Euro 2016 Play-Offs - November 13th and 16th

[back of the net]

Will Norway be seeded?

[zero]

turkey down to 10 men.

[back of the net]

Turkey with 89min in FK - lead 1-0

[DannyInvincible]

Will Norway be seeded?

No, definitely not.

Turkey have scored.

[DannyInvincible]

Sky Sports commentators don't seem to be aware that Turkey are presently best third-placed team. They think they're going into the play-offs.

[zero]

so seeds are sweden, hungary, denmark and ukraine as things stand?

[davidatrb]

I figure its

Bosnia, Ukraine, Sweden and Hungary.

Denmark, Ireland, Slovenia, Norway.

[eekers]

I figure its

Bosnia, Ukraine, Sweden and Hungary.

Denmark, Ireland, Slovenia, Norway.

Thats spot on.
Could be a worse draw.

[DeLorean]

Okay so...

1. Hungary
2. Bosnia
3. Sweden
4. Ukraine

In order of preference?

[zero]

I figure its

Bosnia, Ukraine, Sweden and Hungary.

Denmark, Ireland, Slovenia, Norway.

http://www.footballseeding.com/national-ranking-uefa/ have denmark just ahead of hungary...

[back of the net]

Okay so...

1. Hungary
2. Bosnia
3. Sweden
4. Ukraine

In order of preference?

Yep - same preference for me

[Real ale Madrid]

Amazing to think that the Netherlands are out.

[DannyInvincible]

We want it ..provided we get Hungary in the draw... poor side

Aye, we weren't going to make it into the seeded pot anyway in light of Cyprus losing, so to be in with a chance of drawing Hungary as seeds would be great.

Turkey are automatic qualifiers then. Ukraine, Bosnia, Sweden and Hungary are seeds. We, Norway, Slovenia and Denmark are unseeded. That right?

[geysir]

Turkey pip Hungary for best 3rd placed team, the féckers don'r deserve it though

[davidatrb]

http://www.footballseeding.com/national-ranking-uefa/ have denmark just ahead of hungary...

No just behind by 2 points!! Thats close.

[zero]

Aye, we weren't going to make it into the seeded pot anyway in light of Cyprus losing, so to be in with a chance of drawing Hungary as seeds would be great.

Turkey are automatic qualifiers then. Ukraine, Bosnia, Sweden and Hungary are seeds. We, Norway, Slovenia and Denmark are unseeded. That right?

unless i'm looking at old data then denmark and hungary swap places in the above - but i await davidatrb's confirmation!

edit: the man says hungary - i'll take it!

[Kingdom]

Okay so...

1. Hungary
2. Bosnia
3. Sweden
4. Ukraine

In order of preference?

I'd be more interested in playing Sweden than Bosnia, as they've come into great form, but Ukraine I'd be steering clear of,

Do the unseeded teams play home first?

[geysir]

Sky sports just said Turkey could qualify automatically if Kazakhstan beat Latvia.
Geysir said that a long time ago.

[davidatrb]

I'm disappointed. I was hoping for Denmark.

[davidatrb]

Do the unseeded teams play home first?

No, its decided by a draw.

[DeLorean]

I'd be more interested in playing Sweden than Bosnia, as they've come into great form, but Ukraine I'd be steering clear of

Yeah Sweden look a shadow of their usually efficient selves. I wouldn't be too fussed whether it's them or Bosnia, Hungary the dream ticket and Ukraine the nightmare, but hardly that big a nightmare really.

[geysir]

There's not a lot of difference between seeded and unseeded.
I'd rate Bosnia the best seeded team there.

[zero]

There's not a lot of difference between seeded and unseeded.
I'd rate Bosnia the best seeded team there.

i think they were actually top ranked team in their group but started badly.

for ireland i think having the away leg first is nearly more important than who we draw. could we get trap in to coach the away leg ??

[geysir]

Yeah Sweden look a shadow of their usually efficient selves. I wouldn't be too fussed whether it's them or Bosnia, Hungary the dream ticket and Ukraine the nightmare, but hardly that big a nightmare really.
I don't know why Ukraine are regarded a nightmare, they are an average team. If we draw them it's 50/50 imo.

[backstothewall]

There are a lot of unknowns here. An injury to Dzeko or Ibrahimovich could massively change our thoughts on playing Bosnia or Sweden

[elroy]

i would argue that a Poland side with a serious in form lewandowski are at least as good as any of the seeded teams

[davidatrb]

i would argue that a Poland side with a serious in form lewandowski are at least as good as any of the seeded teams

Polish team with Lewandowski is better than all the playoff teams by virtue of the fact that they didnt need a playoff to get through!

[Kingdom]

Can I just point out something with Hungary....they've been bringing through a decent group of youth teams since the Millenium, nothing crazy in the scheme of things, but decent for them, and football does seem to be on the upswing there. They were unlucky in the extreme in the youth world cup, conceding in the last minute to go to extra time against eventual winners serbia. They've had some really notable results underage too, and facing us will not be something they're fearful of.

In the last few qualifiers:
Euro12 a crazy last round saw them edged out for second, WC14 a last minute Romania goal kept them out of the playoffs (which Romania made)
Even this group, they were the better team in Belfast before Lafferty struck late on to equalise, which ultimately kept Romania just ahead.

They're not to be feared either, but they're no mugs.

[geysir]

There are a lot of unknowns here. An injury to Dzeko or Ibrahimovich could massively change our thoughts on playing Bosnia or Sweden
That should go without saying, otherwise we would say nothing.

[geysir]

Can I just point out something with Hungary....they've been bringing through a decent group of youth teams since the Millenium, nothing crazy in the scheme of things, but decent for them, and football does seem to be on the upswing there. They were unlucky in the extreme in the youth world cup, conceding in the last minute to go to extra time against eventual winners serbia. They've had some really notable results underage too, and facing us will not be something they're fearful of.

In the last few qualifiers:
Euro12 a crazy last round saw them edged out for second, WC14 a last minute Romania goal kept them out of the playoffs (which Romania made)
Even this group, they were the better team in Belfast before Lafferty struck late on to equalise, which ultimately kept Romania just ahead.

They're not to be feared either, but they're no mugs.Hungary finished third in the group of bottlers (Faroes excepted of course).

[IsMiseSean]

Yeah Sweden look a shadow of their usually efficient selves. I wouldn't be too fussed whether it's them or Bosnia, Hungary the dream ticket and Ukraine the nightmare, but hardly that big a nightmare really.

Spot on, I wouldn't go as far as saying Hungary are a dream ticket though, but they'd be my pick from that bunch.

[DannyInvincible]

Can I just point out something with Hungary....they've been bringing through a decent group of youth teams since the Millenium, nothing crazy in the scheme of things, but decent for them, and football does seem to be on the upswing there. They were unlucky in the extreme in the youth world cup, conceding in the last minute to go to extra time against eventual winners serbia. They've had some really notable results underage too, and facing us will not be something they're fearful of.

In the last few qualifiers:
Euro12 a crazy last round saw them edged out for second, WC14 a last minute Romania goal kept them out of the playoffs (which Romania made)
Even this group, they were the better team in Belfast before Lafferty struck late on to equalise, which ultimately kept Romania just ahead.

They're not to be feared either, but they're no mugs.

NI managed to beat them in Budapest, although it is over a year ago now.

[backstothewall]

If we consider last week's 2 games to have been a playoff of sorts we went through on away goals

Germany and Poland will both be stronger than any of those sides

[geysir]

If we consider last week's 2 games to have been a playoff we went through on away goals

Germany and Poland will both be stronger than any of those sides
We have at least a 50/50 chance against any of the play off opponents and seeded or unseeded makes little difference. We just have to turn up in fine fettle to take the advantage.

[drummerboy]

Are the unseeded teams drawn to play at home first in these playoffs

[Kingdom]

Bucharest

Ukraine - win in Belarus, point in Slovakia
Hungary - Point in Bucharest, Point in Belfast
Sweden - point in Vienna, point home v Russia, 4 points v Montenegro
Bosnia - 4 points from Wales, Point in Bruxelles
Slovenia - win v Switzerland, win in Vilnius,
Norway - 6 points v Bulgaria, home win v Croatia
Denmark - 6 points v Serbia, rescued point away v Albania.

these are some of the nice results the other play-off qualifiers achieved versus their peers. We took a point away to Scotland and at home to Poland.
I'm worried.

[backstothewall]

Ireland - 4 points from Germany, point in Glasgow

[MeathDrog]

Bucharest

Ukraine - win in Belarus, point in Slovakia
Hungary - Point in Bucharest, Point in Belfast
Sweden - point in Vienna, point home v Russia, 4 points v Montenegro
Bosnia - 4 points from Wales, Point in Bruxelles
Slovenia - win v Switzerland, win in Vilnius,
Norway - 6 points v Bulgaria, home win v Croatia
Denmark - 6 points v Serbia, rescued point away v Albania.

these are some of the nice results the other play-off qualifiers achieved versus their peers. We took a point away to Scotland and at home to Poland.
I'm worried.
Why leave out the fact we got 4 points against Germany?

[Kingdom]

Why leave out the fact we got 4 points against Germany?

I used the phrase "versus their peers" specifically. We achieved two incredible results versus Germany, in both situations where there was no pressure, and no expectation. The days where there was pressure to beat our peers, Scotland and Poland, we failed on 3/4 ties, the Poland home tie was when we responded. That is what worries me.

[Kingdom]

Ireland - 4 points from Germany, point in Glasgow

we lost in glasgow.

[tricky_colour]

So what is the current situation in a comprehensible manner?

[tricky_colour]

ie something like this:

the Irish team have discovered their four potential playoff opponents: Sweden, Ukraine, Hungary and Bosnia.

[geysir]

I used the phrase "versus their peers" specifically. We achieved two incredible results versus Germany, in both situations where there was no pressure, and no expectation. The days where there was pressure to beat our peers, Scotland and Poland, we failed on 3/4 ties, the Poland home tie was when we responded. That is what worries me.
Quite frankly that's not one of your better posts Kingdom, you are indulging in contrivance.
There was no such thing as playing Germany with no pressure, what planet are you on?

[DeLorean]

For ireland i think having the away leg first is nearly more important than who we draw. could we get trap in to coach the away leg ??

Celtic were invariably at home first in their great run to the UEFA Cup final under O'Neill. Not sure it matters too much to us. In theory being at home first would give us a better chance of having something to hold on to going into second leg. By the same token playing away first means there's a bigger chance we'll have to chase the tie in the second leg. Think I'd prefer to be hanging on than chasing.

[Philly]

ie something like this:

the Irish team have discovered their four potential playoff opponents: Sweden, Ukraine, Hungary and Bosnia.

That's it, I think.

Maybe. :)

[MeathDrog]

I used the phrase "versus their peers" specifically. We achieved two incredible results versus Germany, in both situations where there was no pressure, and no expectation. The days where there was pressure to beat our peers, Scotland and Poland, we failed on 3/4 ties, the Poland home tie was when we responded. That is what worries me.
Ah right. So we might as well put an asterisk beside every win we have ever had against better sides than us due to "no pressure or expectation". :rolleyes:

Daft comparison.

[davidatrb]

So if we do qualify then we will be in Pot 4 for the EURO 2016 group stages and drawn against 3 teams who are theoretically better than us.

We need to have a better coefficient than 6 other teams there to make Pot 3. We are already 'better' than four N. Ireland, Wales, Iceland and Albania who have all qualified. So we would like Norway and Slovenia to also qualify through their playoff. It might make life a little easier at the tournament proper - but then again with Wales and Iceland in the bottom Pot who knows.

So I want:
Slovenia to beat Hungary
Norway to beat Sweden
Ireland to beat Bosnia
Ukraine to beat Denmark

This gives the other two teams with lower coefficients (Norway and Slovenia) a chance to qualify too and I think we can take Bosnia. And also puts Ukraine in Pot 2 for the potential of an easy draw!

Then in France we have can have a group of England, Ukraine, Ireland, N.Ireland and take it from there!!

[Olé Olé]

Quite frankly that's not one of your better posts Kingdom, you are indulging in contrivance.
There was no such thing as playing Germany with no pressure, what planet are you on?

I do understand where he's coming from when I draw a comparison between the home game against Scotland and the home game against Germany. Admittedly, Germany are a far superior outfit and one we weren't expected by anyone to beat. On the other hand, Scotland came here and, whilst we put in a good performance, managed to get a draw from us. I found that really disappointing, personally, and really lowered my expectations going into the Germany and Poland games this past week.

In effect, we lost over two legs to both Poland and Scotland. We'll be playing sides of that calibre or similar in the play-offs and we'll probably need to draw away and win at home- we didn't manage to draw away to either Poland or Scotland.

I don't think Kingdom was disputing the validity of our 4 points against the Germans but it was worth noting when stating the notable results of the seeded sides.

Hard to know who I fear from that 4. Probably Ukraine the most. I think Hungary would be the best draw for us, as most people do. Tamas Priskin is their centre forward. Keane signed him for Ipswich and he was pretty poor. It's understandable that people would prefer facing him to Dzeko, Ibrahimovic and Konoplyanka.

[tricky_colour]

Si we face one of these four.
------- --p-------w------d-------l--------f------a-------gd------ots
hungary 10 4 4 2 11 9 2 16
Sweden 10 5 3 2 15 9 6 18
Ukraine 10 6 1 3 14 4 10 19
Bosnia 10 5 2 3 17 12 5 17

---------------------------------------------

Ireland 10 5 3 2 19 7 12 18

Do I hate the editor it is useless!!

Draw looks fine if we avoid Ukraine, they are the booby prize

[tricky_colour]

That's it, I think.

Maybe. :)

Yes I think someone posted a list of four teams, but nothing else was not sure what they signicified so I had to find out myself.