Slovakia v Republic of Ireland - 8th October 2020 - Euro 2020 Playoff Semi Final

[backstothewall]

They have a decent chunk of their squad (including their 2 most valuable players according to TransferMarkt (https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/slowakei/startseite/verein/3503)) playing in Italy, and Marek Hamsik is in China.

It must be dubious that they will be involved given the restrictions in place there.

[paul_oshea]

we just have to hope that this containment phase can last another two weeks.

[BonnieShels]

It'll be some viewing on RTÉ listening to Mick shouting!!!

[geysir]

Him and Aldo would be a right pair.

[Eirambler]

They have a decent chunk of their squad (including their 2 most valuable players according to TransferMarkt (https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/slowakei/startseite/verein/3503)) playing in Italy, and Marek Hamsik is in China.

It must be dubious that they will be involved given the restrictions in place there.

Interesting article on the 42 website this evening with Ryan Nolan talking about the restrictions on players in Italy from today onwards. You'd imagine any international players subject to the same constraints would be in no fit state to be playing in the playoffs in a couple of weeks time.

https://www.the42.ie/ryan-nolan-5040784-Mar2020/

They'd be better off leaving now and getting back to Slovakia today if they can.

[Eirambler]

Some rumours now about the Euros themselves being delayed for a year. Would seem a logical thing to do, especially with the world cup not happening until the end of 2022.

If that's the case they could just cancel the playoffs for now. Would be an interesting situation for us though, would Kenny still come in this summer and manage us for the playoffs or would Mick stay on?

You would have to think delaying the playoffs until the autumn or later might suit us - more time for the younger players to break through at their clubs and realistically none of the oldest lads are ones you'd be too worried about losing if they were gone by the time the games are played.

[Razors left peg]

Are we looking at a situation where the Euros are just going to be cancelled? They are not surely going to go ahead with those games behind closed doors?

[elatedscum]

Interesting article on the 42 website this evening with Ryan Nolan talking about the restrictions on players in Italy from today onwards. You'd imagine any international players subject to the same constraints would be in no fit state to be playing in the playoffs in a couple of weeks time.

https://www.the42.ie/ryan-nolan-5040784-Mar2020/

They'd be better off leaving now and getting back to Slovakia today if they can.

Wales have said Ramsey won't be playing due to restrictions. Would be great if the 7 lads based in Italy can't play for Slovakia. Skriniar is constantly linked with big clubs around the world and I've seen some Italians suggest that he's among the best centre halves in the world and Labotka was bought for €24m or thereabouts... So probably their 2 best players.

[irishfan86]

Suspending the Euros to next summer makes the most sense IMO. In the event we qualify through the playoffs -- whenever those matches are held -- of course Mick should stay on to manage in the tournament.

[D24Saint]

Suspending the Euros to next summer makes the most sense IMO. In the event we qualify through the playoffs -- whenever those matches are held -- of course Mick should stay on to manage in the tournament.

what’s is the contingency cancel the nations league ?

[irishfan86]

what’s is the contingency cancel the nations league ?

That would make the most sense to me. Ultimately something like sport could be totally irrelevant over the next two years or longer if this virus progresses in line with the worst projections. There is a model that suggests there could be 100 more infections by next winter, after a potential dip in the summer. That model was created by scientists in Sweden and has not been peer reviewed...bottom line, the likelihood is that this gets a lot worse before it gets better....and even if there is a summer dip, we could be hit significantly harder next winter.

[geysir]

Wales have said Ramsey won't be playing due to restrictions. Would be great if the 7 lads based in Italy can't play for Slovakia. Skriniar is constantly linked with big clubs around the world and I've seen some Italians suggest that he's among the best centre halves in the world and Labotka was bought for €24m or thereabouts... So probably their 2 best players.
Wales aren't in the play offs though.
I'd imagine the Slovak players would return to Slovakia and keep a low profile, all they would need is a medical cert of clearance if asked. This isn't a game where a player would welcome a gift of a sick note.

[seanfhear]

Suspending the Euros to next summer makes the most sense IMO. In the event we qualify through the playoffs -- whenever those matches are held -- of course Mick should stay on to manage in the tournament.
Would he want to hang about ? I don’t know , maybe he would !

[samhaydenjr]

It'll be some viewing on RTÉ listening to Mick shouting!!!


Him and Aldo would be a right pair.

"Tonight's broadcast of the UEFA 2020 play-off game been Slovakia and The Republic of Ireland has been rated MA, for mature audiences only, due to extremely strong language... viewer discretion is advised"

[tetsujin1979]

Dubravka ruled out for the rest of the month: https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/dubravka-suffers-knee-injury/

[Diggs246]

Amazing news

[Diggs246]

Sorry to be mean but he is a great keeper

[DeLorean]

Sorry to be mean but he is a great keeper

They don't seem to have a lot of experience in their back-up options either. 34 year old Kuciak of Lechia Gdansk has easily the most caps on ten - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia_national_football_team#Current_squad

No fans, no goalkeeper - Mick seems to be getting the rub of the green.

[elatedscum]

Hope there’s no long term effects for the lad... but good man Danny Ings ;)

[backstothewall]

Bosnia may be missing their Italian based contingent for their game with the north. It could be 1993 all over again at this rate.

[DeLorean]

An empty Windsor though maybe.

[backstothewall]

An empty Windsor though maybe.

Makes no difference to us. We had no fans there that night either!

[Olé Olé]

Bosnia may be missing their Italian based contingent for their game with the north. It could be 1993 all over again at this rate.
I have seen this speculation but has this come from any reputable source in Italy?

[paul_oshea]

2 weeks is a long time in covid-19 world. The game itself could yet be called off or postponed. Given the likelihood that slovakia might end up with a lot of sick players I'd imagine there could be some dispensation provided, given the circumstances, even if the game itself was ok to go ahead. If one member of the squad becomes infected its likely that no one would be allowed travel. Lots of different things can play out.

We'll be doing very well to have a full squad and the game played at this stage.

[geysir]

I have seen this speculation but has this come from any reputable source in Italy?
All foreign international footballers who want to leave any region in Italy right now, will be allowed dispensation from any restrictions.

[paul_oshea]

All foreign international footballers who want to leave any region in Italy right now, will be allowed dispensation from any restrictions.

The same dispensation Parrott got to be on the bench last night?

If they have a doctors certificate they'll be allowed leave, nothing to do with dispensation.

[geysir]

The same dispensation Parrott got to be on the bench last night?

If they have a doctors certificate they'll be allowed leave, nothing to do with dispensation.
What has Parrott got to do with it?
The players have to get permission from their clubs to travel, that's a dispensation from what the clubs have imposed upon their players.
Iceland have two players in Italy, one has arrived the other is waiting for his clubs permisssion in Northern Lombardy.
Doesn't matter if he has a doctor's cert in his back pocket.

[geysir]

people can leave Italy if they have a valid reason to and then fulfill their own country's requirements.

"Anyone who wishes to travel is now required to fill out a standardized form justifying their reasons and submit it to authorities at train stations and airports, as well as at major roads between cities."

https://static.gedidigital.it/repubblica/pdf/2020/cronaca/moduloautodichiarazione.pdf

[Diggs246]

What has Parrott got to do with it?
The players have to get permission from their clubs to travel, that's a dispensation from what the clubs have imposed upon their players.
Iceland have two players in Italy, one has arrived the other is waiting for his clubs permisssion in Northern Lombardy.
Doesn't matter if he has a doctor's cert in his back pocket.

The funny thing is they haven't closed any airports in Italy so people are still flying in and out

[Fixer82]

Alan Judge our for rest of season

[zero]

(slovak #1) dubravka out til april at least so will miss the playoff if it goes ahead as scheduled. I do wonder how the 7 squad members that play in italy will get to the game...

[Fixer82]

Wouldn’t be surprised it its cancelled.
Euros might even be cancelled the way things are going

[seanfhear]

Wouldn’t be surprised it its cancelled.
Euros might even be cancelled the way things are going
Both certainly possible !

[Fixer82]

What a timid way it would be for McCarthy to end his tenure as Irish manager

[backstothewall]

Wouldn’t be surprised it its cancelled.
Euros might even be cancelled the way things are going

I think it's more likely than not at this point. The PSG fans showing up outside the Parc De Princes last night like a bunch of absolute morons have ruined it for everybody. I can't see even the Premier League season finishing.

[Fixer82]

I think it's more likely than not at this point. The PSG fans showing up outside the Parc De Princes last night like a bunch of absolute morons have ruined it for everybody. I can't see even the Premier League season finishing.

Now that would be hilarious. Sorry Liverpool, an act of God stopped you from winning your first Premier League trophy. Not even Jesus wants you to win it :)

[geysir]

The Bosnian FA is looking for a cancellation, due to a number arriving players being required to undergo a 14 day quarantine, therefore would be unavailable.

[Diggs246]

The Bosnian FA is looking for a cancellation, due to a number arriving players being required to undergo a 14 day quarantine, therefore would be unavailable.

if they grant that, then our game is defo cancelled

The amount of panic out there... my mother in law doesn't want me going to the pub anymore ( not because of big crowds) but because "I laugh with my mouth open"!! … no joke

[Fixer82]

What happens then? Matched played at a later date? I guess nobody really knows at the moment

[paul_oshea]

The Bosnian FA is looking for a cancellation, due to a number arriving players being required to undergo a 14 day quarantine, therefore would be unavailable.

i expected this to happen.

[paul_oshea]

What happens then? Matched played at a later date? I guess nobody really knows at the moment

my assumption here was that if the euros went ahead in the summer, lots would be drawn.

[paul_oshea]

if they grant that, then our game is defo cancelled

The amount of panic out there... my mother in law doesn't want me going to the pub anymore ( not because of big crowds) but because "I laugh with my mouth open"!! … no joke

i'd have assumed this too.

[paul_oshea]

Now that would be hilarious. Sorry Liverpool, an act of God stopped you from winning your first Premier League trophy. Not even Jesus wants you to win it :)

Covid-19 Liverpool 18.

Covid-19/Trump 2020

[Diggs246]

https://www.the42.ie/injury-setback-leaves-enda-stevens-doubtful-for-irelands-play-off-against-slovakia-5043338-Mar2020/

Stevens look out

[pineapple stu]

Slovakia has declared a state of emergency (https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/770307/koronavirus-online-slovensko-covid-19/).

Would be amazed if this game goes ahead.

[Flexy]

Slovakia has declared a state of emergency (https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/770307/koronavirus-online-slovensko-covid-19/).

Would be amazed if this game goes ahead.
I hope its off as it will allow us time to get our injured players back fit again. Its like the walking wounded at the minute

[elatedscum]

Coleman, Stevens, Clarke, McClean (maybe). Anyone else?

[ColourfulPeanut]

They'll have Dubravka back too though who's a much bigger loss than any of our players missing. We're worse off I reckon. If Coleman is fit then there's a high chance Mick won't even consider Doherty.

[tetsujin1979]

Slovakia looking for postponement
Uefa to consider postponing the tournament for 12 months

[geysir]

if they grant that, then our game is defo cancelled

The amount of panic out there... my mother in law doesn't want me going to the pub anymore ( not because of big crowds) but because "I laugh with my mouth open"!! … no joke

Unless you laugh like a donkey, that shouldn't be an inconvenience to yourself and others.