World Cup 2014 Group C Qualification Fixtures Meeting - Frankfurt 17/18 November 2011

[geysir]

I see nothing has changed about the 3 day rest period in between match day for the double headers.

Overall, looking at those fixtures, looks like the WCQ campaign is going to be one hell of a slog.

[SwanVsDalton]

Full fixtures from http://greenscene.me/2011/11/irelands-world-cup-2014-fixtures-announced/ :

06/06/2012 Faroe Islands - Austria

Group starts in June? Is this new and is it happening in other groups?


The Faroes will be grim in October?

We went there in June last time if I remember right, and it was grim then. Don't think the timing overly matters, the Faroes is just grim full stop. Still a fun trip though.

[pineapple stu]

It's happened before; often one of the smaller countries will start early for some reason.

The 1994 group (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA_-_Group_3)) started in April (granted, it was a big group)

[ArdeeBhoy]

It was June. More bizarre than grim, but the long hours of light made it more bearable.
The weather will probably be worse and the fog issue, getting in and out by air will be potentially be worse.

Still if you go, find their shebeen. Or start yer own.

[Dodge]

We play Germnaby on a Friday, not a Monday Pineapple.

We've 6 games on Friday, with four of them being followed by Tuesday games. No away double headers

[Charlie Darwin]

Can't really argue with that too much. Would have preferred Germany away at the beginning instead of at home but otherwise the big games aren't clustered together so we should have a decent chance of 2nd place.

Those October dates will be very important. Germany away to Ireland and then home to Sweden and then vice versa a year later.

[SwanVsDalton]

It was June. More bizarre than grim, but the long hours of light made it more bearable.
The weather will probably be worse and the fog issue, getting in and out by air will be potentially be worse.

Still if you go, find their shebeen. Or start yer own.

Oh aye bizarre is the word alright. Think the day of the game and the hames trying to get off the island has coloured my thinking, weather wasn't too bad before that.

[pineapple stu]

We play Germnaby on a Friday, not a Monday Pineapple.
So we do; was looking at November 2012. Means the Faroes game is on a Tuesday now. Will have to be a full-weeker, that one.

[geysir]

It was June. More bizarre than grim, but the long hours of light made it more bearable.
The weather will probably be worse and the fog issue, getting in and out by air will be potentially be worse.

Still if you go, find their shebeen. Or start yer own.

The weather will be shíte, considerably worse than June, but fog should not be an issue in mid October.
Fog on the Faroes is more a summer affair.

[Closed Account]

I see nothing has changed about the 3 day rest period in between match day for the double headers.

Overall, looking at those fixtures, looks like the WCQ campaign is going to be one hell of a slog.
From what I've read, the change in International dates (Thu-Sun, Fri-Mon, Sat-Tue) begins in 2014, more than likely after the World Cup.

[Sullivinho]

Can't see too much wrong with that. Shades of Armenia starting and finishing with Kazakhstan.

[Stuttgart88]

Sorry, read that backwards for some reasonAviva is the same backwards as forwards though

[Closed Account 2]

Are those dates absolute, for instance if you are thinking of going to Kazakhstan away and want to book flights now, might the game be switched to Thurs 6th or Sat 8th ?

[pineapple stu]

Don't recall the final fixture list ever being changed before (barring visa problems). So yeah, can't see too much risk booking now.

[Wolfie]

Can't argue with that sequence of fixtures too much, I suppose.

The only slightly worrying aspect would be if we slipped up in Kazakstan and were straight into a very tough game with Germany. A home game that any country in the world could lose.

Could lose ground quickly.

[French Toasht]

The Swedish media seem satisfied with that result. They got what they wanted, Germany at home last. Their rationale behind that is that hopefully they will have banked all the points neccessary to be clear of Ireland, and at least secured a playoff spot by that stage. Also they beat Holland at home in the last game of their last campaign and are confident of beating anyone at home in their new stadium(they had a 100% home record in qualification for Euro 2012), if it does come to a winner takes all match between themselves and Germany for top spot.

Rumours persist over whether Zlatan may retire after the Euros. However he has just been awarded his 5th consecutive Swedish Golden Ball award and at the ceremony he stated he wanted to stick around for another campaign. He is such a controversial character (and has just released an equally controversial autobiography), that he has polarised much of the Swedish support. For example many commentators believed Sweden played far better against Holland in Zlatans absence.

I'm happy enough with the fixtures, but believe this group may be just a step too far for us. Would be much more confident of overturning Sweden if we drew them in our Euro 2012 group, but over ten games in qualification they are just so consistent and whilst I think we measure up to them in personnel, I think the crucial difference is Traps old favourite the "mentaliteee" to go and secure away wins against the big guns and confidence to beat any side at home. On the positive side the ageing centre back combination of Majstorovic and Mellberg may be possible to exploit.

Best thing we can hope for is that Sweden have a terrible Euro 2012, Zlatan throws his toys out of the pram, decides to retire and the Swedes enter the WC qualifiers in a state of disorganisation.

[geysir]

I don't think we have to depend on Sweden falling apart in order to have a chance. They have a better record and possibly a better team but I would back us to finish ahead of them on present form. Though it's not going to be pretty.

[Charlie Darwin]

The Ibrahimovic thing is interesting.

The same was said of Bulgaria with Berbatov, that the team were better without him. He was pretty ineffective against us, but look at how miserably Bulgaria performed in the campaign just gone. I would always be more wary of facing a team with a world class goalscorer than a couple of honest, hard working forwards. Same as us with Robbie Keane - he might not get through the dirty work as much as Doyle or Walters but he's the player other teams are always most wary of.

[Stuttgart88]

I think we can take Sweden. They are our benchmark in my mind, and have been for some time now. Norn Iron drew there last year and I think by and large they're like us, no stars (bar Zlatan) but lots of good enough guys. They're northern European too, which I think suits us.

I think even getting one point from Germany might be a result, as it might be one more than Sweden gets. When do GER & SWE play each other?

[ifk101]

Norn Iron drew there last year.

I'm sure NI would take any positive result they are given but it's four years since NI played Sweden. But agree with the generally gish of your point. Sweden are nothing to fear.

[jbyrne]

When do GER & SWE play each other?

ger v sweden is on 16th October 2012

[Dodge]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_UEFA_G roup_C

Full fixture list. Sweden with toughest run in of all 4 potential qualifiers IMO

[French Toasht]

I'm sure NI would take any positive result they are given but it's four years since NI played Sweden. But agree with the generally gish of your point. Sweden are nothing to fear.

Do you not think Hamrén has got them playing very well these days? Don't think the challenge is beyond us but it is a massive step up from our previous two second seeds under Trap, Bulgaria and Slovakia, neither of whom, we managed to beat.

Ps on a completely unrelated note, the hero who nicked the Estonia tracksuit and balls and blagged his way onto the pitch has made the news over here. Fair play to him.

http://www.dn.se/blogg/leonelsguldkorn/?a=

[Handy]

Kazakhstan away first - think it's definitely a goo thing to get that trip out of the way. Echoes of Armenia there. Must be a Trap tactic.

It's really difficult to see Germany dropping many, if any, points in this group. That's a good thing from our perspective as it levels the playing field with ourselves as Sweden.

[theworm2345]

Sweden home and then Austria and Germany away in Sept/Oct of '13 could make or break it.

[mypost]

Not very happy with the list tbh, especially relating to the Germany games. Delaney probably saw the 10 million on offer for the German game asap, and ran away. But having to go to their (probable) qualification celebration party 12 months later, how or why did he agree to that? :mad:

No double-headers away in the same week either, the run-in looks very tough. Sweden, followed by trips to Vienna and the Germans wouldn't be my idea of a preferred run-in. Vienna is going to be a real banana skin, and we have an awful record there.

Kazachstan dates are the only real ones I could say I'm happy with. The Swedes have done very well with their list, and getting the Germans in their final game at home. I certainly didn't expect that. Germany are usually bankers for the last game at home.

Awkward is the best way I could describe our list, and a real challenge to make the playoffs again.

[SwanVsDalton]

I'm happy enough. No one has an easy run-in and I think we've done well to get Sweden when we have and those run of home games in the middle will do fine. Sweden may be happy to play Germany at home last, but I'd still rather avoid Germany last full stop. They don't do dead rubbers.

[geysir]

By the time of the last round of games, the Swedes hopefully/probably will be looking at our home tie with the Kazaks, with envy.

[Stuttgart88]

Not very happy with the list tbh, especially relating to the Germany games. Delaney probably saw the 10 million on offer for the German game asap, and ran away. Isn't it all centrally distributed now? There's no advantage to drawing Germany over a lesser TV watching nation.

[Bayern Munchies]

If we have to qualify by beating Kazakhstan in the last game...

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e34/JennaBarn32/Borat.gif

[Kingdom]

If we accept that we're playing for 2nd behind Germany, then the way to look at the fixture list is to see whether one team can build up an advantage over another.

Ireland: Kaz(A), Ger(H), Far(A), Swe(A), Aus(H), Far(H), Swe(H), Aus(A), Ger(A), Kaz(H)
Sweden: Kaz (H), Far(A), Ger(A), Ire(H), Aus(A), Far(H), Ire(A), Kaz(A), Aus(H), Ger(H)
Lol, look at that. Almost mapped opponents until we've played each other twice. As with other campaigns, we'll be needing to beat the teams seeded below us Home and Away. Obviously they're all crucial, but our home match against Austria looks like being the tipping point. Presuming that we're still in it at that stage, then that is a must-win match.

Aus: Far(A), Ger (H), Kaz(A), Kaz(H), Ire(A), Swe(H), Ger(A), Ire(H), Swe(A), Far(H)

Austria could have built up a nice little reserve by the time they play us in lansdowne. Actually looking at those fixtures again, well played Austria. They took a point off the Germans in Vienna last time out, so they could actually be two points ahead of us come that game, and be able to sit and look for the draw.
Our first game at home after the Euro's is Germany. Delaney has to have looked for that in order to sell-out. Wouldn't be any surprise to see that game as part of a double-header with a friendly against England to boost cash revenues.

I've said before that of all the seeded teams, Germany are the one I'd fear above and beyond all else. Getting them at home early first is probably no harm, we'd probably take the draw, whereas away first I'd be pretty pessimistic of getting anything, and you're on the backfoot straightaway.
I will say that I don't expect Germany to get a 100% record in this campaign, and I would expect all the others to lose at least once in the group.
It's gonna be tough.

[Kingdom]

Remembering as well that 2nd won't necessarily get anything in this campaign - only 8/9 runner's up go into the play-offs. Thankfully there are one or two horrendous groups:

UEFA Group A is Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland, Macedonia and Wales.
That is a stinker of a group; Any of the top 3 seeds go win the group, while Wales and Scotland will think they can take points off anyone at home.

UEFA Group B is Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia and Malta.
Again, the middle seeds are of sufficient quality to take points off most of the others.

UEFA Group D is Netherlands, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Estonia and Andorra.
Holland to run away with it. 2nd should make playoff

UEFA Group E is Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Albania, Cyprus and Iceland.
Plenty of dropped points in this group too.

UEFA Group F is Portugal, Russia, Israel, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.
Straightforward group, definite playoffs.

UEFA Group G is Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia and Liechtenstein.
The top three should be ok for a playoff spot, not enough in the bottom 3 seeds.

UEFA Group H is England, Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and San Marino.
Could be a dodgy one too for the runner-up. Monte and the co-hosts aren't too differing in abilities, suggests points dropped.

UEFA Group I is Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia and Finland. No contest.

Certs for playoffs: Groups I,G,F,D
Looking at the groups I'd be confident that if we come 2nd we'll reach the play-offs. No matter how many times I see it, Group A is horrid.

[Kingdom]

By the time of the last round of games, the Swedes hopefully/probably will be looking at our home tie with the Kazaks, with envy.

To be fair to them, Sweden beat a hitherto 100% Netherlands to get to Euro12 as auto runner-up. An achievement in itself.

[tricky_colour]

Aviva is the same backwards as forwards though

Like a palindrome you mean;)

[BonnieShels]

Like a palindrome you mean;)

That "palindrome" isn't palindromic is one of the great failures of the English language.

[Stuttgart88]

Are Rotor (as in Volgograd) the world palindromic football champions?

[tricky_colour]

Indeed you would have thought they could come up with something better than that!!

Perhaps they suffered from Aibohphobia? (a fear of palindromes!!). :D

[tricky_colour]

Also:-

Are we not pure? “No sir!” Panama’s moody Noriega brags. “It is garbage!” Irony dooms a man; a prisoner up to new era.

[SkStu]

we'll come third and we'll know that on March 26, 2013.

[ArdeeBhoy]

We will definitely, if we don't start winning our fecking home games.

[Stuttgart88]

Also:-

Are we not pure? “No sir!” Panama’s moody Noriega brags. “It is garbage!” Irony dooms a man; a prisoner up to new era.
A man, a plan, a canal...Panama.

[mypost]

Remembering as well that 2nd won't necessarily get anything in this campaign - only 8/9 runner's up go into the play-offs. Thankfully there are one or two horrendous groups:

UEFA Group A is Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland, Macedonia and Wales.
That is a stinker of a group; Any of the top 3 seeds go win the group, while Wales and Scotland will think they can take points off anyone at home.

UEFA Group E is Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Albania, Cyprus and Iceland.
Plenty of dropped points in this group too.

UEFA Group G is Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia and Liechtenstein.
The top three should be ok for a playoff spot, not enough in the bottom 3 seeds.

UEFA Group I is Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia and Finland. No contest.

Group A is a great one for everyone, as there's no clear winner, but you'd have to expect Croatia or Serbia to decide the group themselves. Wales and Scotland can prepare for Euro 2016.

Group E is more or less the same, another very competitive group. Group I is no contest for the top two places, but we don't know who will be top.

I'd rather be in a group where anyone of 3 or 4 teams could win it, instead of what we have.

[tetsujin1979]

Serbia were terrible in qualifying for the Euros, only won 4 games in total

[Crosby87]

Dammit, no more Saturday games? Killing me! Dont they think of the plastics and ex pats? I cant take off all those Fridays!
*******s.

[French Toasht]

I'd genuinely swap groups with any other third seeds, bar Belerus who got Spain and France. If only the draw had been made now, like it always had been we'd be looking at a far handier group now.

[SkStu]

Dammit, no more Saturday games? Killing me! Dont they think of the plastics and ex pats? I cant take off all those Fridays!
*******s.

thats what pullin sickies is for, part-timer...