World Cup Qualifying 2018, UEFA Group D - Opponent Watch

[jbyrne]

over. 4 - 3 belgium

[liamoo11]

over. 4 - 3 belgium

Great. surely Cyprus have a bit about them to get a draw tonight

[DannyInvincible]

Great. surely Cyprus have a bit about them to get a draw tonight

They're on ten points - only three behind Greece - and can still (mathematically) secure second position, so hopefully that will provide them with some incentive to give it their best. They would be relying on Greece and B&H to slip up in their final games to finish second, however.

Greece beat Cyprus 2-0 first time round, although Cyprus did manage to beat B&H 3-2 at home, coming from 2-0 down at half-time. They've also taken only one point off Estonia over two games, so they're clearly unpredictable, but shouldn't be a walkover. Greece also struggled with Estonia at home, for what it's worth.

[MeathDrog]

I would rather Scotland slip up than Greece (pardon the pun). If Greece don't win then Wales only need a draw which changes the dynamic completely.

[DannyInvincible]

Wales will surely still want to win to potentially top the group in case of a Serbian slip-up against Georgia.

[DannyInvincible]

Cyprus-Greece streams here: http://www.footballstreamings.com/live-streams/3112/Cyprus-v-Greece-.html

Might be advisable to have an adblocker on.

[jbyrne]

I would rather Scotland slip up than Greece (pardon the pun). If Greece don't win then Wales only need a draw which changes the dynamic completely.

think id rather wales needing a draw than a win. theyd be more nervous and indecisive i feel

[Fizzer]

Cyprus one up

[Fizzer]

Flip one all

[MeathDrog]

Greeks winning. That didn't last long.

[zero]

watching a bit of this. can't see anything other than a greek win.

[DannyInvincible]

If Scotland and Croatia happen to win their final games, qualification for the play-offs would technically still be within our own hands despite the Greece win last night; a victory over Wales by four or more goals would be guaranteed to take us into the play-offs ahead of Greece who will end on a runners-up total of 13 points and +4 goals (as their final game is against bottom-placed Gibraltar, so will be discarded). Our runners-up goal difference right now is +1. Greece have more goals scored than us which is the next differential after goal difference, so matching their goal difference of +4 by beating Wales by three goals wouldn't be enough.

Hopefully it doesn't come to that!

[geysir]

I admire the endless hope, Danny.

[DannyInvincible]

An updated permutations article from RTÉ: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/1008/910697-permutations-the-results-ireland-need-to-reach-playoff/

We're looking for one of the following results to transpire now:


Group F
Slovenia v Scotland (home win or draw)

Group I
Ukraine v Croatia (draw)

Group C
Norway v Northern Ireland (four goal home win)

Group D
Serbia v Georgia (away win)

Slovenia have a good home-record and haven't conceded in Ljubljana this campaign, so I think Scotland's task today will be a tough one.

[DannyInvincible]

I admire the endless hope, Danny.

Actually, I was wrong. We can feel a slight bit less hopeless. :p

A 3-0 win would do it as that would take our runners-up table goal-difference to +4 and our goals-scored tally to 9. Greece are certain to end on a runners-up goal-difference of +4 and a goals-scored tally of 9. The next runners-up table tie-breaker is fair-play points (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)#Ranking_o f_second-placed_teams) and we (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_UEFA_G roup_D#Discipline) have a better fair-play record than Greece (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_UEFA_G roup_H#Discipline) (by about ten points, I believe).

[The Fly]

1-0 Scotland.

[BonnieShels]

Needing a draw still. So not the end of the world. But still...

Maybe Norway is the diamond in this rough.

[geysir]

I see the ref is wearing Scotland pink socks.

[DannyInvincible]

Not looking good. Will Slovenia have the will to really push hard for an equaliser? I'm not overly confident.

[The Fly]

Goallll.......1-1

[sbgawa]

Yes 1 each

[DannyInvincible]

Get in! :D

[The Fly]

Slovenia are well on top now. Almost 2-1 there.

[Bungle]

Horrible the situation we have got ourselves into.

Some proper teams in the playoffs too.

I just hope we have the right mindset tomorrow and really go for it. If we hang back and try and get them on the counter we will be awful. If we go at them like we did against bosnia two years ago or italy in lille we can get a result.

We need Brady and Hendrick to deliver like they can.

[DannyInvincible]

Scotland have lost their composure a bit. That Slovenia goal has definitely eased my nerves. Another Slovenia goal would be great as Scotland have a tendency to score late and they'll be throwing the kitchen sink at Slovenia for the final ten or fifteen minutes.

[geysir]

The ref is giving the benefit of every close decision to Scotland.

[Colbert Report]

2-1 Slovenia now.

[DannyInvincible]

Fantastic!

[Lionel Ritchie]

2 -1 Slovenia now.

[geysir]

Scotland are a shambles, Strachan's insanity coming to roost.
The Slovs played some lovely football in that 3rd quarter.

[DannyInvincible]

How did Fletcher miss that?

[zero]

scotland on top now, but time running out - hopefully.

[jbyrne]

2 2 now. scots pressing after looking out of it

[Colbert Report]

Scotland all over them, should have been 3-2 there.

[BonnieShels]

FFS!!!

[jbyrne]

red card for slovakia

[Colbert Report]

Referee losing control of this match.

[DannyInvincible]

Nerves!

[jbyrne]

over. 2 all

[Colbert Report]

All over now. Snodgrass almost scored with a header at the death.

[BonnieShels]

Anyone know what the red card was for?

Guardian doesn't say why.

[geysir]

Pity Slovenia couldn't get the 3 points.
I suppose this time Strachan won't be saying 'I always knew we would score the winner'.

They paid the price of adopting Strachan's conservative defend a one goal lead approach and let Slovenia have the run of the park.

[zero]

relief. down to us now, we don't have to think about other results.

[DannyInvincible]

That was tense. Full steam ahead for Cardiff.

[geysir]

All over now. Snodgrass almost scored with a header at the death.

You mean that tame header which safely landed in the keeper's arms?

[Colbert Report]

If anyone scores in the Croatia/Ukraine match, I believe Wales would also need to score, but not necessarily win, against us. If the Croatia match ends in a goalless draw and our match ends in a 1-1 draw, it would go to fair play points between Croatia and Wales.

[Colbert Report]

You mean that tame header which safely landed in the keeper's arms?

Yes. Exactly.

[BonnieShels]

Smelly goal conceded by the IFA team. Already into the play-offs though. But the calamity helps the mood.

[liamoo11]

they are awful

[BonnieShels]

2-0 is nicer.