2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group A

[Razors left peg]

If Ronaldo has 110 international goals after the Euros he might retire from international football. He'd be 37 playing in a mid season world cup out in the middle east. He could plausibly pack it in next summer. Don't play POR in March.

Ronaldo could play for another 5 years, he loves playing for Portugal. Guy is a machine whos whole life is built around playing football.

[geysir]

Ronaldo could stick around seeing as it's a World Cup but he might pick and choose which qualifier to play in.

At Euro 2016, post Ronaldo's graceless hissy rant, Kari the Icelandic CH replied when asked about Ronaldo 'he's just a bad loser who fannied and dived about the place before fluffing his big chance at the end, and (sticking the knife in) we didn't even have to pay him any special attention - that's why he'll alway be behind Messi.'

[Razors left peg]

Ronaldo could stick around seeing as it's a World Cup but he might pick and choose which qualifier to play in.

At Euro 2016, post Ronaldo's graceless hissy rant, Kari the Icelandic CH replied when asked about Ronaldo 'he's just a bad loser who fannied and dived about the place before fluffing his big chance at the end, and (sticking the knife in) we didn't even have to pay him any special attention - that's why he'll alway be behind Messi.'

Oh we are grand so, will be easy against him. LOL

[Razors left peg]

I just read online that Qatar will be joining our group unofficially and play 10 friendlies to help the prepare for the World Cup.... Can we please play them 1st before any qualifiers


https://twitter.com/JBurtTelegraph/status/1336369422165037056?s=20

Confirmed by multiple sources

[D24Saint]

I just read online that Qatar will be joining our group unofficially and play 10 friendlies to help the prepare for the World Cup.... Can we please play them 1st before any qualifiers


https://twitter.com/JBurtTelegraph/status/1336369422165037056?s=20

Confirmed by multiple sources

I think it’s a nonsensical idea by uefa/fifa.

[pineapple stu]

France joined a Euro 2016 qualifying group for the same reason - to fill it up. I think it's a good idea in general. Worth noting too eloratings has Qatar one place above us (and a good bit stronger than Oman). Wouldn't want to tasked this too lightly

[Bielsa´s irish]

This campaign is the same as every one really.

Need 4 wins against Lux / Aze
Need to beat Serbia at home and probably pick up 1 point in Belgrade and 1 point at home to Portugal.
In all likelihood that would get you second place.

I reckon we will get the 4 wins and draw the 4 games with Por / Srb and then will need a bit of luck. We would need to improve to do that even.

If Kenny can improve the team through the campaign, we start scoring a few goals and remain in contention to the end he will probably keep his job through to 2024 even with a 3rd placed finish.w

thats what I said if we remained undefeated its hard that we didnt get a play off spot

the fixture is realeased?

[ColourfulPeanut]

Don't see a problem with it. Gives us more chance to bed the youngsters in as it equates to a practice match during a window we'd have the players anyway.

[Bielsa´s irish]

I dont want Qatar in our group, thats just money talk, why dont go the the Italian 5-team group that in papers is the easiest of all the 5-team groups by far?

[Real ale Madrid]

Will give me plenty chance to use my favourite Qatar gag.

Q. Who is my favourite Qatar player?
A. Eric Clapton

[elatedscum]

First window:

1) away to Serbia
2) home to Luxembourg
3) home to Qatar

Tough to play away v Serbia to start. You’d probably look at the two games vs the Serbs as the two make or break ties of the group. You’d certainly like them later in the group’s development... Anyway, c’est la vie. Thems the cards we’ve been dealt. Try sneak a draw and go from there

[Razors left peg]

Away to Serbia in our 1st game . Mick McCarthy must have a voodoo doll of Kenny

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/1208/1183195-qatar-could-be-placed-in-irelands-word-cup-group/

[pineapple stu]

Azerbaijan and Qatar away the same week is sensible. Could be an interesting away trip too!

Edit - Qatar game to be played "somewhere in Europe" per RTÉ. That's no fun

[geysir]

France joined a Euro 2016 qualifying group for the same reason - to fill it up. I think it's a good idea in general. Worth noting too eloratings has Qatar one place above us (and a good bit stronger than Oman). Wouldn't want to tasked this too lightly

If this comes to pass then the 2 games v qatar will be played inside the intl window, 3 games on the trot inside 7 days which is not a very attractive prospect, except to play the reserve team and possibly Jack Byrne might get 10 minutes if everybody else pulls out.

[Real ale Madrid]

A bit of hard luck having to play the crucial away game in Serbia first. Its literally the teams next game. However pick up a point and Serbia then host Portugal 3 days later, tough turnaround for them. Having to play Serbia and Portugal in the space of 3 days is a fate we seem to have avoided, unlike the top 2. Serbia start with Ire H, Por H & Portugal Finish with Ire A, Srb H.

[Eirambler]

Not a great schedule really. It will effectively be over for us after one game if we ship a bad defeat against Serbia. Kenny can't catch a break in the job it seems, although he hasn't helped himself at times either. His job may well be on the line by the time we get to the Luxembourg game, although you'd hope we'd find a way through that one at home to keep him in post until the autumn.

[Bielsa´s irish]

the perfect draw
Azerbaiyàn at home
Luxemburg away
Serbia at home
Portugal away
Luxemburg home
Serbia away
Portugal home
Azerbaiyan away

the real draw

serbia away
lux home
port away
azer home
serbia home
azer away
port home
lux away

we are doomed unless we get something from Belgrado

[BonnieShels]

Azerbaijan and Qatar away the same week is sensible. Could be an interesting away trip too!

Edit - Qatar game to be played "somewhere in Europe" per RTÉ. That's no fun

Home game for them in Paris I would say.

The only thing to say about the Qatar games, well the two things to say about them are:

1. They're not Oman

2. The games are at the end of a window, so won't really affect the preparation or the campaign itself

[geysir]

In the first 7 day window Serbia have the tougher start, they play us at home first, followed by Portugal, then they fly out to Azerbaijan.

For us the September window looks taxing, but with the Azeris in the middle takes some of the sting away.

[ColourfulPeanut]

I'd rather have the tough Serbia game first in a bizarre way. An edgy 0-0 draw or any form of non-loss will be considered a good result. With our full side, that's not beyond Kenny in our next game. We're tough to break down if anything so I'd rather get that game done rather than be under pressure at home to Luxembourg or something.

All things going well these should be the last games behind closed doors in the campaign, so it's good that we have a big away tie and a small home one in this window.

It'll be tough no matter what, so lets try and take the positives from the schedule

[nigel-harps1954]

Behind closed doors is a great point to factor in. Serbia can be a tricky, hostile place to visit with the home crowd behind them. Blessing in disguise to get that out of the way in an empty stadium.

[zero]

happy with Serbia away first. they're going to be thinking 'we must not lose this' so will be cautious. we will see how we are set and it's not game over if we lose.

is it fair to say anything less than 10 points from the Azeri/lux games is a bit of a disaster?

if I am totally honest based on what I've seen under Kenny so far we'll be scrapping to finish third. I hope I am wrong.

[ColourfulPeanut]

I think if we have any aspirations of finishing 2nd, we'll need 12 from the Azerbaijan and Luxembourg games. I don't think we'll get a point off Portugal and will be doing well to come out of our Serbia games with a net positive points total.

It could ultimately come down to hoping Portugal take 6 from Serbia and that one of the two others take points from Serbia.

[Eirambler]

I doubt it will be as positive as that even. I'd say we're far more likely to drop points against Azerbaijan or Luxembourg than we are to get more than a point from the four games against Serbia and Portugal. I think we'll end up on something like 11 points from the eight group games, which won't be anywhere near good enough to make the playoffs.

[pineapple stu]

We played Serbia in a 3/4s empty stadium last time and it didn't do us much good.

I'd say Serbia are well happy to start with us at home. If they can beat us while the new manager has no goals in six games, that'll be a great start towards challenging Portugal for top spot (in their view)

[Real ale Madrid]

We played Serbia in a 3/4s empty stadium last time and it didn't do us much good.


Did we not get a point?

[pineapple stu]

Yes, but with one of the most shambolic performances I've ever seen from an Ireland team that won't earn us a point if we play like that another 20 times.

[jbyrne]

We played Serbia in a 3/4s empty stadium last time and it didn't do us much good.

I'd say Serbia are well happy to start with us at home. If they can beat us while the new manager has no goals in six games, that'll be a great start towards challenging Portugal for top spot (in their view)

serbia are no better than slovakia imo and so we have a chance of an away draw. That would be a great start to the group for us.
portugal will go through the group without dropping a point. 4 points against serbia or even two draws, but getting ahead of them somehow on the head to head, is where its at for us.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Qatar also due to play in the Copa America between June and July, then the CONCACAF Gold Cup from July. Busy lot. I assume there is a vested interest (plus lots of "influence" being peddled) to get them in the best possible shape for the World Cup.

Edit: Wiki tells me they are down to play a minimum of 24 games next year, if you include the "Arab Cup" in December, and more if they get out of group stages. That must be at least near a record for the modern era.

[pineapple stu]

serbia are no better than slovakia imo and so we have a chance of an away draw. That would be a great start to the group for us.
portugal will go through the group without dropping a point. 4 points against serbia or even two draws, but getting ahead of them somehow on the head to head, is where its at for us.
I suppose it is important to keep some perspective on Serbia alright. They did lose (on penalties) to Scotland to fail to make the Euros.

The Eloratings site has Serbia a decent bit better than Slovakia (125 points) though. Then there's a cluster of interesting teams in a row - Slovakia (1664), Scotland (1660), Ireland (1658) and Qatar (1640)

We certainly have a chance of an away draw, and it would be a great start to the group. My concern comes back to the lack of goals. It's like an anti-Charlton era - if we don't score, we won't win, and we'll drop points against Azerbaijan and/or Luxembourg which Serbia won't.

[Real ale Madrid]

Yes, but with one of the most shambolic performances I've ever seen from an Ireland team that won't earn us a point if we play like that another 20 times.

I know but getting a point there was good in fairness. If we perform well there and can create a few chances then surely the lack of atmosphere will give us some bit of an advantage especially as we might have spectators in LR for the return game. We are up against it so every little will help imo.

[geysir]

Generally we put in good or winning away performances first time out, even dating back to 1988

2012 The only team to beat Armenia at home
2014 Beat Kaz with a nerveless strong finish.
2016 Beat Georgia with (contender or winner) for Footie GoalOfAllTime
2018 Draw with Serbia, we looked good in the highlights
2020 Won again

[BonnieShels]

Honestly I think we'd be better looking at this from a developmental perspective. We're not going to qualify for the World Cup, even if we did somehow manage to get second in the group it's a one from four situation in the playoffs and those playoffs will be a lot tougher than the Euros playoffs we recently failed in, because only 10 teams quality automatically rather than 20. I'd say our chances of getting second in the group are four or five to one and coming through the subsequent playoffs would be eight or ten to one so we're probably realistically a one in forty chance or worse to make the finals.

Right now I'd be comfortable with coming third in this group as long as the starting team looks a lot more encouraging by the end of the campaign than it does now and there's a noticeable improvement in our execution of the gameplan and in the speed at which we move the ball.

I think the likes of Duffy, Hendrick, Hourihane, Brady and McClean are on their last legs with us in 2021. By the end of the year I'd be looking to see O'Shea, Molumby and Knight joining Connolly in the starting team if they continue to develop at their current rate. With Collins and Parrott in the squad pushing hard for a start.

We have potential but realistically it's going to be at least 2022 before we see much benefit of the talent we're producing. That's ideal timing for the Euro 2024 qualifiers though, which is maybe as well as a 24 team Euros is a more realistic goal for us right now. It's going to be a waiting game until then and it's going to be frustrating to watch at times, probably similar to the France 98 qualifiers for those who remember those games, except this time we're in a much tougher group so we won't be making the playoffs most likely.

It's a big year for Kenny though, he has a lot to prove in terms of whether he gets to take this team into the 2024 qualifiers - I have my doubts as to whether he'll survive until then because this year is likely to be a tough watch.

I agree with you. But my point is that the poster I quoted is on such an anti-Kenny rampage he seems to think getting rid of him asap we might finish third. Which is such a bizarre reason to sack a manager that it makes you wonder if they have an agenda... I wouldn't dare make that accusation though.

I don't really care if we qualify for the next world cup or not, though I would accept a heartbreaking loss in the playoffs as a show of progress.

If after the Serbia match in March we continue to see Hendrick, Brady and Duffy in the starting lineup then I'll have to return to my wish for the management team to continue in order to have progression.

My biggest worry is that the end of the 'progression experiment' with a harsh and rash sacking of SK will result in us hiring some plodder coach and the inexorable slide to nonentity will continue.

How anyone who has watched us the last 2 decades thinks that the previous 'process' must continue is a bluffer and should be ignored.

I mean, look at where Norway, Finland, Wales, Iceland and Hungary have all come from in that time.

So yeah, sacking SK to finish third is just bizarre, pointless and infuriating.

[tetsujin1979]

Considering the two lower seeds in the group, finishing third should be the absolute minimum in this group

[Bielsa´s irish]

I want them both, first to get to the WC, Im thinking of a replacement for this fellow (I trust in Kenny and I want him to get some glory), but I mean he would be in a huge pressure if he keeps on with his bad run.
The only match we played under his tenure that was just a bit better was vs Slovakia away, we dominated the game were the better team....... but remember Shane Duffy was a colossus he did the one Dunne did in Moscow. An extremis save when a goal was inevitable.

My replacements (Money will always make an entrance for this issues) being the national coach of Ireland is like being the president, or even more important, as some coaches have said over the years.

1-Eddie Howe
2-Mark Leslie Hughes
3-Bert Van Marwijk

[geysir]

I don't really care if we qualify for the next world cup or not, though I would accept a heartbreaking loss in the playoffs as a show of progress.

You don't really care if we qualify or not, yet not qualifying would be heartbreaking, but a broken heart that you could accept........ in some context?

[Bielsa´s irish]

If we dont qualify the main responsible is the manager, Kenny he is the head of the squad,
I dont buy the mantra "we dont have good enough players", not for international football.
It can work that anthem for club football where money talks. Play off spot is the aim, we were debating the last 3 months pòt 2 or pot 3, from the pot 2 the sages said Rumania, Slovakia, Serbia are better achievable options
We must build a team first, a concept and idea, and get those damn mischievous results for once!
Otherwise it would be his demise, media and public domain would ask for a replacement, inevitably...

[pineapple stu]

You don't really care if we qualify or not, yet not qualifying would be heartbreaking, but a broken heart that you could accept........ in some context?
I think you've mis-read the bauld Bonnie - he doesn't say "not qualifying would be heartbreaking". He does say that even a Henry handball play-off extra-time defeat would, in the bigger picture, be a sign of progress and overall a good outcome from the group.

(Is my reading of the post anyway)

[Kingdom]

G1: Portugal; Serbia, Ireland;
G2: Spain; Sweden;
G3: Italy; Switzerland;
G4: France; Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia;
G5: Belgium; Wales, Czechia;
G6: Denmark; Austria , Scotland, Israel;
G7:Netherlands; Turkey, Norway;
G8: Croatia, Russia; Slovakia;
G9: England; Poland;
G10: Germany; Romania, Iceland

The above are what I would consider the bona-fide group winners (only the Croat group where I think it's debatable...maybe the English but I can't see it really.
The challengers for second are clear cut in most groups.

The play-off round is seeded on the basis of the place in the table of runners-up based on your group results (The additional two teams from the NL are unseeded anyway), so a tough group like the Croatians, or Ukraine's, or the Scots, is going to count against you in that final ranking. Removing the pot 6 teams as per normal, it makes some of the groups downright nasty in that respect. I'm much happier having to worry about lux & Azerbaijan, than Nth Macedonia and Armenia, or Bosnia and the Kazakhs.
The flip-side of that consideration is the amount of points that a 2nd place team might take from a top seed, and I don't think there's too much to worry about.
If you consider that we'll have to 4 times against the weaker seeds, and get one positive result extra along the way (assume a win against Serbia and a draw in one of the three other games) and we'd end up with 16 points. In that respect, I think if we are in the running for a second place spot, I reckon we've a good chance of being seeded.

In light of the groups, I could see the 2nd place table being ranked like:

G3: Switzerland;
G2: Sweden;
G1: Serbia, Ireland;
G5: Wales, Czechia;;
G9: Poland;
G4: Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia;

G6: Austria , Scotland, Israel;
G7: Turkey, Norway;
G8: Croatia, Russia; Slovakia;
G10:Romania, Iceland
NL winner 1
NL winner 2

The NL teams will be either Wales or Czechia, and Hungary. It's arguable on the lose specualtion above whether it matters much being seeded or not. Once you are seeded, or unseeded for that matter, its an open draw.
So (and making some educated guesses), in theory you could have:

One-legged playoff semifinal:
--------------------------------------> One-legged playoff final:
Switzerland vs Russia
Ukraine vs Turkey
----------------------------------------------->Swi vs Ukr
Ireland vs Czechia
Wales vs Hungary
----------------------------------------------> Ire vs Hun
Poland vs Austria
Sweden vs Romania
----------------------------------------------> Pol vs Swe


Of course, it could be much much worse than that. But given the group we're in, having to come out with a positive balance from two games against Serbia, and in one off games against Czechia and Hungary, that's not the worst possibility, when you look at perhaps Switzerland, who'll have faced the North, Bulgaria, Russia and Ukraine, to qualify, perhaps having only just got eliminated by a point or goal-difference in the group stage by Italy.

Obviously, the random draw element that I've hypothesised on, is totally unpredictable (isn't that right FIFEFA?), but the rest is solid.

[elatedscum]

G6: Denmark; Austria , Scotland, Israel;

I could see Austria winning the group. Denmark are favourites but Denmark aren't world beaters and Austria have a few quality lads. Alaba is world class and the likes of Lienhart, Baumgartner, Sabitzer and Grbic are just starting to enter their peak years. Arnautovic is probably still able to perform on occasion.

[weldoninhio]

Where are people getting this ridiculous idea that we’ll pick up 4 points from the top two teams?? Have you missed the previous 8 games??

[seanfhear]

Where are people getting this ridiculous idea that we’ll pick up 4 points from the top two teams?? Have you missed the previous 8 games??
Tides Turn.

[IsMiseSean]

Where are people getting this ridiculous idea that we’ll pick up 4 points from the top two teams?? Have you missed the previous 8 games??

I reckon we'll be lucky to get two points from the games against Portugal & Serbia.

That's me being positive btw.

[Bielsa´s irish]

I could see Austria winning the group. Denmark are favourites but Denmark aren't world beaters and Austria have a few quality lads. Alaba is world class and the likes of Lienhart, Baumgartner, Sabitzer and Grbic are just starting to enter their peak years. Arnautovic is probably still able to perform on occasion.

Austrians are muck at football since the last 35 years or so, same for Hungary.

[Bielsa´s irish]

I reckon we'll be lucky to get two points from the games against Portugal & Serbia.

That's me being positive btw.
I don't want to preach about it, the Irish team has earned great respect and recognition internationally over the past 40 years in football. Just don't give away this benefit, this value. These Irish footballers as a staff represent the Irish people and their culture, a responsibility and a quest. To all of your own Johnnie Giles, Liam Bradys, Stapletons, Georgie Bests and Roy Keanes that your sacred land gave as a shiny, sparky gift to the football gods. Slap the world of football as a wake-up call, on the identity of Irish football, for that they must address and approach a brave and courageous performance and, you know, not overestimate or disrespect rivals, we've gotta have to press and attack in a definitive attitude , let's be a tough, rough nuisance for Portugal and the Serbs, you know fear no one, then we should be fine, of course Kenny, you know man, he should play with the best players available, in the proudest, bravest form and smart, you must play them with streetwise brains of football and as tight, compact and cohesive a unit as we can get, between defense, midfield and attacking section, with the most solid formation.

[Bungle]

Austria with Alaba and a host of very good Bundesliga and Salzburg players. Austrian teams doing quite well in Europe.

Hungary with some very good Bundesliga players and a lad playing with Salzburg who is one of the best young players in Europe. Also Fernancvaros in the Champions League.

I'd take their kind of "muck" right now.

[Bielsa´s irish]

the what? Im speaking in english ....so im gonna use english slang, btw i dont speak latin american I speak french tango slang in castellano which is in fact the rioplatense spanish (Argentina and Uruguay) we as a language have nothing to do with your vision of latin america

[Bielsa´s irish]

Austria with Alaba and a host of very good Bundesliga and Salzburg players. Austrian teams doing quite well in Europe.


Hungary with some very good Bundesliga players and a lad playing with Salzburg who is one of the best young players in Europe. Also Fernancvaros in the Champions League.

I'd take their kind of "muck" right now.

Yeah Got it, but the other fellow's garden is always greener, Austria got the better of Ireland under Trapatonni's tenure, I dont rate them to win over that danish group,

[weldoninhio]

Tides Turn.
The best indicator of future performance is past performances.

[tetsujin1979]

Just ask Nokia.