World Cup qualifying group C

[pineapple stu]

Seeing as it's around the corner, may as well get a thread going for keeping an eye on the other games.

Sweden lost 3-0 to Brazil tonight; two goals from Pato in the last 5 minutes for Brazil. Could have been closer than the scoreline makes it sound.

Germany lost 3-1 at home to Argentina, although with ten men for the last hour. Messi missed a penalty given for the red, at which time it was still 0-0.

Austria were 2-0 up on Turkey after five minutes, and held that lead for the rest of the game. Decent result for them.

The Faroes lost 2-0 away to Iceland, with the second coming in injury time. Seems they could be as resolute as they were under Kerr.

Can't see any game for Kazakhstan this week. Their most recent games were in June - a 3-0 defeat away to Armenia followed by a 5-2 loss at home to Kyrgyzstan. Can't see them being much of a threat.

All games in any one group are on the same day, so we start off on the 7th with Germany v the Faroes and ourselves away to Kazakhstan. On the 11th, it's Austria v Germany - the first interesting game, hopefully - and Sweden v Kazakhstan.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Do we have to?

Feel it's going to be even more depressing than last time...

[pineapple stu]

Agree on the potential depressing-ness of the campaign. But for now, we're joint top, and new season optimism is afoot.

I see Kazakhstan have played the Faroes twice and lost both times too.

[elroy]

To shake off the cobwebs of Euro 2012 and to get a renewed sense of optimism over this team and the future, I think we need 7 points from the first three games. Win away to Kazak and away to Faroes and draw with Germany at home.

[PrettyBoots]

Elroy: Thats hoping for the absolute best. Tricky game away to kazaks, Should beat faroes. Germany will be a big ask to get anything. Hope your right. Have accomadation booked in Cologne for away leg Oct 2013!!

[SkStu]

To shake off the cobwebs of Euro 2012 and to get a renewed sense of optimism over this team and the future, I think we need 7 points from the first three games. Win away to Kazak and away to Faroes and draw with Germany at home.

start like that and it will be a case of

"Euros? What Euros?"

"the one where we lost 3-1 to Croatia, 4-0 to Spain and 2-0 to Italy."

"oh yeah."

[IsMiseSean]

After last night I have a little more enthusiasm/confidence for the WC campaign. The main reason being that Trap is open to change....

[gastric]

After last night I have a little more enthusiasm/confidence for the WC campaign. The main reason being that Trap is open to change....

Reading this may dampen your positivity as Dion Fanning puts the boot in!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/giovanni-trapattoni-can-no-longer-hide-behind-the-results-writes-dion-fanning-3203488.html

[Murfinator]

This could be a very ugly campaign, the signs aren't good at all. I'd probably take a respectable 3rd right now because I fear worse.

[DannyInvincible]

The perception of a manager adrift from his players was not helped by the clumsy performance of Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli earlier in the week.

They were unaware of the statement coming from Shay Given but they also had spent very little time trying to establish Given's intentions. There are some who believe he could have been persuaded to stay if the manager had explained what he wanted from him. Instead there was a statement on Monday night which, in its timing, damaged Trapattoni as it gave the impression of a manager clueless to the intentions of the men he had depended on since he got the job.

I'm surprised Given wouldn't have notified Trap or Tardelli of his intentions. Surely he at least informed someone at the FAI and they ought to have informed the management team, no? Seems hard to believe that Trap was unaware of Shay's statement on international retirement and, furthermore, had failed to even bother trying to persuade Shay to stick it out for another campaign.

[Crosby87]

Who will be the player that we most irrationally fear on here in this campaign, ala Pandev?
People were talking about him like he was Pele. It kept me up nights, until I saw him play and had a good laugh.
There has to be some somewhat obscure Swede or someone named Borat or something, no?

[geysir]

I'm surprised Given wouldn't have notified Trap or Tardelli of his intentions. Surely he at least informed someone at the FAI and they ought to have informed the management team, no? Seems hard to believe that Trap was unaware of Shay's statement on international retirement and, furthermore, had failed to even bother trying to persuade Shay to stick it out for another campaign.
The first assumption should be that Fanning is writing a crock of ...., unless proved otherwise.
According to the FAI statement 'Trapattoni had spoken "at length" with Given on Monday afternoon before the retirement was confirmed.'
I suppose they were not talking about Donegal's chances against Cork the Dubs.

[Yard of Pace]

Who will be the player that we most irrationally fear on here in this campaign, ala Pandev?
People were talking about him like he was Pele. It kept me up nights, until I saw him play and had a good laugh.
There has to be some somewhat obscure Swede or someone named Borat or something, no?

I've been having visions of Toni Polster starting for Austria and getting a brace against us

[tetsujin1979]

Who will be the player that we most irrationally fear on here in this campaign, ala Pandev?
People were talking about him like he was Pele. It kept me up nights, until I saw him play and had a good laugh.
There has to be some somewhat obscure Swede or someone named Borat or something, no?
Surely Ibrahimovic? I've been terrified of playing against Kallstrom since he was a legend at AMC on Championship Manager

[IsMiseSean]

Who will be the player that we most irrationally fear on here in this campaign, ala Pandev?
People were talking about him like he was Pele. It kept me up nights, until I saw him play and had a good laugh.
There has to be some somewhat obscure Swede or someone named Borat or something, no?

The Austrians are putting together a decent squad. A lot of their players will be playing regular Bundesliga football this season.
I expect them to be battling it out for the playoff place with us & Sweden.

[NeverFeltBetter]

3rd would be my highest realistic expectation, unless Sweden's poor tournament form (in their first two games anyway) continues into this campaign. I can't see it though. Ibrahomovic is such an amazing player, and I think he'll make mincemeat of whoever we put up against him. Austria I know little about to be honest, so I'll reserve judgement.

We'll see how we get on. I think this is a far tougher group than Trapattoni has ever faced in a qualifying campaign and I'm not hopeful of play-off place.

[Murfinator]

Who will be the player that we most irrationally fear on here in this campaign, ala Pandev?
People were talking about him like he was Pele. It kept me up nights, until I saw him play and had a good laugh.
There has to be some somewhat obscure Swede or someone named Borat or something, no?

Unfortunately there'll be nothing irrational about fearing Ibra, he was incredible last season. Seems to be at his peak at the moment.

Austria are an up and coming team, their players are playing at a higher level than most of ours and they probably have the momentum going with them. Both Sweden and Austria will fancy their chance to finish ahead of us.
Germany, I don't mention with good reason. They're about the worst team anyone could get in a qualifiers, they qualify like clockwork. Amazing team, strong depth and very consistent performers.

[Wolfie]

07/09/2012 Germany – Faroe Islands
07/09/2012 Kazakhstan – Ireland

11/09/2012 Austria – Germany
11/09/2012 Sweden – Kazakhstan

12/10/2012 Ireland – Germany
12/10/2012 Kazakhstan – Austria
12/10/2012 Faroe Islands – Sweden

16/10/2012 Germany – Sweden
16/10/2012 Faroe Islands – Ireland
16/10/2012 Austria – Kazakhstan

22/03/2013 Sweden – Ireland
22/03/2013 Kazakhstan – Germany
22/03/2013 Austria - Faroe Islands

26/03/2013 Germany – Kazakhstan
26/03/2013 Ireland – Austria

11/06/2013 Sweden – Faroe Islands

06/07/2013 Austria – Sweden
06/07/2013 Ireland – Faroe Islands

06/09/2013 Ireland – Sweden
06/09/2013 Germany – Austria
06/09/2013 Kazakhstan – Faroe Islands

10/09/2013 Kazakhstan – Sweden
10/09/2013 Faroe Islands – Germany
10/09/2013 Austria – Ireland

11/10/2013 Germany – Ireland
11/10/2013 Sweden – Austria
11/10/2013 Faroe Islands – Kazakhstan

15/10/2013 Sweden – Germany
15/10/2013 Ireland – Kazakhstan
15/10/2013 Faroe Islands – Austria

[paul_oshea]

I think these are the key games in teh campaign for us. A little like the macedonia away and then slovakia at home (albeit a few months later) the last time.

22/03/2013 Sweden – Ireland
22/03/2013 Kazakhstan – Germany
22/03/2013 Austria - Faroe Islands

26/03/2013 Germany – Kazakhstan
26/03/2013 Ireland – Austria

[ArdeeBhoy]

Hasn't Ibra retired from international football, after the Euros?

He's good but amazingly moody (& inconsistent) ?

[Stuttgart88]

No, he's staying on. Keep up.

[ifk101]

He's in the Swedish squad for tomorrow's friendly against China and next week's qualifier against Kazakhstan. Probably won't play against China but should be starting in the qualifier.

[ArdeeBhoy]

No, he's staying on. Keep up.

Except I don't give two fecks what he does, either way.

[Noelys Guitar]

If you go out with a team like Westwood
Kelly JOS Dunne Wilson
(very close call but for me this defense is slightly better than JOS Dunne, Sledge, Wilson)
McGeady McCarthy Meyler McClean
Walters Long
subs Doyle, Cox, Gibson, Harte, Whelan, Sledge, Andrews

and a manager who believes in this team then we could actually compete with Germany let alone beat Austria and Sweden. That is the most depressing part of all. We can't compete with good teams on the rise. Our best competitive results under Trapatonni have all been against sides on a downer like France and Italy who both went on to have disastrous tournaments after qualifying.

[Murfinator]

Hasn't Ibra retired from international football, after the Euros?

He's good but amazingly moody (& inconsistent) ?

He's neither moody nor inconsistent. He's a seriously hard working player who delivers consistently and unfortunately for us is one of and possibly is the greatest forward currently playing.
If he has a flaw it's his arrogance.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Better than Messi? And a host of other strikers.
Yeah, right...

[peadar1987]

Better than Messi? And a host of other strikers.
Yeah, right...

I'd agree Messi is better, Ronaldo too, but neither of them is an out-and-out striker, I suppose.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Er, their goals 'scored' would suggest otherwise...

Ibra is a good player, but would he get in the German team, prior to their Munchen-induced meltdown? I doubt it...

[SwanVsDalton]

Our best competitive results under Trapatonni have all been against sides on a downer like France and Italy who both went on to have disastrous tournaments after qualifying.

That argument could be used against every side in Europe beyond Germany, Spain and maybe Portugal. They're the only teams untouchable in terms of form and performance. If this is the standard we demand, it's ridiculously high.

[Hibs4Ever]

I'd agree Messi is better, Ronaldo too, but neither of them is an out-and-out striker, I suppose.


Falcao would be another, FAR better than Ibrahimovic

[peadar1987]

Falcao would be another, FAR better than Ibrahimovic

Not a player I've seen too much of, so I'll take your word for it.

[geysir]

Ibra is a good player, but would he get in the German team, prior to their Munchen-induced meltdown? I doubt it...
He would walk into that German team we saw at the Euros.
He doesn't play as a striker for Sweden, he is given a free role. Without him in that Swedish team, I think we would outdo them in the group.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Yes, but not before. Over-rated and over-the-hill I reckon.

[Junior]

He had an excellent Euros and season leading up to it. If anything he's coming in to form not over the hill!!!

A player with fabulous technique and vision. I'd agree with Ardee (and diasgree with murf) however that he has been inconsistent over the years and certainly shown plenty of examples of being the 'i' in team. Wouldnt be at all surprised if he causes us all sorts of problems when we play them.

[geysir]

Yes, but not before. Over-rated and over-the-hill I reckon.
Depends also on what rating you are comparing your opinion to
He's won 3 out the last 4 poty Series A awards and was outstanding for Sweden at the Euros.
If that was an over-the-hill and over-rated Ibrahamovith at the Euros, then I shudder to think how he was in his prime.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Except I'm not interested about he was in his prime. And 'outstanding' is stretching it. What are you, his agent?
More relevant that the rest of the Swedish team these days are fairly ordinary...

[geysir]

Except I'm not interested about he was in his prime. And 'outstanding' is stretching it. What are you, his agent?
More relevant that the rest of the Swedish team these days are fairly ordinary...
He's a recognised outstanding player for his club, his league and his country.
'Outstanding' in the defined sense of the of the word, 'recognized' in the defined sense of the word, in all those 3 spheres of football activity.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Yawn, if you say so...

[peadar1987]

Yawn, if you say so...

To be fair, him, and the esteemed gentlemen who choose the Serie A Player of the Year.

[bennocelt]

He had one great tourno in the Euros - and that's it. If anything I think Willhelmson was their best player in terms of minutes played and how effective he was on the pitch.

[Murfinator]

Better than Messi? And a host of other strikers.
Yeah, right...

Messi isn't a number 9 forward, you do know the difference right?


Er, their goals 'scored' would suggest otherwise...

Ibra is a good player, but would he get in the German team, prior to their Munchen-induced meltdown? I doubt it...

I'm a Bayern supporter and even I'd take Ibra over Gomez without hesitation. I'd imagine any neutral would laugh at the idea of it even being a question.

[geysir]

He had one great tourno in the Euros - and that's it. .

Just happenstance that he's been the POTY at Serie A in his last 3 seasons there?

[ArdeeBhoy]

So Messi's sh*t now?

And don't know any Bayern fans who'd want him...
Too much trouble. Plus Gomez has gone sh*te...

[tetsujin1979]

He had one great tourno in the Euros - and that's it. If anything I think Willhelmson was their best player in terms of minutes played and how effective he was on the pitch.
The five consecutive titles is just a coincidence? Would be more, except the two Serie A wins in 2004/05 and 2005/06 were revoked after the match fixing scandal

[Murfinator]

So Messi's sh*t now?


What are you on about? You don't seem to understand that Messi is a striker and not a forward, are you actually drunk or something you're talking a load of crap and making zero sense.

You're even contradicting yourself on the Bayern part, you're saying no Bayern fans want Ibra and then also saying that their forward Gomez is "sh*te", the two statements sort of contradict each other. And frankly every team in the world that isn't Barca or Real would do anything to get Ibra, he makes most peoples World XI dream teams as the number 9. (At least since Villa's injury and dropping)

[Murfinator]

He had one great tourno in the Euros - and that's it.

You shouldn't comment on players you know nothing about, because that's frankly embarrassing. Try watching something that isn't on Sky for a change, might broaden your outlook.

[SkStu]

Anyone who wants to argue against the absolute quality of Zlatan Ibrahimovic deserves to be named and shamed. He's one of the best in the world and is also a scorer of too many great goals. Just because he never played in England...

[bennocelt]

Just happenstance that he's been the POTY at Serie A in his last 3 seasons there?

Good for him, read that didnt you?

[bennocelt]

The five consecutive titles is just a coincidence? Would be more, except the two Serie A wins in 2004/05 and 2005/06 were revoked after the match fixing scandal

You love your stats Tets, clarence seedorf/c karembau anybody?
Paul mcgrath won diddly squat - probably rubbish?

[bennocelt]

You shouldn't comment on players you know nothing about, because that's frankly embarrassing. Try watching something that isn't on Sky for a change, might broaden your outlook.

(sorry cant get the multiquote to work, apologies)
Tsk what a stupid comment:rolleyes: Are you his manger or what?
Dont have Sky by the way, like to go to games instead:D