FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualification - UEFA Play-Offs (9-11th and 12-14th November 2017)

[DannyInvincible]

I see the Irish rugby team have a home game on the 11th of November, which could pose difficulty: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/1011/911573-aviva/


Ireland, as an unseeded country, will face either Italy, Denmark, Switzerland or Croatia in the two-legged play-off, with the draw to be made next Tuesday [1pm Irish time, live on RTÉ Player]. The first legs are slated for November 9/10/11 with the return fixture on 12/13/14.

If Ireland are drawn to play at home first, they'll face a potential clash with the rugby team's autumn international at the Aviva Stadium against South Africa on Saturday 11 November. The series opener is a sellout, and kicks off at 5.30pm.

It's likely that Ireland would request a Thursday game if they are drawn at home first in the play-offs, to give stadium staff as much time as possible to complete the turnaround, but a 24-hour flip is not unprecedented.

[BonnieShels]

Ah come on Danny. Get with the programme. Not got your tickets? :P

It's always a potential problem with play offs as they invariably clash with the November tests. Back in 1997 we had a potential sitch as well playing Belgium while having NZ to town at the same time. Thankfully the draw saw to it we would play away that weekend and had the pleasure of that Nilis p**** and the all blacks ruining my weekend.

If we are drawn to play on the Saturday they'll just shift it to the Thursday or Friday. I want to be home first anyway.

In an ideal world this soccer match could be in Croker though! Stoopid sponsorship.

[DeLorean]

I'd prefer if we are away first. We're seemingly better away, so would be great to pick up a positive result and return to Dublin in a winning position, like against B&H last time.

We're so poor at home we could be faced with an awful uphill task in the second leg, like France 2009.

[KrisLetang]

Is it possible they could just let us play Estonia again?

[tetsujin1979]

I was at the Leinster - Munster game the day after the Moldova game, so it's not an issue in that regards

[BonnieShels]

I was at the Leinster - Munster game the day after the Moldova game, so it's not an issue in that regards

The issue is surely that we could be drawn to play at home on the 11th ie. the Saturday we are playing SA.

[nigel-harps1954]

Any play-off should take precedence over a rugby friendly match.

In an ideal world that is..

[BonnieShels]

Any play-off should take precedence over a rugby friendly match.

In an ideal world that is..

Perhaps. But given we have known of these fixtures for nearly 2 years the FAI and FIFA can jump.

Play the play-off in Croker! :) Stoopid Aviva!

[Fixer82]

Perhaps. But given we have known of these fixtures for nearly 2 years the FAI and FIFA can jump.

Play the play-off in Croker! :) Stoopid Aviva!

No way. It's too big for soccer. Pitch is miles away from the crowd.

[BonnieShels]

Ya what?

Never felt it was too big at all.

[Real ale Madrid]

The draw is to decide the playoff pairings and order of fixtures - the dates are not randomly chosen. When the draw is made all the 8 countries reps go off into a room and decide which dates they would prefer.

If we are drawn at home first we will be playing on the 9th or 10th. This is a non-issue.

[BonnieShels]

The draw is to decide the playoff pairings and order of fixtures - the dates are not randomly chosen. When the draw is made all the 8 countries reps go off into a room and decide which dates they would prefer.

If we are drawn at home first we will be playing on the 9th or 10th. This is a non-issue.

Let's make it an issue.

[BonnieShels]

Ticket details released by FAI:

http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ticket-information-for-fifa-world-cup-play-off

[Real ale Madrid]

Here is a history of us in Playoff Draws:

In 2016 Euro P/O we were UNSEEDED and drew the 1. Seed in the Seeded Pot - Bosnia. (1-1, 2-0)
In 2012 Euro P/O we were SEEDED and drew the 4. Seed in the Unseeded Pot - Estonia. (4-0, 1-1)
In 2010 WC P/O we were UNSEEDED and drew the 1. Seed in the Seeded Pot - France. (0-1, 1-1)
In 2002 WC P/O we, as top 2nd placed team in Europe were sent on a EUR/ASIA world cup playoff v Iran. (2-0, 0-1)
In 2000 Euro P/O all 8 teams were drawn at random, no seeding - we drew Turkey. (1-1, 0-0)
In 1998 WC P/O we were SEEDED, and drew the 3. Seed Belgium (1-1, 1-2)
In 1966 WC P/O we were involved in a Play-off with Spain after finishing level in Group 9. The playoff was held in Paris and we lost 1-0 by a goal from the hilariously named Ufarte.

[seanfhear]

1995 we lost a play off to the Netherlands 2-0 played at Anfield .

https://www.11v11.com/matches/netherlands-v-republic-of-ireland-13-december-1995-246182/

Jack Charlton resigned soon after the game .

[DannyInvincible]

Walters may not be out of the play-offs just yet, according to the Irish Mirror's interpretation of Sean Dyche's comments on the player's recovery: http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/burnley-boss-sean-dyche-offers-11332555


Assessing the forward's recovery Dyche said: "We are still not putting timescales on it. But it won't be days, it will be weeks.

"We are hopeful it will settle down quickly. It already is.

"We were getting a specialist's view of it, it needed a period to calm down. It's a historical injury, a wear-and-tear injury and needed time to calm down.

[DannyInvincible]

Looks like we're the team Danes want to avoid in the play-offs: http://www.punditarena.com/football/sokeefe/ireland-denmark-playoffs/


Danish outlet BT Sporten (https://www.bt.dk/fodbold/bt-og-ekstra-bladet-i-samarbejde-her-er-danmarks-idealopstilling-til-vm-kampene?referrer=RSS) have been conducting a poll to determine which of the unseeded teams that the public would or wouldn’t like to be paired with next Tuesday – and, at the time of writing, just 10% of the 5,400 people surveyed would like to come up against Ireland.

http://www.punditarena.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Denmark.jpg

[geysir]

Here is a history of us in Playoff Draws:

In 2016 Euro P/O we were UNSEEDED and drew the 1. Seed in the Seeded Pot - Bosnia. (1-1, 2-0)
In 2012 Euro P/O we were SEEDED and drew the 4. Seed in the Unseeded Pot - Estonia. (4-0, 1-1)
In 2010 WC P/O we were UNSEEDED and drew the 1. Seed in the Seeded Pot - France. (0-1, 1-1)
In 2002 WC P/O we, as top 2nd placed team in Europe were sent on a EUR/ASIA world cup playoff v Iran. (2-0, 0-1)
In 2000 Euro P/O all 8 teams were drawn at random, no seeding - we drew Turkey. (1-1, 0-0)
In 1998 WC P/O we were SEEDED, and drew the 3. Seed Belgium (1-1, 1-2)
In 1966 WC P/O we were involved in a Play-off with Spain after finishing level in Group 9. The playoff was held in Paris and we lost 1-0 by a goal from the hilariously named Ufarte.

That old turkey again :), what were the chances that all 4 higher ranked teams would meet the 4 lower ranked team and play the first leg away from home?

I think Croatia are still fragile despite them having a bunch of brilliant players and we could bust their balls. Italy have not been playing well either, nowhere near their standard of old but you'd be wary that they'd just do enough to steal the tie, the ability to qualify is in their dna. Denmark and Switzerland, good teams, but as seeds not that daunting.

[Fixer82]

Lee Carsley handling that ball on the ground was a killer

[geysir]

Not just a place in the Finals was killed, but the beginnings of a beautiful relationship (Connolly Keane) was cruelly dashed by Carsley's hand ball.

[elroy]

Here is a history of us in Playoff Draws:

In 2016 Euro P/O we were UNSEEDED and drew the 1. Seed in the Seeded Pot - Bosnia. (1-1, 2-0)
In 2012 Euro P/O we were SEEDED and drew the 4. Seed in the Unseeded Pot - Estonia. (4-0, 1-1)
In 2010 WC P/O we were UNSEEDED and drew the 1. Seed in the Seeded Pot - France. (0-1, 1-1)
In 2002 WC P/O we, as top 2nd placed team in Europe were sent on a EUR/ASIA world cup playoff v Iran. (2-0, 0-1)
In 2000 Euro P/O all 8 teams were drawn at random, no seeding - we drew Turkey. (1-1, 0-0)
In 1998 WC P/O we were SEEDED, and drew the 3. Seed Belgium (1-1, 1-2)
In 1966 WC P/O we were involved in a Play-off with Spain after finishing level in Group 9. The playoff was held in Paris and we lost 1-0 by a goal from the hilariously named Ufarte.

Whether in our favour or not, seeding a playoff is a joke/disgrace.

Or at worst if seeding it should be done by reference to where you finished on the second place table......would see us get Switzerland!

[backstothewall]

This period between the end of the group and the playoff is purgatory. Qualified for nothing and only a 50/50 chance of qualifying for anything but the mind can't help wandering forward to the possibility of a World Cup next summer.

Can't wait to get the draw done and at least have a better idea what our chances are.

[DannyInvincible]

Whether in our favour or not, seeding a playoff is a joke/disgrace.

Seeding it does seem unfair and disproportionate as it has a sort of double-whammy negative effect for the "weaker" sides, who, just like the "stronger" sides, have qualified for the play-offs on merit, having come through the same already-seeded pathway. For example, we already had to overcome being fourth seeds in the group draw to finish second but now we're unseeded again for the play-off draw. Instead of being treated equally with the seven other teams who finished second and made the play-offs (in spite of or with the assistance of their group-draw seeding), never mind being rewarded, we're actually punished along with three other teams. The play-off draw should be an open draw.

[DeLorean]

There really can only be one reason for seeding it? - To ensure the top nations don't draw each other.

As it has turned out, the four seeded teams were also the four best teams in terms of the runners-up table, sort of coincidentally. Maybe that would be a fairer way of seeding it, ensuring, say, Switzerland were rewarded some little bit for winning 9/10 matches (I know they're seeded anyway as it turned out). In fact, you could do away with the draw, just have 1 v 8, 2 v 7, etc. and give the higher placed team home advantage for the 2nd leg. The pairings would have been as follows:

Rep of Ireland v Switzerland
Greece v Italy
Northern Ireland v Denmark
Sweden v Croatia

[KrisLetang]

I've had these overwhelming feelings/visions/dreams that we are going to play Denmark. Maybe I just like danish, but usually my ESP is pretty accurate. I've already began scouting them and forwarding any relevant information to the FAI. They seem to have a lot of fast young players in their early or mid 20s, mixed with some veteran leadership. Just some examples:

Simon Kjaer is on a yellow. Though we are still not sure of those rules. Kjaer is the kind of guy who can sink our hopes.
Kasper Dolberg is a 20 year old aryan looking lad who could cause us absolute fits with his athleticism.
Lasse Schone, named after the famed Collie Lassie of early TV fame, is a fiery competitor but calming presence who has the ears of his teammates. (But hopefully doesn't lick them.)
Lukas Lerager is a young ace playing for Bordeaux who can't even crack the lineup most days but would easily be a starter for Ireland.
Viktor Fischer is a 23 year old attacking midfielder, Pescatarian, and late substitution threat that could have the Irish Defense in shambles.

I'm very nervous about this. Also if I was wrong (first time for everything I guess) and we got Italy do you think they would ever put the game in Bari? POSH had to clean up after a lot of Irish fans there last time and it might be frustrating to him.

[DannyInvincible]

The Danes also have a nominal Irishman (https://independent.ie/sport/soccer/danish-delaneys-irish-streak-26755551.html) in their ranks in the form of Thomas Joseph Delaney.

[KrisLetang]

Only serial killers use all three names.

[tetsujin1979]

Billy Ray Cyrus

[osarusan]

Dozens of songs brutally murdered.

[backstothewall]

Billy Ray Cyrus

How do we know he isn't? Would it be that hard to imagine that he is?

[mark12345]

Lee Carsley handling that ball on the ground was a killer

Remember it like it was yesterday. Will never forgive him for that. All the hard work that went into that performance and we would have taken a 1-0 lead to Bursa for the return.
However the referee who gave the penalty against Carsley (and correctly so) was also the one who spotted the violent tug on Niall Quinn's shirt (in a crowd of players) when Ireland were trailing to Spain in 2002 World Cup. Robbie Keane stepped up to convert the resultant penalty.

[tricky_colour]

Only serial killers use all three names.

Hillary Rodham Clinton.

[tetsujin1979]

Details confirmed for the play off draw: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=10/news=all-you-need-to-know-about-the-european-play-off-draw-2914803.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news

[BonnieShels]

I've accepted that I just don't want Italy. I'l rest easy (easier?) once I don't have them.

[osarusan]

Denmark, Croatia, Italy, Switzerland are seeded.

NI, Ireland, Sweden, Greece are not.

[Colbert Report]

I'd say we'd want to avoid Italy and Croatia. Who would be an easier opponent, Switzerland or Denmark? I fancy Switzerland.

[Diggs246]

Me too i think we will qualify if we get the Swiss.

[IsMiseSean]

Only serial killers use all three names.

I use three names. I'm not a serial killer, but I guess I would say that.

[KrisLetang]

You're a cereal eater.

[Eminence Grise]

Only serial killers use all three names.

What exactly do you mean, Kris Le Tang?

[BonnieShels]

I use three names. I'm not a serial killer, but I guess I would say that.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57mBdRyeB94

I'm onto you JG!

[BonnieShels]

Draw starting at 1.08pm according to RTÉ

[DannyInvincible]

When will dates and the (home and away) order of the two legs be decided/announced?

[DannyInvincible]

Draw live here now: https://www.rte.ie/player/gb/live/7/

[BonnieShels]

Draw live here now: https://www.rte.ie/player/gb/live/7/


Balls being pulled at 1.08

----

Dates etc confirmed later today.

[Real ale Madrid]

Draw live here now: https://www.rte.ie/player/gb/live/7/

Loving the Tuaisceart Eireann bit!

[DannyInvincible]

Denmark. Amazing. Away game first.

[Eminence Grise]

Denmark

Could be worser!!

[Eminence Grise]

Balls being pulled at 1.08

Is that anything like getting a tooth pulled, Bonnie? You might find you talk funny for a while afterwards.:cool:

[DannyInvincible]

I think it's the best draw we could have gotten.