World Cup qualifying group C

[ArdeeBhoy]

No, but the Germans I know reckon they might snatch a draw. Austria that is.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think it's better for us if Germany win all their matches (except against us).

[ArdeeBhoy]

Yeah, maybe. But they reckon they'll struggle to beat Sweden too, home and away.

[elroy]

I think it's better for us if Germany win all their matches (except against us).

Normally I would agree, but the Germans last game is away to Sweden. We could do with the German still needing at least a draw there to win the group (lets be realistic!). If the group comes down to (dont think it will) how we and Sweden did against Germany, that game would be crucial.

I think a draw in the Austria Germany match tomorrow night would be a good result and anything other than a Swede win would be great. Germany needed a last min winner in Vienna in Euro 2012 qualifying so I think Austria have a chance of a result tomorrow night. I think Kazak will be far less of a danger away from home. I also think the key against them would be to score early. We started brightly the other night and they looked all over the place. If we had scored then I reckon it would have saved us all alot of stress. Under Trap before the Euros we were good at scoring early, I hope we maintain that attribute in this campaign.

As an add on, looking at the Euro 2012 qualifying Group A involving Ger, Kaz and Aus. The Kazaks conceded injury time goals against Austria (away) and Turkey (away) to deny them a draw in each case. Just saying.

[SkStu]

Would an Austrian draw not put the frightened on everyone about how we'd do against them? Yikes!

[BonnieShels]

Would an Austrian draw not put the frightened on everyone about how we'd do against them? Yikes!

I think there's history between them.

[Murfinator]

For anyone concerned about Zlatan's self-confidence. :rolleyes:

"We usually say that you cannot become a legend before death. But I am a living legend"

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/zlatan-ibrahimovic-declares-himself-living-legend-malmo-003135180--sow.html

[BonnieShels]

For anyone concerned about Zlatan's self-confidence. :rolleyes:

"We usually say that you cannot become a legend before death. But I am a living legend"

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/zlatan-ibrahimovic-declares-himself-living-legend-malmo-003135180--sow.html


Yeah. Doesn't seem up for it.

[ArdeeBhoy]

But he's still an ego who plays for himself...

[graham_d]

Normally I would agree, but the Germans last game is away to Sweden. We could do with the German still needing at least a draw there to win the group (lets be realistic!). If the group comes down to (dont think it will) how we and Sweden did against Germany, that game would be crucial.

I think a draw in the Austria Germany match tomorrow night would be a good result and anything other than a Swede win would be great. Germany needed a last min winner in Vienna in Euro 2012 qualifying so I think Austria have a chance of a result tomorrow night. I think Kazak will be far less of a danger away from home. I also think the key against them would be to score early. We started brightly the other night and they looked all over the place. If we had scored then I reckon it would have saved us all alot of stress. Under Trap before the Euros we were good at scoring early, I hope we maintain that attribute in this campaign.

As an add on, looking at the Euro 2012 qualifying Group A involving Ger, Kaz and Aus. The Kazaks conceded injury time goals against Austria (away) and Turkey (away) to deny them a draw in each case. Just saying.

Half an hour gone, the Germans are really letting themselves be put under pressure, not really getting anything going in midfield and they look very nervous at the back. Could have been 2-0 Austria with a bit more calmness one on one.

[abcd]

Breakthrough for Sweden just before half time.

[graham_d]

Germany lead 1-0, Reus....

Was just about to say that the 2 in the German 4-2-3-1 (Khedira & Kroos, who'd probably be the first choice) have been completely missing for the first half, Ozil's been terrible too.....

Neuer & Badstuber kept them in it a couple of times, but Neuer put a clearance against one of the Austrians from about 20 yards and was very lucky, and Badstuber was also caught in possession and sliced a simple clearance straight out too. There's more goals in it....

[Colbert Report]

Germany scoring is good news for us, I was hoping that the Swedes might drop two points away to Kazakhstan, they're a real banana skin you know. Too bad really.

[DannyInvincible]

Sweden are at home tonight.

[Colbert Report]

Living in North America is doing my head in, they always list the home team second

[Murfinator]

There's a good deal of discontent in Germany surrounding Joachim Loew. Some feeling he's brought this group of players as far as they can go, others feel that his reliance on the Bayern players is past his sell by date and the team would be better off being built around a Dortmund core. I'd say there's a possibility some of the previous regulars whose stock has dropped a lot in recent years like Podolski and Klose are walking a thin line to being discarded altogether, Germany possibly have one bad performance in them this campaign but I reckon after that Loew will be forced to push through the Dortmund players and they'll be better for it.
It's just important that bad performance is against us and not today against Austria. Last thing we want is to face an attack built around Gotze and Reus.

[graham_d]

Looks like Reus is off injured.
A fair bit of criticism at halftime that some of the players fancy themselves a bit too much and are not quite playing in the system but doing their own thing - that could be the problem Löw has with bringing in too many at one time from Dortmund.

[graham_d]

Pen Germany

[graham_d]

Özil scores it, 2-0. Götze is on for Reus

[graham_d]

Austria score! 1-2

German LB (Schmelzer) has been poor so far, and the Austrian winger went through him pretty easily and pulled a low ball across, German TV hasn't shown a replay yet so don't know who put it in.... some messy defending though.

[graham_d]

Schmelzer's now been done twice in the last 2 minutes since the goal and now he's just decided to go and hack an Austrian down to get rid of the frustration, and Hummels & Götze just gave the ball away outside the area.... all Dortmund players who seem to be taking it a bit too easy.

[graham_d]

FT 1-2... Austria missed a sitter a minute from the end....

[Irish_Praha]

FT 1-2... Austria missed a sitter a minute from the end....

By the looks of it we will be doing good to come away from there wit some kind of result.

[graham_d]

By the looks of it we will be doing good to come away from there wit some kind of result.

They're a bit like us though, better against the good teams...... he says trying to forget the summer....

[Colbert Report]

Oh yeah. I don't think anyone outside of Ireland expects us to finish any higher than fourth. Germany will win the group, and it is likely between Austria and Sweden for second place. I believe we were the third seeds in the group.

[graham_d]

We definitely need to sort out our own LB situation. Can't see Austria being so motivated against us (or Sweden) though. We might get lucky if the other 2 take points off each other and lose to Germany.

[geysir]

FT 1-2... Austria missed a sitter a minute from the end....

An absolute sitter, with the goal at his mercy, sliced wide from 1 metre out.

[graham_d]

German TV just showing the Swedish highlights - lovely goal from Elm for 1-0. Ibra not having a good day.....
2-0 in the end, second goal in injury time.

[geysir]

Ibra not having a good day.....

??
ibra dominates the 9 line report from Reuters on the game
'Playing in his home town of Malmo, Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic drifted out to the right to pick up the ball and crossed to Mikael Lustig.
The defender mis-hit his shot but Rasmus Elm pounced on the rebound to volley home.
Ibrahimovic tormented the Kazakhs throughout the second half and he passed to Berg, who scored in the final minute of added time to put the game beyond reach'

[swinfordfc]

Group gone to plan so far (result wise)

[the bear]

Group gone to plan so far (result wise)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h0tdTEwu2Cs/TUXwhvWNagI/AAAAAAAAAnk/UXjFQbvXoc0/s1600/borat_great_success.jpg

[Murfinator]

Ibra not having a good day.....



??
ibra dominates the 9 line report from Reuters on the game
'Playing in his home town of Malmo, Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic drifted out to the right to pick up the ball and crossed to Mikael Lustig.
The defender mis-hit his shot but Rasmus Elm pounced on the rebound to volley home.
Ibrahimovic tormented the Kazakhs throughout the second half and he passed to Berg, who scored in the final minute of added time to put the game beyond reach'

If that's a bad day lets hope he doesn't have an "ok" day against us.

[graham_d]

If that's a bad day lets hope he doesn't have an "ok" day against us.

Maybe it was the selection of highlights.... but while most of the clips involved him, there were lots of shots wide, through-balls too long etc.

[ifk101]

Sweden made hard work of Kazakhstan, but reading the Swedish papers this morning, it was of their own making. Only saw the last 20 or minutes of the game myself but there was a fair bit of wayward passing. At one point, Sweden's striker Elmander had a go at somebody in the crowd for something that was said. :-) Ibrahimovic lost the head late on and picked up a yellow card for mouthing to the ref.

[ArdeeBhoy]

But isn't 'Ibra' untouchable? If you believe some on here...

[geysir]

The ref didn't think so.

[SkStu]

But isn't 'Ibra' untouchable? If you believe some on here...

Yes, because that's exactly what some were saying.

[geysir]

Faroes v Sverige 0-0 at ht.
The Swedes should be happy to get in without conceding a goal.

The local stadium is unrecognizable, gone are the rocky grassy slopes, stands on 3 sides now and something being done on the 4th side

[zero]

Faroes v Sverige 0-0 at ht.
The Swedes should be happy to get in without conceding a goal.

The local stadium is unrecognizable, gone are the rocky grassy slopes, replaced by stands on all 4 sides.

don't think this one will finish with 11 on each side - lots of late challenges flying in. faroes look decent enough, bit of a concern for tuesday.

i'd expect sweden to kick on in the 2nd half so best chance of a good result here for ireland is if the faroes can nick one first.

kazakhstan also holding austria goalless.

[nigel-harps1954]

A few surprise latest scores in qualifying.

Czech Rep 1-1 Malta HT
Faroes 0-0 Sweden HT
Kazakhstan 0-0 Austria HT

Russia also beat Portugal 1-0 today at home.

[Charlie Darwin]

Lars Olsen's blue and white army doing a job for us. Kerr must have had a word.

[zero]

faroes one up!

[geysir]

That goal was coming ;)

Let's hope the Faroes' (Man City deputy reserve) goalie continues having a blinder.

[Noelys Guitar]

Come on the Faroes (and Kaz)

[Charlie Darwin]

That didn't last long.

[Charlie Darwin]

2-1 now, Zlatan fooling the keeper with a very clever and deliberate swipe at the air.

[geysir]

Swedes now 2-1 up.
Zlatan nearly fluffed that, actually he did fluff it but it still dribbled over the line.

[geysir]

Faroes pressing hard for the equaliser
Still 0-0 Kaz v Aust

[Charlie Darwin]

Sweden get away with it. The Faroes are no minnows - they will be thinking they can get a win of Tuesday.

[geysir]

FT in the Faroes - Swedes steal the 3 points.