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Eirambler
09/10/2022, 12:37 PM
The Sweden and Romania who were relegated to league C?

Feel a lot of these teams are being judged on reputation rather than recent form.

Sweden were in the Nations League group of death. And have attacking players of a standard we could only dream of in Isak and Kulasevski.

Romania took as many points in their group as we took in ours, despite not having an Armenia type no-hoper in the group. I'd be fairly confident we'd have been relegated from their group. And they only really have to get past Israel to qualify automatically for the Euros.

We're going to need a lot of luck to scrape a playoff place.

elatedscum
09/10/2022, 12:52 PM
Just found out the answer

Not to say it as an excuse for Ireland failing but things like this make a mockery of the whole qualification system, beating a bunch of part timers gets you a play off automatically.

League C I could tolerate but League D especially now should have 0 bearing on qualification for a major tournament.

John Delaney is to blame. Wasn?t the nations League his idea? And the only reason that England and France were second seeds was because of nations league.

The groups were basically self perpetuating - England were first seeds, they?d get a handy draw and would generally win the group and therefore they?d remain first seeds. Very occasionally they?d get a decent team in their group and struggle (see Croatia and Euro 2008) - but basically it was a consistent.

The nations league means that you had groups with, for example, all of Germany, England and Italy in the same group and you had some 3rd place teams being made second seeds for the euros.

It?s shaken things up much more which is both a good and a bad thing. The positive is you don?t get top sides with automatic qualification forever. The negative is, a side like ireland are essentially ****ed. Same with Ukraine in the group with England and Italy.

Meanwhile Norn Iron as 5th seed got this group:

Denmark
Finland
Slovenia
Kazakhstan
Northern Ireland
San Marino

Greece are probably as good as Finland - they certainly have better players anyway.

If you gave a playoff to the 3rd place teams, that?d be a decent solution, because then the groups of death have a reasonable alternate route.

Anyway - **** it. Rough day

Eirambler
09/10/2022, 1:07 PM
Was it not the 24 team Euros Delaney came up with, rather than the Nations League? Obviously not wanting to defend Delaney about, well, anything really, but the 24 team Euros is the only thing that's even giving us a sniff of a chance here as we might still sneak a playoff place if we're really lucky.

Obviously that's more than cancelled out by Delaney hiring Kenny though. Arguably only when Kenny is gone can we really start to put the Delaney era behind us.

CSAD
09/10/2022, 1:13 PM
Sweden were in the Nations League group of death. And have attacking players of a standard we could only dream of in Isak and Kulasevski.

Romania took as many points in their group as we took in ours, despite not having an Armenia type no-hoper in the group. I'd be fairly confident we'd have been relegated from their group. And they only really have to get past Israel to qualify automatically for the Euros.

We're going to need a lot of luck to scrape a playoff place.

I would accept that if they were half decent in that group but in the end they were well short. Put it this way, if Slovenia were in Sweden?s position right now would you back them to finish ahead of Austria? No you wouldn?t.

It doesn?t really matter what we could dream of because at the end of the day they are the third best team in their group on paper and what form have we seen to say they would finish ahead of Austria? All the teams in Austria?s group would have won the NL group Sweden were relegated from?

Except 3 of those points were in a dead rubber against Bosnia when they were already promoted. The fact of the matter is there very little evidence to suggest Romania or Sweden would qualify ahead of the team currently in 2nd in their group unless you judge based on reputation or give the most negative outcome possible the benefit of doubt.

CSAD
09/10/2022, 1:17 PM
John Delaney is to blame. Wasn?t the nations League his idea? And the only reason that England and France were second seeds was because of nations league.

The groups were basically self perpetuating - England were first seeds, they?d get a handy draw and would generally win the group and therefore they?d remain first seeds. Very occasionally they?d get a decent team in their group and struggle (see Croatia and Euro 2008) - but basically it was a consistent.

The nations league means that you had groups with, for example, all of Germany, England and Italy in the same group and you had some 3rd place teams being made second seeds for the euros.

It?s shaken things up much more which is both a good and a bad thing. The positive is you don?t get top sides with automatic qualification forever. The negative is, a side like ireland are essentially ****ed. Same with Ukraine in the group with England and Italy.

Meanwhile Norn Iron as 5th seed got this group:

Denmark
Finland
Slovenia
Kazakhstan
Northern Ireland
San Marino

Greece are probably as good as Finland - they certainly have better players anyway.

If you gave a playoff to the 3rd place teams, that?d be a decent solution, because then the groups of death have a reasonable alternate route.

Anyway - **** it. Rough day

You see 85-90% of things I can tolerate. England & France being in pot 2 I can live with

League C having play offs through gritted teeth I can accept

But Estonia having a play off because they finished ahead of Malta & San Marino is where I draw the line and say this is all ********.

You just knew once France or England were in pot 2 we were getting them, 20% chance and yet it happened

Would be nice if we defied the odds like this in a positive way for a change?

BOOMSHAKALAKA
09/10/2022, 1:19 PM
Yeah ok - i see your point a bit, but Switzerland only beat Turkey over 90 mins at the Euro and Denmark despite having home advantage - struggled before beating Wales and the Czech's in the knockouts. We got 3 points in Qualifiers against SWI and DEN and it would be hard to see us do any better than that. I think NED and FRA are a lot stronger and a lot deeper squad wise making picking up points against them very difficult - I can see both having deep runs at the world cup as well, so both could be top 5 in the FIFA rankings come March.

It is a tough draw but we've got through tougher. These teams going deep into the world cup could be a big advantage. When we play them, their players will have had a long, hard season. That's even if we play them in March nevermind in the summer. We could be in a strong position after round 4. No one is expecting us to qualify and our position in the group after that is irrelevant. Basically it's a no pressure group with a free chance to have a go at it.

CSAD
09/10/2022, 1:23 PM
What we need now if Gibraltar at home early.

Whatever challenge we have face we haven?t made it easy for ourselves as we usually have shot ourselves in both feet at the start

For me if we can even give ourselves a fair shout (and by that I mean be in with a realistic mathematic shot of qualifying by the halfway point) I would be happy

The good thing is there is no real banana skins as all of Greece,Netherlands & France will be tough and Gibraltar are too poor to be considered a banana skin. Banana skins are where we traditionally screw up so at least that won?t happen this time.

Eirambler
09/10/2022, 1:28 PM
I would accept that if they were half decent in that group but in the end they were well short. Put it this way, if Slovenia were in Sweden?s position right now would you back them to finish ahead of Austria? No you wouldn?t.

It doesn?t really matter what we could dream of because at the end of the day they are the third best team in their group on paper and what form have we seen to say they would finish ahead of Austria? All the teams in Austria?s group would have won the NL group Sweden were relegated from?

Except 3 of those points were in a dead rubber against Bosnia when they were already promoted. The fact of the matter is there very little evidence to suggest Romania or Sweden would qualify ahead of the team currently in 2nd in their group unless you judge based on reputation or give the most negative outcome possible the benefit of doubt.

Actually I would have fancied Slovenia to take out Austria if that had been the draw. Anyway it isn't, and Sweden have good players and qualify for more tournaments than they miss. I fully expect them to qualify from that group.

Romania are not as good but have a weaker group. Israel are only where they are because Russia were kicked out, they were the second seed you wanted to draw. Mad that they were in the same pot as France.

And then there's Turkey against a Wales team in decline. We need Wales' older heads to pull out one more campaign for them because, other than maybe Brennan Johnson at a push, it turns out their much hyped younger players aren't up to much. That one's 50/50 at best.

CSAD
09/10/2022, 1:45 PM
Actually I would have fancied Slovenia to take out Austria if that had been the draw. Anyway it isn't, and Sweden have good players and qualify for more tournaments than they miss. I fully expect them to qualify from that group.

Romania are not as good but have a weaker group. Israel are only where they are because Russia were kicked out, they were the second seed you wanted to draw. Mad that they were in the same pot as France.

And then there's Turkey against a Wales team in decline. We need Wales' older heads to pull out one more campaign for them because, other than maybe Brennan Johnson at a push, it turns out their much hyped younger players aren't up to much. That one's 50/50 at best.

They haven?t as good a team as Austria though, that?s the point. I would forgive that if Sweden had form on their side I would give them the benefit of doubt but that isn?t the case.

And right there you?ve proved my point. you?re backing them based on reputation, there is no evidence from Sweden to show they will pip Austria. Unless you are suggesting Sweden have top players and Austria don?t?

Possibly and in that case it?s probably more up in the air but even in Russia?s disqualification I saw more from Israel than Romania.

Possibly but Wales have turned into a side who are consistent able to do just enough to qualify weather be hook or by crook. A lot could hinge on the WC performance but over 10 games based on what I saw from them and Turkey I would give Wales the edge although it?s a close call.

BOOMSHAKALAKA
09/10/2022, 2:42 PM
Just looking back over our recent groups. We obviously came nowhere near Serbia and Portugal for the World Cup. We ran Switzerland and Denmark very close for Euro 2020. For World Cup 2018, we got a play off coming second behind Serbia, came ahead of Wales and Austria. For Euro 2016, we came a few points behind Poland and Germany, ahead of Scotland. World Cup 2014, we came 4th behind Germany, Sweden and Austria. 2012, we got a playoff coming just behind Russia. Same in World Cup 2010, got a playoff after coming behind Italy. 2008 was our worst until Kenny came along, finished 3rd, 10 points behind Germany and 12 behind Czech Republic.

So we've generally been competitive no matter who we've drawn and we have had some very tough draws. There's no reason why we shouldn't be competitive in this group either bar an incompetent management team.

Eirambler
09/10/2022, 2:54 PM
You could put any manager in the world in charge of the team and we wouldn't be competitive in terms of qualifying from this group. But that's not to offer any early excuses for Kenny who carries much of the blame for us finding ourselves in this position.

Real ale Madrid
09/10/2022, 6:38 PM
Ireland Euro 2024 qualifying fixtures

27/03 – Republic of Ireland v France
16/06 – Greece v Republic of Ireland
19/06 – Republic of Ireland v Gibraltar
07/09 – France v Republic of Ireland
10/09 – Republic of Ireland v Netherlands
13/10 – Republic of Ireland v Greece
16/10 – Gibraltar v Republic of Ireland
18/11 – Netherlands v Republic of Ireland

paul_oshea
09/10/2022, 6:43 PM
7 points required from those first 3 fixtures to have any hope. Realistically going on previous starts and performances we could have 1 point after 2, would that be enough to spell the end then?

paul_oshea
09/10/2022, 6:45 PM
To bring one element of positivity to the discussion is traditionally Stephen Kenny Irish sides have gone well against similar or better sides. Portugal Serbia for example in the last campaign.



This just isnt true, and I am not having a go at you, there's some really weird stuff peddled about that just doesn't seem to be questioned. We got 2 points from a possible 12. We were way off second and much closer to 4th. Mccarthy got 3 draws for example and the previous regimes had one or two scalps in qualifying.

BOOMSHAKALAKA
09/10/2022, 6:58 PM
Ireland Euro 2024 qualifying fixtures

27/03 – Republic of Ireland v France
16/06 – Greece v Republic of Ireland
19/06 – Republic of Ireland v Gibraltar
07/09 – France v Republic of Ireland
10/09 – Republic of Ireland v Netherlands
13/10 – Republic of Ireland v Greece
16/10 – Gibraltar v Republic of Ireland
18/11 – Netherlands v Republic of Ireland

We should be aiming to draw at home to France, beat Greece away and obviously beat Gibraltar. Greece are ranked lower than us currently which is saying something looking at our results.

BOOMSHAKALAKA
09/10/2022, 7:02 PM
This just isnt true, and I am not having a go at you, there's some really weird stuff peddled about that just doesn't seem to be questioned. We got 2 points from a possible 12. We were way off second and much closer to 4th. Mccarthy got 3 draws for example and the previous regimes had one or two scalps in qualifying.

In 3 of those 4 games we got battered. Serbia home and away. We were very lucky to only lose 3-2 away and also to draw at home. Portugal got late goals against us to win 2-1 but they could easily have won 4 or 5-1.

You are right in saying there are these myths that get peddled that have absolutely no basis in reality. Even in the most recent Nations league against more modest opponents, we only picked up 4 points out of 12.

JR89
09/10/2022, 7:08 PM
France away is likely to be Lyon with the rugby world cup starting that weekend also with games on in Paris, St Etienne, Bordeaux, and Marseille. They might not want the football game on in Paris the day before the tournament kicks off.

CSAD
09/10/2022, 7:38 PM
This just isnt true, and I am not having a go at you, there's some really weird stuff peddled about that just doesn't seem to be questioned. We got 2 points from a possible 12. We were way off second and much closer to 4th. Mccarthy got 3 draws for example and the previous regimes had one or two scalps in qualifying.

It was more how we played rather than the result. It was a campaign of transition and we acquitted ourselves well in those games (Serbia for the first 60 in Dublin was shocking but we caught back well to get a point)

What I?m saying is if you look at the truly shocking performances they?ve all come against teams like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, teams thy park the bus against us whereas teams like Scotland, Ukraine etc we did well against.

CSAD
09/10/2022, 7:40 PM
It?s a decent schedule and a decent start as we have a free hit against France in the opening game after a WC, after seeing how Ireland acquitted themselves against Portugal x2 and Belgium (I know it wasn?t their best team but still a top nation) I do think Ireland could at least give France a rattle especially when you consider France have a tendency to play down to their oppositions level and consistently drop points when the probably shouldn?t.

MylesNotMiley
09/10/2022, 7:45 PM
Athens in June. What will it be, 30 degrees plus?

Bielsa´s irish
09/10/2022, 7:57 PM
Worst case scenario tbh, in deep ****. Can't Eire get the E, GH, I, J

JR89
09/10/2022, 7:59 PM
Welsh and Scottish FA tweeting they've been told to UEFA to disregard the fixtures sent out as they've found an issue and a new list will be sent out. Not sure if it's just certain groups and not every group.

elatedscum
09/10/2022, 8:00 PM
Am I wrong in saying it?s the hardest group we?ve ever had?

The 2002 group was really tough but I don?t think Portugal were as good as France are now and the Dutch side is probably of similar level.

For reference, the bookies have France as the 2nd favourite to win the World Cup and Netherlands 7th favourite, which makes them the favourite and 4th favourite of sides who will be in the euro 24 qualification

CSAD
09/10/2022, 8:06 PM
Am I wrong in saying it?s the hardest group we?ve ever had?

The 2002 group was really tough but I don?t think Portugal were as good as France are now and the Dutch side is probably of similar level.

Dutch aren?t as good now as they were then, they were like top 4 in the world or something like that back then.

France would be better on paper but of course the French are just very inconsistent in qualifying, they are certain qualifiers but they are the sort of side that will draw against us Greece & Netherlands away and then win the home games and qualify in first regardless.

CSAD
09/10/2022, 8:07 PM
Welsh and Scottish FA tweeting they've been told to UEFA to disregard the fixtures sent out as they've found an issue and a new list will be sent out. Not sure if it's just certain groups and not every group.

FAI reported it and have yet to amend it so that tells me this is the fixture list so maybe it?s just certain groups.

BOOMSHAKALAKA
09/10/2022, 8:09 PM
It was more how we played rather than the result. It was a campaign of transition and we acquitted ourselves well in those games (Serbia for the first 60 in Dublin was shocking but we caught back well to get a point)

What I?m saying is if you look at the truly shocking performances they?ve all come against teams like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, teams thy park the bus against us whereas teams like Scotland, Ukraine etc we did well against.

It wasn't a campaign of transition, that's another myth. It only became that after we got effectively knocked out in game 2. Look at the teams he selected.

Bielsa´s irish
09/10/2022, 8:16 PM
Am I wrong in saying it?s the hardest group we?ve ever had?

The 2002 group was really tough but I don?t think Portugal were as good as France are now and the Dutch side is probably of similar level.

For reference, the bookies have France as the 2nd favourite to win the World Cup and Netherlands 7th favourite, which makes them the favourite and 4th favourite of sides who will be in the euro 24 qualification

Imagine if the 5th was Slovakia.

Bielsa´s irish
09/10/2022, 8:18 PM
For me is time for Kenny to step down.

JR89
09/10/2022, 8:20 PM
FAI reported it and have yet to amend it so that tells me this is the fixture list so maybe it?s just certain groups.

Yeah Welsh FA tweeting now their fixtures haven't been impacted.

Nah Nah Nah Nah
09/10/2022, 8:46 PM
Am I wrong in saying it?s the hardest group we?ve ever had?

The 2002 group was really tough but I don?t think Portugal were as good as France are now and the Dutch side is probably of similar level.

For reference, the bookies have France as the 2nd favourite to win the World Cup and Netherlands 7th favourite, which makes them the favourite and 4th favourite of sides who will be in the euro 24 qualification

1982. France, Belgium and Holland.

tetsujin1979
09/10/2022, 8:53 PM
In the 44 games we've played against the four group opponents, we won 15 of them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjfvQgIo9H5/

JR89
09/10/2022, 8:57 PM
FAI tweeting it now. If it's to do with just that one France game FAI should tell UEFA and French fa do one. They've plenty of stadiums in France to fulfill that fixture without going near a city hosting a RWC game. Some people might have already made arrangements.

1579210853785927680

texidub
09/10/2022, 9:16 PM
If that FAI tweet above is the final group standings, I'd be happy enough. Would like us to be in with a shout of top 2 in the final round of games. A revengeful away win against France would be nice.. especially if VAR misses a handball in the build up.

Kenny has had a chance to blood new players. He deserves this campaign, I think. If we go backwards (4th) then he should go. The players will be REALLY well blooded at that stage!

geysir
09/10/2022, 9:32 PM
This draw was all about who we would get from the 2nd pot and we drew the worst option.

Some crumbs, apart from Greece in mid June the scheduling looks good and France in the latest WC qual & euro qual had some some poor results.
Greece could be a bit of a Trojan horse :hat: and take points from the big 2.

TonyD
09/10/2022, 9:58 PM
Am I wrong in saying it?s the hardest group we?ve ever had?

The 2002 group was really tough but I don?t think Portugal were as good as France are now and the Dutch side is probably of similar level.

For reference, the bookies have France as the 2nd favourite to win the World Cup and Netherlands 7th favourite, which makes them the favourite and 4th favourite of sides who will be in the euro 24 qualification

In qualification for the 82 WC Eoin Hands Ireland team had Holland and France, with Belgium thrown in for good measure, so no. We only missed out on second place by goal difference too. Plus had a couple of very dodgy reffing decisions away to Belgium. We were so unlucky in that campaign, beat France and Holland at home and drew with Belgium, also drew with the Dutch away. That team was possibly even better than Charlton team that eventually made the breakthrough in 88.

Bielsa´s irish
09/10/2022, 11:51 PM
France Away The first match

tommy_c12000
10/10/2022, 1:38 AM
Exciting draw. We should have an ever-strengthening team.

Kenny?s tactics and decision making has me concerned, he appears to be out of his depth and hasn?t learned on the job as much as I had hoped. But I?m willing to give him the full Euro 2024 qualifying campaign to see how he does.

Looking forward to the campaign

CSAD
10/10/2022, 4:21 AM
He didn?t directly say it but Greece manager Gus Poyet is the latest manager to go down the ?Ireland play British style football? root.

pineapple stu
10/10/2022, 6:02 AM
1982. France, Belgium and Holland.
Exactly the one I was thinking of alright

2002 World Cup with two Euro 2000 semifinalists was tough too

geysir
10/10/2022, 7:46 AM
There’s an idiotic headline to an Indo article,
“Horror draw is Ireland's punishment for Nations League woes”Who decides that Ireland should be punished and the terms of such punishment? Does that most evil power control how the draw turns out?

JR89
10/10/2022, 8:29 AM
No changes and Frances first game is against Holland before they play us.

1579382454687010817

paul_oshea
10/10/2022, 9:19 AM
So in all reality we could be out of the running before we even play a game?!

Joking : D

CSAD
10/10/2022, 9:27 AM
No changes and Frances first game is against Holland before they play us.

1579382454687010817

I still think getting France at home first is not a bad start. France have a tendency to play to their oppositions level, they are the sort of team that could beat the Dutch 3-0 and then drop points against Ireland afew days later (in 2017 they beat Netherlands 4-0 in Paris and then 4 days later drew 0-0 with Luxembourg in Toulouse!). I wouldn?t be surprised if we upset them and got a point or dare I say it even a win as we did very well v Portugal & Belgium under Kenny.

Greece away would have been perfect for October/November or March time which is my only gripe with the fixture list.

JR89
10/10/2022, 9:48 AM
Yeah I'm happy with France at home first. Crowd will be well up for it, and the way France play should suit us better by leaving some space to counter attack.

Don't know if it's better or not that the friendly will be before the France game. Think I would have preferred France match day where the strongest XI available can give it 100% and then swap out half the starting XI for the friendly game on match day two.

Could probably still do the same maybe with possibly throwing out most of your strongest defenders and giving some lads in attack who your not 100% about starting against France the chance to impress in the friendly.

Yeah would have much preferred Greece away not to be in mid June when the weather could be in the high 30s. Was gonna possibly go to that game and in mid June gonna have to plaster on the SPF with a paint roller haha.

NeverFeltBetter
10/10/2022, 9:53 AM
Amused by people insisting Gibraltar is six easy points. Forgetting our performances against them in the not too distant past, and Kenny's established propensity for terrible results against lower seeds. We were a shot put a foot wide away from being 3-2 down to Armenia at home just a few weeks ago before they self-destructed.

I really do think thoughts of getting points against France are wildly optimistic. They have had some iffy form recently, but they are better than Portugal, and certainly better than the Belgium B-team. I can imagine Kenny getting 10 points from Greece and Gibraltar, but I can also imagine him getting four or five. Gibraltar will be looking at Ireland like Luxembourg and Armenia did, as a scalp to be taken if they set-up well at the back and snatch a chance at the other end.

Third place and being reasonably competitive against the top seeds is as much as we can hope for within the group while we wait again for other groups to do us a favour. We weren't destined to be in this position, but this is what happens when you lose to sides like Luxembourg and Armenia. In a way Kenny is lucky: having spent a while listening to people claim we're building for a tilt at qualification for 2024, now it's a "free hit" for him. Next people will be talking about how it'll be easier to qualify for the World Cup in 2026.

Jd2793
10/10/2022, 9:55 AM
kenny will be gone if we dont qualify. i dont get this idea he will keep his job with some decent performances vs big guns. he doesnt have a leg to stand on if we cant qualify.

JR89
10/10/2022, 10:38 AM
kenny will be gone if we dont qualify. i dont get this idea he will keep his job with some decent performances vs big guns. he doesnt have a leg to stand on if we cant qualify.

Nobody knows the thoughts of those who'll be making the decisions. The play off isn't guaranteed and might not get a play off. If for example we were to somehow get 13/14 points they very well could say results were good we'll be keeping you on for another campaign.

He could just as easily be gone in October even if the play off is more or less guaranteed because of results in other groups.

OwlsFan
10/10/2022, 10:38 AM
Holland, France, Greece and GIBRALTAR: talk about being caught between a Rock and a hard place :)

CSAD
10/10/2022, 10:50 AM
Amused by people insisting Gibraltar is six easy points. Forgetting our performances against them in the not too distant past, and Kenny's established propensity for terrible results against lower seeds. We were a shot put a foot wide away from being 3-2 down to Armenia at home just a few weeks ago before they self-destructed.

I really do think thoughts of getting points against France are wildly optimistic. They have had some iffy form recently, but they are better than Portugal, and certainly better than the Belgium B-team. I can imagine Kenny getting 10 points from Greece and Gibraltar, but I can also imagine him getting four or five. Gibraltar will be looking at Ireland like Luxembourg and Armenia did, as a scalp to be taken if they set-up well at the back and snatch a chance at the other end.

Third place and being reasonably competitive against the top seeds is as much as we can hope for within the group while we wait again for other groups to do us a favour. We weren't destined to be in this position, but this is what happens when you lose to sides like Luxembourg and Armenia. In a way Kenny is lucky: having spent a while listening to people claim we're building for a tilt at qualification for 2024, now it's a "free hit" for him. Next people will be talking about how it'll be easier to qualify for the World Cup in 2026.

It is 6 easy points. The mistake you are making is comparing Armenia with Gibraltar as if they are similar challenges, one was in League B and the other is still in League D.

The point is France are of a similar ilk to Portugal as in they are a top national team. Yes on paper France are better but not so much better that the comparison isn?t valid.

Except the big difference is Luxembourg and Armenia can actually field professional XI?s and are NT?s that have r proven they can cause teams problems?there?s that and then there?s Gibraltar. Comparing the two is chalk and cheese. I do get what you are saying about banana skins but Gibraltar aren?t good enough to be a banana skin, there?s a certain level you need to be at to be of that standard which Gibraltar just aren?t same as San Marino,Lichtenstein, Malta, Andorra etc.

Well it is a free hit as I doubt there?s a single team in pot 3 with any manager that would go into this group with any expectations of finishing 2nd. Hope yes but no way expectation.

Stuttgart88
10/10/2022, 10:54 AM
I actually think this is a great draw for Kenny from his personal point of view.

1. We’ve been better against good teams and worse against teams where we’re expected to own the ball and break down stubborn defences
2. There’s really only one team here where failing to beat would be a career-ending disaster
3. We don’t start with Gibraltar away!
4. There might not be a runaway winner
5. It’s a great test of progress, will draw big crowds to Dublin and will be a brilliant coming of age experience for the squad
6. The group offers a real chance to outperform expectations – which offers Kenny a chance to extend his stay
7. There’s still a good likelihood of a NL payoff – though not much room for things to go against us (Sweden & Romania might upset the apple cart)

I’m excited by it. Some great matches in prospect.