worst second?

I think so.
If Slovakia draw with Russia we finish above Slovakia, so second at least.
If Slovakia beat Russia we finish above Russia, so again second at least.
If Russia beat Slovakia we finish above Slovakia again.

So second place is with our hands.

Edit - we can still finish 3rd as Metrostars explains above.

[zero]

Actually no. If we win our final two games and the Slovakia-Russia game ends in a draw and they win their other games, we will all finish on 21 points with us in 3rd after the tie breakers.

I'm actually hoping Armenia can get something out of their game against Slovakia today as they are still in with a shout if they win their 3 remaining games.

ah yes. that's right. cheers.

[osarusan]

I read somewhere there used to be a tradition in south and central American tribespeople to send their daughters to sleep with the tribe's bravest warriors, in order to ensure that the warriors' qualities be passed down to the next generation in as large a number as possible.

I say we introduce this in Ireland for Richard Dunne.

[Metrostars]

That's what Bill just said as well although I have no idea how they work that out considering we may well have a better goal difference than Slovakia and we drew 1-1 over there compared to the 0-0 they got in Dublin.

It is based on results between ALL 3 teams against each other. Current mini table:

Slovakia P3 W1 D2 L0=5 pts
Russia P3 W1 D1 L1 = 4 pts
Ireland P4 W0 D3 L1=3 pts

[AlaskaFox]

lol:
http://images.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/9801424.jpg

[French Toasht]

I think so.
If Slovakia draw with Russia we finish above Slovakia, so second at least.
If Slovakia beat Russia we finish above Russia, so again second at least.
If Russia beat Slovakia we finish above Slovakia again.

So second place is with our hands.

Edit - we can still finish 3rd as Metrostars explains above.

We finish 3rd if Slovakia and Russia draw. See my above post for the rationale.

[AlaskaFox]

It is based on results between ALL 3 teams against each other. Current mini table:

Slovakia P3 W1 D2 L0=5 pts
Russia P3 W1 D1 L1 = 4 pts
Ireland P4 W0 D3 L1=3 pts

Doesn't matter what it is currently, as it'll only come into effect with a draw between Slovakia and Russia. So it has to be:
http://greenscene.me/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/possibletable5-minigroup.png

[Stuttgart88]

theres no way russia will play for a draw. they want to win that group.

[Eirambler]

Russia will not conspire for a draw in those circumstances - it would confine them to the playoffs. So the game at least will be fair, but theres always a chance it will end in a draw. I'd be surprised if Slovakia don't drop points somewhere else though, probably in Macedonia.

[DannyInvincible]

Given - 9
Kelly - 8
Dunne - 10
O'Dea - 8
Ward - 5
Duff - 6
Andrews - 6
Whelan - 5.5
McGeady - 6.5
Keane - 6
Doyle 5.5

Hunt - 7
Cox - 7

Too low a rating for Dunne, that.

[Metrostars]

Also for everyone with their calculators out, Armenia can still finish second if they win their final 3 games. So I'm sure they know this as they face Slovakia tonight.

[Littlest Hobo]

not sure if you are right mate...

say slovakia and russia is a draw and all other games go as predicted, then we all end up with 21. To say that we are in 3rd spot is one for the rulebook to determine..
going on head to head records;

we beat slovakia
slovakia beat russia
russia beat us.

basically we cancel each other out. meaning it should come down to goal difference. We could even finish on top if we come out of last two games with say +5 goals.

anyway I hope Armenia grab a point from slovakia and we won't have to worry about any of this.

[Metrostars]

not sure if you are right mate...

say slovakia and russia is a draw and all other games go as predicted, then we all end up with 21. To say that we are in 3rd spot is one for the rulebook to determine..
going on head to head records;

we beat slovakia
slovakia beat russia
russia beat us.

basically we cancel each other out. meaning it should come down to goal difference. We could even finish on top if we come out of last two games with say +5 goals.

anyway I hope Armenia grab a point from slovakia and we won't have to worry about any of this.
When did we beat Slovakia?

[liamoo11]

[QUOTE=Littlest Hobo;1529945]not sure if you are right mate...

say slovakia and russia is a draw and all other games go as predicted, then we all end up with 21. To say that we are in 3rd spot is one for the rulebook to determine..
going on head to head records;

we beat slovakia
slovakia beat russia
russia beat us.

Unforunately we didnt beat slovakia

[shakermaker1982]

You guys needed to be on foot.ie over the weekend. This was all discussed and chewed over.
If Slovakia-Russia is a draw and they both win their remaining other games we finish 3rd.

[DannyInvincible]

not sure if you are right mate...

say slovakia and russia is a draw and all other games go as predicted, then we all end up with 21. To say that we are in 3rd spot is one for the rulebook to determine..
going on head to head records;

we beat slovakia
slovakia beat russia
russia beat us.

basically we cancel each other out. meaning it should come down to goal difference. We could even finish on top if we come out of last two games with say +5 goals.

anyway I hope Armenia grab a point from slovakia and we won't have to worry about any of this.

Have a read of article 7.04: http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/competitions/euro/91/87/57/918757_download.pdf

[TerryPhelan]

So let me get this straight:

If we beat Armenia and Andorra, Slovakia lose to Armenia (again) and beat Russia (again), we will top the group.

If we beat Armenia and Andorra, Slovakia beat Armenia and draw with Russia, we will lose out?

I thought we were ahead of Slovakia on head-to-heads?

Sorry if this is a question with a glaringly obvious answer but my nerves are absolutely shot to smithereens after enduring that 90 minutes.

[Real ale Madrid]

When did we beat Slovakia?

In 2007.