2023 UEFA Under-21 Championship

[tetsujin1979]

The play off table has already been updated on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_UEFA_European_Under-21_Championship_qualification#Ranking_of_second-placed_teams
It's probably going to come down to ourselves(15 pts), Ukraine(16 pts), or Denmark(13pts). Ukraine have to face an already qualified France in their final game tomorrow.
Denmark have to play Scotland tomorrow, and Turkey on Tuesday, both at home

[CSAD]

The play off table has already been updated on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_UEFA_European_Under-21_Championship_qualification#Ranking_of_second-placed_teams
It's probably going to come down to ourselves(15 pts), Ukraine(16 pts), or Denmark(13pts). Ukraine have to face an already qualified France in their final game tomorrow.
Denmark have to play Scotland tomorrow, and Turkey on Tuesday, both at home

It adds another dilemma to our group, would we want Italy to be qualified going into our game meaning we’ve a better chance of getting a victory?

Ukraine are in a similar boat to us in this regard.

Denmark I would expect to get a minimum of 4 points so will definitely be there or there abouts in the table.

[JR89]

For me I'm first and foremost hoping Italy batter Sweden. Have second spot secured and a free hit to possibly grab top spot in the second place rankings. If Sweden and Italy ends in a draw that's also great but fingernails will be down to the bare minimum and nerves sky high hoping Sweden don't get a last minute winner if it's heading towards a draw.

That lose away to Montenegro is gonna come back to haunt use in the end. Could end up beating Italy and still having to go through the playoff.

[tetsujin1979]

Sweden-Italy kicking off at 5, lineups here
https://www.uefa.com/under21/match/2031846--sweden-vs-italy/

[pineapple stu]

Early lead for Sweden, which I presume is the result we least want. (Though I think we can't be out after today whatever the result?)

[CSAD]

Early lead for Sweden, which I presume is the result we least want. (Though I think we can't be out after today whatever the result?)

If Ireland get a result in Italy Ireland can’t be caught by Sweden regardless of what they do tonight.

It’s situations like this that make you regret the points dropped in Luxembourg & Montenegro…

[nigel-harps1954]

Early lead for Sweden, which I presume is the result we least want. (Though I think we can't be out after today whatever the result?)

If Sweden win, we need a draw for a playoff and a win to top the group.

[tetsujin1979]

Early lead for Sweden, which I presume is the result we least want. (Though I think we can't be out after today whatever the result?)

yeah, it's bad. Not the worst, but bad.
Looking at the current table - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_UEFA_European_Under-21_Championship_qualification_Group_F#Standings - a win for Sweden puts them top on 20 points, with Italy second, on the head to head record (1-1 draw in Monza last October, plus a loss tonight in Helsingborg), and then us in third on 19 points, meaning we'll need to get at least a point from Italy on Tuesday to finish in the top two.

[JR89]

We've always looked poor against Italy under Crawford, but we're in good form atm. Could see another performance like Sweden away if we have to get a result to finish second.

[tetsujin1979]

Ukraine - France about to kick off as well. Another game we have a strong interest here. The group positions are already decided - France are already qualified at the top of their group, and can't be caugh, Ukraine in the same situation in second. However, a win for Ukraine would put them top of the second placed sides table with 19 points
https://www.uefa.com/under21/match/2031907--ukraine-vs-france/

[Insidetherock]

France can be caught.. Ukraine on 19 with 2 to play and France with 25 with one to play. If Ukraine beat France, thars them on 22.. with one to play. France need a draw to ensure qualification

[CSAD]

Italy equalize from the spot!!!


Form watching the game Sweden haven’t really created anything since they scored and Italy have created half chances but nothing concrete, they were probably as relieved as were with the penalty being awarded as it was looking shaky up until that point!

[CSAD]

France can be caught.. Ukraine on 19 with 2 to play and France with 25 with one to play. If Ukraine beat France, thars them on 22.. with one to play. France need a draw to ensure qualification

Ukraine have to win by 6 goals to win the group though so it’s incredibly unlikely they will catch France.

[JR89]

France also 3-1 up against Ukraine so that's another result going in our favour.

[Insidetherock]

The results staying as they are, would be perfect. Assured of second spot, with a win to play for to top the group

[geysir]

Afaics a red card issued to a Swede who was cynically fouled won a free but complained to the ref (probably) that it was more than just a free. Really harsh imo. Can Sweden hang on for our sake?

[geysir]

Italy are giving it welly in added time, Sweden hanging on, one minute left

[geysir]

Last chance went to Italy with 6 attacking on three and they fluffed it royally. 1-1 just perfect

[tommy_c12000]

The perfect result for our boys

[pixiehead]

The perfect result for our boyswould have been better if Italy won.

[tommy_c12000]

Why? Are we not guaranteed 2nd place now, and have a shot at first if beat Italy ?

[Eirambler]

An Italy win today would have still guaranteed second and a winfor us against Italy in that case may well have taken us through automatically as the best second placed team. In that case we'd have been playing a much less interested Italy team than we will be now.

But to be honest any result other than a Sweden win was going to be a good result.

[JR89]

Why? Are we not guaranteed 2nd place now, and have a shot at first if beat Italy ?

Yes, we're guaranteed second and it's either finishing first or the playoff. A win for Italy meant we could have qualified automatically as the best runner up but you're banking on Denmark dropping points and still beating Italy.

[pixiehead]

Why? Are we not guaranteed 2nd place now, and have a shot at first if beat Italy ?
I should have included an asterisk to be fair.
We could have been in a situation where a win against an already qualified Italy guarantees us best runners up.*

*if Denmark don't get 6 pts v Scotland and Turkey, the latter of which kicks off after our Italy game.

[Insidetherock]

Look, the scenario is simple. Beat Italy, we're through

[geysir]

Yes, we're guaranteed second and it's either finishing first or the playoff. A win for Italy meant we could have qualified automatically as the best runner up but you're banking on Denmark dropping points and still beating Italy.
In the last round in the last campaign, an already qualified Italy hammered a motivated Sweden, a result which changed the placings in the group. The last game does not mean the already qualified team slackens off. I'd prefer what I'd call the each way bet in a 2 horse race.

[Insidetherock]

If anything, this puts the pressure on the Italians.. they are the ones expected to get the point they need, while all we exprected since the win against Sweden, was to get second.

Its a throw to nothing really.. think Arsenal in Anfield 89

If we can keep it level going into the last ten minutes they might get jittery

[Insidetherock]

Just wondering.. will they seed the play offs? A draw v Italy would get us a top seeding

[CSAD]

If anything, this puts the pressure on the Italians.. they are the ones expected to get the point they need, while all we exprected since the win against Sweden, was to get second.

Its a throw to nothing really.. think Arsenal in Anfield 89

If we can keep it level going into the last ten minutes they might get jittery

I also think this Italy side can be beaten, they’ve not been the run away best team in the group we would have expected them to be, it’s like they’ve just kept everyone at arms length and no more. If we went there and treated it like a cup final I wouldn’t put it past this Irish side doing the business, under normal circumstances I wouldn’t be as confident as I still question this side as a collect under Crawford but with nothing to lose and everything to gain I would put it past us upsetting the apple cart.

[CSAD]

Just wondering.. will they seed the play offs? A draw v Italy would get us a top seeding

I’ve been wondering that also but there is no confirmation.

[CSAD]

In the last round in the last campaign, an already qualified Italy hammered a motivated Sweden, a result which changed the placings in the group. The last game does not mean the already qualified team slackens off. I'd prefer what I'd call the each way bet in a 2 horse race.

It was an already eliminated Sweden though, Armenia forfeited their last 2 matches due to COVID.

[geysir]

It was an already eliminated Sweden though, Armenia forfeited their last 2 matches due to COVID.

Sweden were still in the hunt going into that last game as both Iceland and Sweden were awarded 3 nil victories against Armenia.

Thinking about it a bit more, pixiehead was correct about it being potentially a better opportunity for us to beat an already qualified Italy, in the context of a victory guaranteeing Ireland qualification as best 2nd place team.
That didn't dawn on me earlier, I had thought that bus had flown.

[Insidetherock]

when you think about it.. had Kenny stayed with the 21's.. he'd probably have the current squad plus Bazunu, Collins, Omabomidele, Knight, Obesele, Parrot and Obafemi.. and be the big hero..

[JR89]

If Kenny had stayed we'd probably be going for our second tournament. Finishing second in the last campaign turned out to be good enough for automatic qualification as they scrapped the play offs because of Covid.

Losing to Iceland in Crawford's second game in charge saw them finish above us in qualification and finishing second. If the change in management and losing players didn't happen we'd probably have beaten Iceland and finished second.

[geysir]

You'll never beat the Icelanders.

[JR89]

Will be shown live before the Ukraine game.

1535274510080942081

[Eirambler]

Do we know are the playoffs seeded? Looks like we would need a point against Italy (and maybe even a score draw) to be one of the top 5 ranked second placed teams, which would make us a seeded team if the playoffs were seeded.

I'm not sure how much it matters at this level, but I'd prefer to avoid the likes of Denmark, who gave us a bit of a footballing lesson in a warm up game last year, if possible. Even if they did drop points tonight against a poor Scotland team.

[pixiehead]

The examiner suggested the Playoffs are seeded.
Currently 4th seeds. A draw would leave us very tight with Czechia for 2nd/3rd (0-0 with Italy they are ahead in goals scored, 1-1 we are ahead on away goals scored and any other draw after that we are ahead)
If we did draw 0-0,we could be also overtaken by Denmark and Croatia were Norway to top their group. That would leave is 5th seed.

So, in summation, let's beat Italy and if we must draw, make it a score draw.

[CSAD]

The examiner suggested the Playoffs are seeded.
Currently 4th seeds. A draw would leave us very tight with Czechia for 2nd/3rd (0-0 with Italy they are ahead in goals scored, 1-1 we are ahead on away goals scored and any other draw after that we are ahead)
If we did draw 0-0,we could be also overtaken by Denmark and Croatia were Norway to top their group. That would leave is 5th seed.

So, in summation, let's beat Italy and if we must draw, make it a score draw.

Switzerland at the minute are looking pretty good for 1st as Denmark would have to win by 4 goals to catch them.

Ukraine look secure for 1st seeds as to Denmark provided they win.

Ireland with a point should get 1st seeds, already ahead of Israel & Iceland/Greece and will over take Slovakia and Czech Republic (we scored more away goals so we will beat them if we are leve).

Norway or Croatia will have 16 points also and either one should be seeded.

[geysir]

Any draw is enough to finish in the top 5, ahead of Slovakia.

[CSAD]

Any draw is enough to finish in the top 5, ahead of Slovakia.

Israel, Greece/Iceland, Czech & Slovakia will be below us if we draw.

[geysir]

However should Ireland be seeded, that will not be of any advantage should Ireland draw Iceland who have a 50/50 chance of making the play offs :). There are no easier paths to the Finals, only slightly less difficult paths.

[tommy_c12000]

Looks like it’s home and away fixtures? Seedings not as significant so. Let’s get the win in Italy so that this discussion will be a moot point…

[CSAD]

However should Ireland be seeded, that will not be of any advantage should Ireland draw Iceland who have a 50/50 chance of making the play offs :). There are no easier paths to the Finals, only slightly less difficult paths.

There is no such thing as an easy path at this stage, but some paths are easier than others!

[Eirambler]

Israel, Greece/Iceland, Czech & Slovakia will be below us if we draw.

Czechs would be ahead of us on goals scored if we drew 0-0.

[CSAD]

Czechs would be ahead of us on goals scored if we drew 0-0.

Oh yes I forgot about that, yeah a score draw puts us ahead of the Czech’s.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

I'd like to see Ferguson start up front. It'll be a real test of where these players are at. Qualifying would be nice but it looks like a few of these players are capable of stepping up which is the important thing.

[TonyD]

when you think about it.. had Kenny stayed with the 21's.. he'd probably have the current squad plus Bazunu, Collins, Omabomidele, Knight, Obesele, Parrot and Obafemi.. and be the big hero..

I think most of those players would have stepped up by now, regardless of who the manager of the senior team was.

[Razors left peg]

I think most of those players would have stepped up by now, regardless of who the manager of the senior team was.

I've had others on here disagree with me but I do believe that if any of our previous 3 managers were in charge Randolph would be still in goals because he never let us down and experience is important in goals. I also think that we'd have Hogan or James Collins up front. I don't think young players from L1 would get picked. O'Neill wouldn't even bring Grealish on US tour after a good loan spell in lower divisions

[pineapple stu]

O'Neill gave Obafemi his debut in fairness. McCarthy gave Connolly his debut. I can't see how either would have ignored all four options (if you include Max O'Leary) at this stage. Randolph may still be in the squad, but I don't think it's reasonable to say he'd still be starting.