World Cup Qualifying 2018, UEFA Group D - Opponent Watch

[DannyInvincible]

Georgia 1-0 up after six minutes.

[tetsujin1979]

live text of the game here: http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/matches/live/index.html?day=5&session=1&match=2017794

[Closed Account]

Should be 2-0 up. 1 on 1 with the keeper with a free man in the 6 yard box, literally two 5 yard passes to score.

[shakermaker1982]

I cannot believe that, square ball and a tap in. FFS

[shakermaker1982]

Georgia tbf look good going forward. Serbia very dodgy at the back.

[Closed Account]

Inevitable penalty on the stroke of halftime to Serbia

[DannyInvincible]

Serbia win 3-1. Disappointing result considering Georgia really should have been 2-0 ahead before giving away an utterly stupid penalty to gift Serbia an equaliser just before half-time.

[SkStu]

Healthy pressure on us now to not settle for anything other than a win.

[SkStu]

Austria 0 Moldova 0 at half time.

[SkStu]

1-0 Austria

[DannyInvincible]

Marko Arnautović picked up a yellow card last night in Austria's 2-0 win over Moldova, so it means he'll miss the game against us in June through suspension as it's his second yellow of the campaign: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/update-seamus-coleman-facing-at-least-six-months-out-as-he-undergoes-surgery-on-double-leg-fracture-35564624.html


Ireland's next match is at home to Austria in June and the only crumb of comfort to emerge from last night is that the opponents' key attacker Marko Arnautovic will miss out through suspension after picking up his second yellow of the campaign in their win over Moldova.

[KrisLetang]

If y'all had a gun to your head what would you say the % is of Ireland qualifying? 50-50? Better? Worse?

[geysir]

Joe Allen was a bit of alright for Wales, I liked their Joe.
I didn't even notice Ramsay missing in that game because Joe stood up and had the moral courage. I liked their Joe. They'll hardly notice Bale's absence in their next game because they got Joe,

Overall Serbia did very well once they took control of that game v Georgia, but in getting there they had to depend on that cxnt Kostic drawing another penalty.

[liamoo11]

Joe Allen was a bit of alright for Wales, I liked their Joe.
I didn't even notice Ramsay missing in that game because Joe stood up and had the moral courage. I liked their Joe. They'll hardly notice Bale's absence in their next game because they got Joe,

Overall Serbia did very well once they took control of that game v Georgia, but in getting there they had to depend on that cxnt Kostic drawing another penalty.

Lol. Ramsey did look like he wasn't playing on Friday

[KrisLetang]

Looking at the "How many pts do Ireland likely need" articles today....18 pts was enough for second for all nine groups last time. If I said right now that you could go 2 wins and 3 draws would you take it and take your chances? Or are your hearts set on 3 wins 2 draws?

[SkStu]

The choice between 20 or 22 points? Unbeaten in the campaign. I'd take either.

[Colbert Report]

If y'all had a gun to your head what would you say the % is of Ireland qualifying? 50-50? Better? Worse?

538 has us with a 56% chance of qualifying, but it really depends on who we draw in the play-off, should we be lucky enough to hold on for second place. Can't see anyone but Serbia winning the group at this point.

[SkStu]

I think Austria and Serbia at home is huge. Win both those and well top the group I reckon.

[CraftyToePoke]

Or are your hearts set on 3 wins 2 draws?

Four wins and a draw (in Wales which makes them cry like girls) and absolutely balls out beast it home from here on a wave of never before seen confidence and momentum levels.

[Littlest Hobo]

I predict the following results;

Austria (h) 3 pts
Georgia (a) 3 pts
Serbia (h) 1 pt
Moldova (h) 3 pts

Going into last game away to Wales with 21 pts.

Serbia's run in;

Wales (h) 3 pts
Moldova (h) 3 pts
Rep of Ire (a) 1 pt
Austria (a) 1 pt

Going into last game at home to Georgia with 19 pts.

If we draw with Wales and Serb's win, then we both end on 22 pts. In this scenario, I reckon they will pip us on goal difference!

[Real ale Madrid]

If we end up level with Serbia then it will go to head to head . We have 2 away goals in a 2-2 draw , so a 1-1 or 0-0 in Dub in that scenario would edge us ahead of them I think.

[tetsujin1979]

It's goal difference first, then goals scored, then head to head. Serbia are +2 ahead of us, and probably more after the next round of fixtures.

[tetsujin1979]

I know Arnautović's suspension for the Austria game was mentioned on the thread, just noticed their central midfielder Ilsanker is going to miss the game after collecting his second yellow against Moldova.

<EDIT>

Checked their qualifiers so far and it looks like he's a squad player - the Moldova game was his first start of the campaign, came off the bench against us and Serbia, and was an unused sub against Wales and Georgia.

[Littlest Hobo]

Yeah, Ilsanker is a squad player, who won't be badly missed. on the other hand Arnautovic has been their talisman this campaign, so will be sorely missed, which is a major bonus for us.
Providing we have everyone fit - obviously minus Coleman - we've gotta be confident of taking 3 points.

[Closed Account 2]

Georgian players we want to be booked vs Moldova (a)
Kankava
Qazaishvili
Skhirtlaze
Kashia
Gvilia
Mchedlidze

They will then miss our game


Serbian players we don’t want booked ]vs Wales
(they will then miss Serbia v Moldova (h) but be available for our game
Stojkovic
Tadic
Milivojevic
S. Mitrovic
Vukovic

[DeLorean]

Suppose it's kind of unlikely (but obviously not impossible) that they'll get booked in that Moldova game anyway.

Tets - why do you think it's likely that Serbia's superior GD over us will increase further after the next round of fixtures? Are you thinking they'll beat Wales with a bit to spare or that we'll fall short in beating Austria? Or both.

[BonnieShels]

Serbian players we don’t want booked ]vs Wales
(they will then miss Serbia v Moldova (h) but be available for our game
Stojkovic
Tadic
Milivojevic
S. Mitrovic
Vukovic

Maybe them missing the Moldova game gives Moldova an opportunity to nick a point. That would be where I would be throwing my eggs. Another Georgia v Scotland jobbie would do nicely!

[tetsujin1979]

Suppose it's kind of unlikely (but obviously not impossible) that they'll get booked in that Moldova game anyway.

Tets - why do you think it's likely that Serbia's superior GD over us will increase further after the next round of fixtures? Are you thinking they'll beat Wales with a bit to spare or that we'll fall short in beating Austria? Or both.
little of both, I can see them beating a weakened Wales at home by more than we'll beat Austria at home.

[DeLorean]

They did beat them 6-1 not so long ago I suppose!

[Closed Account 2]

Maybe them missing the Moldova game gives Moldova an opportunity to nick a point. That would be where I would be throwing my eggs. Another Georgia v Scotland jobbie would do nicely!

Yeah it's possible, Moldova's only 3 points across the last one and half qualification tournaments have been away (away to Russia - draw; away to Lichtenstein - draw; away to Georgia - draw) so it's possible. In that time no team has put more than two goals past Moldova at home to them except Wales.

[swinfordfc]

Yeah it's possible, Moldova's only 3 points across the last one and half qualification tournaments have been away (away to Russia - draw; away to Lichtenstein - draw; away to Georgia - draw) so it's possible. In that time no team has put more than two goals past Moldova at home to them except Wales.

Did we not score 3 against them away not so long ago? .... or am I dreaming?

[DeLorean]

He said at home though (as in Moldova being the away side, which they will be against Serbia).

[Closed Account 2]

Yeah I mean not in Chisinau for want of a better way of phrasing it. At home they tend to almost do worse than away from home, perhaps they open up a bit at home and go for it a bit more whereas away from home they just focus on not conceding, are very defensive and don't have any sense of ambition.

In the last campaign they lost to Sweden (a) and Montenegro (a) 2-0, lost to Austria (a) 1-0 and drew 1-1 with Russia (a), at these teams are quite a bit better than them yet they were never really demolished by huge margins. They also drew 1-1 with Lichtenstein (a) but that result is at least what they would expect and if anything a slight underachievement (although they somehow managed to lose 1-0 at home to Lichtenstein). Even in friendlies they've been ok-ish away from home, losing 2-1 to Switzerland (a) and 1-0 to Croatia (a) last summer.

[swinfordfc]

Sorry lads! ... My mistake!

[DeLorean]

Friendly results

Austria 1-1 Finland (http://www.livescore.com/soccer/intl/friendly/austria-vs-finland/1-2397900/)
Georgia 5-0 Latvia (http://www.livescore.com/soccer/intl/friendly/georgia-vs-latvia/1-2448118/)

[OwlsFan]

Knee strain for Alaba at the weekend http://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2017/4/22/15393314/david-alaba-leg-injury-bayern-munich-mainz Let's hope it's nothing inconsequential.

[geysir]

Wales' Taylor is banned for their next two games, v Serbia and Austria, probably they're better off without him, it'll have little or no bearing on the likelihood of them getting a good result for us in Serbia.

Arnautavic being out will be a loss for Austria as they (like us) are short of good front players, I suppose the lumbering Janko will be drafted in to start.

[DeLorean]

Scandalous stuff from the Welsh, clearly corrupting the young man's mind while fending off English interest - http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40041499


Exeter City teenager Ethan Ampadu is one of seven uncapped players named in Wales' squad for a training camp in Portugal ahead of June's World Cup qualifier in Serbia.

The 16-year-old defensive player has represented Wales up to Under-19 level, but is also eligible for England.

According to his Wikipedia profile (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Ampadu), he's eligible to represent us as well.

[Charlie Darwin]

His dad, Kwame, is from Dublin and a former under-21 international.

[Closed Account]

Scandalous stuff from the Welsh, clearly corrupting the young man's mind while fending off English interest - http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40041499



According to his Wikipedia profile (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Ampadu), he's eligible to represent us as well.
Jesus Del, it's just a training camp. Don't get so worked up about it, I think you need to see an Anger Management consultant.

[writerbk1969]

I support Exeter City and they have high hopes for him , it seems Arsenal are to offer £1 million for him. He dad I know well, he played a couple of games for Arsenal but is a true Dub and I've been onto him to get his son to declare. But he was in a recent U-21 squad and was named Welsh Young Player of the Year so I'd say he's gone. Played a handful of games this year, obviously not the finished product but an achievement at 15 to be mixing it with guys , some twice his age.

[DeLorean]

Jesus Del, it's just a training camp. Don't get so worked up about it, I think you need to see an Anger Management consultant.

I'm almost too angry to type! :mad:

[OwlsFan]

I'm almost too angry to type! :mad:

That will be the day :)

[DeLorean]

That's what he said...

https://www.classic45s.com/images/artists/buddyholly.jpg

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

You have to weigh up the players available to Wales and Ireland.

I'm aware they called up Lockyer as an example, who I believe represented Bristol Rovers.

Chalk and cheese.

[Eminence Grise]

You have to weigh up the players available to Wales and Ireland.
...
Chalk and cheese.

Indeed. We have to act Caerphilly.

[Diggs246]

Sabitzer seems to be out for Austria

[boysingreen]

Ideal result for us in Serbia/Wales game? Draw?

Presumably worst would be a Serbia win?

[DeLorean]

Possibly depends on how our game goes. If we win, then I think a Wales win would be good. If we draw or lose, a draw would probably be safest.

[zero]

five uncapped players in a youthful looking wales squad for the serbia game. remember bale and taylor (of course) are suspended.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40160923