European Championships Draw

[nedder]

Well we are going to be playing this german team and not the teams that qualified for the last 20 tournaments or whatever. I saw scotland play them not too long ago and saw them in the Confederations and they are not great. We also played germany in 2002 and totally outplayed them. They are not the force they were.


I'd expect germany to be better than czechs. Germany are already rebuilding and expect them to have a good world cup, Czechs seem to have peaked in last few years. Not sure about the Slovaks.

[as_i_say]

We also played germany in 2002 and totally outplayed them. They are not the force they were.

Fookers still qualify every time though... and we aint gonna win the group so its gonna be at their expense if we make it.

[Bald Student]

any one know have we got the biggest stadium in the group, I thinks we do as it's the fifth biggest in europeJudging purely by national steriotypes, the Germans probably have a big one.

I'm looking forward to heading out to Brataslava, the biggest Tesco's you'll see in your life!!

Remind me, is San Marino up the mountains or by the beach?

Booze Cruise to Cardiff!!

[Pablo]

"Ireland" has an outside chance of 3rd imo

I say "ireland" because i've no intention of supporting an England reject XI which it will be if the way Stan is talking comes true

[colster]

It's a tough group but I reckon we could do the following
Czech Republic Draw at home, Lose away 1pt
Germany Draw at home, Draw away 2pts
Slovakia Win at home, Draw away 4pts
Wales Win at home, Draw away 4pts
Cyrpus 2 wins 6pts
San Marino 2 wins 6pts

23 points?

Czech Republic
Germany Win at home, Draw away. 4
Slovakia Win at home, Win away 6
Ireland Win at home, Draw away 4
Wales 2 wins 6
Cyprus 2 wins 6
San Marino 2 wins 6

32 points.

Germany
Czech Republic 1pt
Slovakia 6pts
Ireland 2pts
Wales 6pts
Cyprus 6pts
San Marino 6 pts
27 pts.

I think we'll get 3rd but if we beat Germany at home and Wales/Slovakia away then we could get 2nd.

[Noelys Guitar]

Our recent record against the Germans is pretty good. 2 draws and an away win. They are a good team and not a great team any longer. If we improve as I expect us to under Staunton then we have nothing to fear from this group. And some great places and atmospheres to come. I have been in the Olympic stadium in Munich many times and it is excellent. Then we have Croker and then the Millinium stadium in Wales. Great Stuff.

[Tired&Emotional]

Match dates

September 2 - 6, 2006
October 7 - 11, 2006
March 24 - 28, 2007
June 2-6, 2007
September 8-10, 2007
October 13-17, 2007
November 17- 21, 2007


Would like to catch Germans in Dublin for first game straight after the WC but don't think that will happen - keep weaker teams for the start and end and maybe trying to line up the big guns in the middle.....??

[NeilMcD]

Well we wont be playing in the olmypic Stadium in munich. It may not even be in munich but if it is it will be in the new stadium I am sure.

[junkie]

It could have been worse (we could have been in that 8 team group 1 of death) but it's gonna be an enourmous task to qualify.

Czech Republic will win the group and Germany will be the team to beat for 2nd place.

We have an uphill task since Slovokia are strong too andwith Wales form will be thrown out the window, it's an international derby! Cyprus as we know after our trip there are no pushovers but San Mariono should be 6 points in the bad.

I reckon the best we can hope for is 3rd.... that would be an achievment to a degree considering our current squad panel.

[Hulsey]

That's a pretty generous group considering the teams we could have got. Got throught the 2002 world cup group with Portugal & Holland and the side hasn't changed too much as Roy Keane's only player we'll miss, but Imo Kavanagh would do a better job due to Keanes age, but thats another days work. Reckon some of the yougsters could come good for us (likes of Stephen Kelly, Stephen Ireland, Elliott & Doyle). Looking forward to the Wales game.

[HuRya]

Would like to catch Germans in Dublin for first game straight after the WC but don't think that will happen - keep weaker teams for the start and end and maybe trying to line up the big guns in the middle.....??

Fancy a trip to Prague..price of a local pint is still only 90cent..

has anyone noticed that ingerland got poxed lucky again with another handy draw..you look back at the teams they have had to face from Euro 92 qualifying (and including World Cup qualifying) to today and you should find most of them making up pots 4,5,6 and 7 from today's draw.

[Tired&Emotional]

"Ireland" has an outside chance of 3rd imo

I say "ireland" because i've no intention of supporting an England reject XI which it will be if the way Stan is talking comes true

Maybe we should start to reclaim land westward and hope to boost the population to, I dunno, say 10 million? Maybe then we will have a greater number of quality international players to choose from.......:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Take the blinkers off pal: we don't need rejectionist "neg-a-tive vibes" as yer man Damian Dempsey might say....:eek:

[NeilMcD]

hey Bratislava willl be cheaper than Prague.

[Tired&Emotional]

Well we wont be playing in the olmypic Stadium in munich. It may not even be in munich but if it is it will be in the new stadium I am sure.

What about Westphalia in Dortmund? The Scots were there a couple of years ago and lieratlly drank the place dry....

[Pablo]

Maybe we should start to reclaim land westward and hope to boost the population to, I dunno, say 10 million? Maybe then we will have a greater number of quality international players to choose from.......:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Take the blinkers off pal: we don't need rejectionist "neg-a-tive vibes" as yer man Damian Dempsey might say....:eek:

maybe your national team should be full of your fellow countrymen and something you can identify with?

[as_i_say]

Fancy a trip to Prague..price of a local pint is still only 90cent..

has anyone noticed that ingerland got poxed lucky again with another handy draw..you look back at the teams they have had to face from Euro 92 qualifying (and including World Cup qualifying) to today and you should find most of them making up pots 4,5,6 and 7 from today's draw.

they are jammy whores theres no doubt about it. but thats why its so enjoyable watching them get stuffed when it comes to the actual tournament.

[Tired&Emotional]

I reckon the best we can hope for is 3rd.... that would be an achievment to a degree considering our current squad panel.

I think if Stan reinjects the passion and picks/gets the right players, sorts formations out etc we could be doing better than that....hopefully:)

[Block G Raptor]

Fortress BogBall :D :D

Or should I have said "Fortress Teach BogBall "

[Tired&Emotional]

maybe your national team should be full of your fellow countrymen and something you can identify with?

Parochial view and in the minority. I just have to feel sorrow for people who seem to get so hung up on this....have you nothing better to moan about:confused: :D

And what, send out a eL XI...... ha!!

[Pablo]

Parochial view and in the minority. I just have to feel sorrow for people who seem to get so hung up on this....have you nothing better to moan about:confused: :D

i'm just proud to be Irish. and like to support my own. thats whi i'll only ever truly love one team.

[Block G Raptor]

Judging purely by national steriotypes, the Germans probably have a big one.

I'm looking forward to heading out to Brataslava, the biggest Tesco's you'll see in your life!!

Remind me, is San Marino up the mountains or by the beach?

Booze Cruise to Cardiff!!

Monte Carlo is up the mountains San Marino is by the beach
want some serious cash going out there

[Dublin12]

has anyone noticed that ingerland got poxed lucky again with another handy draw..

I wouldn't say they were lucky,they got quite a tough group,a trip to Russia's hardly lucky plus Croatia and Israel ain't no pushovers and will cause them problems,they struggled in poorer groups to get to Euro 02 and this World Cup.

Anyway,tough group for us,I would agree with Colster's predictions above and think we will do very well to finish 3rd.

[NeilMcD]

Monte Carlo is up the mountains San Marino is by the beach
want some serious cash going out there

Its basically in Italy so will be easy to get to. Scotland were there not long ago and my mates said its a great trip and easy to get to and lost of good drinking.


Anyone think that there could be doulble headers with Prague and Bratislava or Prague and Berlin or Munich. There is a lot of possiblities for double headers there.


Dont tink my liver could take a Double header for Prague and Bratislava or my c%% either ha ha .

[REVIP]

Monte Carlo is up the mountains San Marino is by the beach
want some serious cash going out there

It's the other way round!

You still need loads of money though

[concanta]

on the face of it englands group is hard but have tough away games to macedonia, israel, russia ( in winter probably ) and croatia - they will qualifying but i would rate this group a lot harder than the one they just had for the world cup

as for us - reasonably happy - czechs are having a few of their best players retire and germany have a lot of young lads

think its all there to fight for

[Jerry The Saint]

Some interesting local derbies thrown up by the draw.

Armenia vs. Azerbaijan
Greece vs. Turkey
Czechia vs. Slovak Republic
Eire. vs. Cymru
Romania vs. Bulgaria
Estonia vs. Russia

[lopez]

I say "ireland" because i've no intention of supporting an England reject XI which it will be if the way Stan is talking comes trueGood! Hopefully if you take a few more of your like and I might find it easier getting tickets than I've done in the last few years.

[Armando]

Agree entirely.....BRING IT ON!!!:)
I think there are 90 days for fixtures to be agreed in the group.

30 days to sort out fixtures this time around, so we'll know soon enough.

It's a fantastic draw from a footballing, financial and fans point of view. There was a good chance of getting a british team and Wales were my preferred choice, so good stuff there. I fancied Gemany from pot 2. They won't have played a qualifier in 3 years and if we play them early away could catch them cold. Czechs are world class but it will be interesting to see how their squad shapes up after the World Cup. With the proper approach in all games(esp. Slovakia and Cyprus) we have a real fighting chance in this group. I predict a 2nd place finish.......ever the optimist:)

[Soper]

Be happy!

It's a decent draw.

All we need to do is 'put em unda pwessha'

And Wales certainly ain't great shakes, derby or not.

[Tired&Emotional]

30 days to sort out fixtures this time around, so we'll know soon enough.

It's a fantastic draw from a footballing, financial and fans point of view. There was a good chance of getting a british team and Wales were my preferred choice, so good stuff there. I fancied Gemany from pot 2. They won't have played a qualifier in 3 years and if we play them early away could catch them cold. Czechs are world class but it will be interesting to see how their squad shapes up after the World Cup. With the proper approach in all games(esp. Slovakia and Cyprus) we have a real fighting chance in this group. I predict a 2nd place finish.......ever the optimist:)

Ah, even better....at least we can all start planning for the away games:)

Yep - the draw is a good one for everyone (who's interested!):cool:

[teckno]

An excellent draw in my opinion and leaves us with a great chance of qualifying.

San Marino- The worst team in Europe. Have been going for years now and have never seemed to improve at all unlike say Albania

Cyprus- Our third time in a row being in the same group as them. Nothing special.

Wales. Did great under Hughes. Toshack is useless and their better players like Giggs and Hartson are heading over the hill. Should be capable of beating them.

Slovakia. The worst of the teams in Pot 3. Best player would be Nemeth of Middlesbrough. Should be two good games between them and the Czechs. Kick lumps out of each other.

Germany. Nothing to fear. Will be coming off the back off a world cup campaign. More than capable of getting points.

Czech Republic. Mark my words. The Czechs will struggle to qualify. They are a good side now but most of there better players will be gone or past it after the World Cup. Nedved, Poborsky, Koller. Will not be up for it as they once were.

All in all Fantastic draw and we should do well!!

[Pablo]

Good! Hopefully if you take a few more of your like and I might find it easier getting tickets than I've done in the last few years.

i never have a problem getting a ticket. all Eircomleague fans get an allocation. i presume being so Irish and all you have a local team?

[3 Heroes]

gotta be happy with the group

[TheJamaicanP.M.]

An excellent draw in my opinion and leaves us with a great chance of qualifying.

San Marino- The worst team in Europe. Have been going for years now and have never seemed to improve at all unlike say Albania

Cyprus- Our third time in a row being in the same group as them. Nothing special.

Wales. Did great under Hughes. Toshack is useless and their better players like Giggs and Hartson are heading over the hill. Should be capable of beating them.

Slovakia. The worst of the teams in Pot 3. Best player would be Nemeth of Middlesbrough. Should be two good games between them and the Czechs. Kick lumps out of each other.

Germany. Nothing to fear. Will be coming off the back off a world cup campaign. More than capable of getting points.

Czech Republic. Mark my words. The Czechs will struggle to qualify. They are a good side now but most of there better players will be gone or past it after the World Cup. Nedved, Poborsky, Koller. Will not be up for it as they once were.

All in all Fantastic draw and we should do well!!


Without doubt, the best post I've read since the draw was made.

I think the Czechs will struggle. Even with all the star players they've had over the past 10 years, they've struggled in the aftermath of appearing in championship finals. I really think we should play in the autumn when we can get them on the rebound.

I'd start the group with a home game against Cyprus (again), then I think we should play the Czechs away four days later. I think we should play the Germans and San Marino away in a double-header in October. We should save the big home games for Croker in 2007. Ideally, we should only play one game in June of 2007 as it will be at the end of a long, hard season for our players. San Marino at home would be ideal, but I can't see us having the use of Croker at that time of year.

In total, we will have to play 5 double-headers (i.e. 2 games in a week) during this campaign.

[OwlsFan]

Slovakia. The worst of the teams in Pot 3. Best player would be Nemeth of Middlesbrough. Should be two good games between them and the Czechs. Kick lumps out of each other. Germany. Nothing to fear. Will be coming off the back off a world cup campaign. More than capable of getting points. All in all Fantastic draw and we should do well!!

"Fantastic draw" - travel yes but getting a bit carried away from a football point of view. Germany have never, repeat never, failed to qualify for a major final and before someone says there's always a first time, does anyone really see them coming 3rd in that group ? If you do, see a psychiatrist.

So we are fighting with the Czechs/Slovaks and Wales for the 2nd spot. There isn't a huge amount of difference in ability between us and Wales. We have a slight edge and no more than that. Slovaks and Czechs will kick the same lumps out of each other as we and Wales will do. It's a stronger group than the one we just finished 4th in :eek:

Interesting, reasonable, tough but not fantastic.

[jbyrne]

30 days to sort out fixtures this time around, so we'll know soon enough.


think i heard frankfurt on 8th or 10th feb for fixtures meeting

[shakermaker1982]

my mate text me this:

Ireland have: France, Italy and Ukraine. I nearly cried. Once I found out the truth I'm a lot more optimistic.

[Hibs4Ever]

Staunton satisfied with Euro draw

Steve Staunton faces his first campaign as Republic manager
New Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton said he was quite happy with the Euro 2008 draw despite being up against Germany and the Czech Republic.
"It could have been a lot worse. We always knew it would be tough," said Staunton whose side also face Wales, Slovakia, Cyprus and San Marino.

"Slovakia just missed out on qualifying for the World Cup, and Cyprus have caused us problems recently.

"But, for travelling and everything, it is not a bad draw."

The Republic, under Brian Kerr, beat Cyprus twice in the qualifying series for the World Cup but were relieved to get away with a 1-0 sucess in the away match last October.

"But for keeper Shay Given we could have come away with no points," added Staunton.

"It is a competitive group and I am excited about it.

"I do not see any one team running away with it. The Czech Republic, as number one seeds, will be favourites.

"Germany, like ourselves, have been in transition, but they still qualified for the World Cup."




This was Stans interview about the group, the last line got my attention a bit:D

[NeilMcD]

I think we have to be happy in that the 3rd seed in our group are not better than us and have never qualified. So that means we are competing with the Czechs for 2nd place going on Owls Fans logic. We have about the same record of qualifying for major competitions as the Czechs do in recent times. Remember this is their first ever World Cup. As has been said the Czechs will not be the same team they were in 2004. That team reached its peak then and it struggled in their group to go to 2006 and wer not that convincing againsts a very poor Norwary side that Scotland beat away.

I think Jamaican PM is right if we play them early after the World Cup we might give ourselves a starting chance. Also remember Germany played Scotland recently and struggled and were lucky to get a draw in Hampden and were hanging on in Dortmund were they won 2-1. They will probably qualify in the end but I think there is a possibility that we can get points from them both home and away.

We have avoided

Group A

Tricky trips to lowers seeds such as the former russian nations which are contained in Group A.

Not one of the away trips will be tough logistically or have very very hostile atmospheres.

All of this is good in my view. Also Germany and Wales have big stadiums to take a huge Irish Support away from home.

[Den Perry]

"Fantastic draw" - travel yes but getting a bit carried away from a football point of view. Germany have never, repeat never, failed to qualify for a major final and before someone says there's always a first time, does anyone really see them coming 3rd in that group ? If you do, see a psychiatrist.

So we are fighting with the Czechs/Slovaks and Wales for the 2nd spot. There isn't a huge amount of difference in ability between us and Wales. We have a slight edge and no more than that. Slovaks and Czechs will kick the same lumps out of each other as we and Wales will do. It's a stronger group than the one we just finished 4th in :eek:

Interesting, reasonable, tough but not fantastic.

If Venables had got the job I could have gone to all the matches......

[Tired&Emotional]

Yeah - a large wedge of reality reading between the lines there!

Edit: This post was in reply to Hibs4Ever, in agreement with Stan's last line. The Germans will be tough and Stan has also publicly noted that the Czech Rep. are favourites.....so Stan knows it will be tough

However, in another way it could be a reply to Den Perry......still harping on with what-ifs for the Stan's job:confused: ;)

[pete]

Its as good as a draw that could be expected. Ireland need to get as many points as possible evn if don't qualify as might get better seeding next time then. Germany one of weakest 2nd seeds & all 1st seeds bar Greece are strong.

Scotland can't qualify already with france, Italy & the Ukraine.

[Jerry The Saint]

"Germany, like ourselves, have been in transition, but they still qualified for the World Cup."


And without losing a match either!

I see Sir Bobford's influence is already showing. :D

[Soper]

People are deluding themselves if they think that there is a slight gap between us and Wales.I've seen Wales about 8 times in the last 3 years, and there is no way they are anything close to as good a team as Ireland, even with Irelands recent failings

[NeilMcD]

View From the Welsh Forums

Being 5th seeds we couldn't realistically have done much better.

San Marino - as certain a 6 points as you get in European qualifiacation football. That's more than half our overall total last time out. Great destination.

Cyprus - our 1-0 thrashing out there will dispel an illusions that this will be a walkover (not a bad thing given the management's casual attitude to Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland last time) - but six points are not unrealistic. Excellent destination for fans and team alike.

Republic of Ireland - new inexperienced manager, team in flux. Not easy by any stretch of the imagination. A win and a defeat might not be bad as far as overall qualification is concerned. Excellent destination for fans and team alike. Good money spinner as well.

Slovakia - not to be underestimated, they're not third seeds for nothing. But again I see no reason why we can't take points off them. Hopefully, they'll take points off the Czech Republic.

Czech Republic - the key team in this group - as we're really fighting for second place. A formidable test, but with an ageing team and players like Nedved on the way out not as bad as it looks. Beatable. Excellent destination for fans and team alike.

Germany - likely to top the group, but could also drop points. Haven't been a force in World football for a time. Obviously to be respected - but not feared. Excellent destination for fans and team alike.

The overall composition of the group is excellent for several reasons:

Fantastic for the away fans - I can see excellent turnouts for all these games for a variety of reasons: San Marino and Cyprus - sand, sea and booze; Ireland - derby and great crack; Germany - prestige tie; Czech and Slovakia (lesser extent) - mixture of the footie and culture.

No long-haul flights for the team - this cost us big time against Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland at home (the match in mid-week after Azer away). There should be no serious logistical complications with any of these games.

Good money spinner for FAW - Germany, Czech Republic and Ireland matches virtually guaranteed sellouts and excellent TV revenue from Germany match.

Short of picking our opponents I don't think we could have done much better.

And am I the only one just a tiny bit pleased with Scotland's draw? I think not.

[geysir]

.Slovaks and Czechs will kick the same lumps out of each other as we and Wales will do.
The Slovaks and the Czechs will also be kicking lumps out of the Germans.
Top 3 seeds, all neighbours, desperate for victory, should be an interesting group, imo we are in a good group.

[NeilMcD]

Ireland against Germany will be hugely attractive and of special significance

The Republic of Ireland's new manager, Steve Staunton, immediately recalled a hugely significant date in his football career when the Republic of Ireland were grouped with Germany as the draw for Euro 2008 was made in Montreux, Switzerland.

On June 5, 2002, in far-flung Ibaraki, Japan, Staunton won his 100th senior International cap when he captained the Republic of Ireland against Germany in the World Cup finals.

It was Ireland's first match against Germany in competition and it ended sensationally. Ireland trailed from the 19th minute after Miroslav Klose had headed Germany into the lead.

Ireland were in danger of elimination after having drawn their opening match 1 - 1 with Cameroon. But a vigorously determined performance produced a dramatic equalising goal from Robbie Keane in the 90th minute to help Ireland advance to the second stage of the finals.

Staunton's face broke into a smile when he recalled that exciting day after the draw in Montreux.

He said: "It brings back some memories alright, but that is in the past now. The only thing that matters now is how we are going to deal with the teams we have been drawn against in Euro 2008."

Ireland find themselves in a group of seven battling for two qualifying places for the 2008 finals in Austria/Switzerland against opponents who are very familiar, in some cases, and totally unknown to Ireland in others.

Germany and the Czech Republic represent opposition of the highest quality, teams composed of players of renowned skill and experience, well proven in the competitive sphere of the major championships at club and international level.

Wales will be viewed by Ireland with caution. Under Mark Hughes they made significant progress and with the experienced John Toshack now in charge they will be tough and unyielding in matches that will be disputed on 'local derby' terms.

Cyprus have never beaten Ireland in six competitive matches to date and Ireland have just beaten them twice in the World Cup qualifying series.

Finally, Ireland will meet opponents in Slovakia and San Marino they have never opposed before. Ireland had some experience of meeting Slovakia players when they formed a single unit with the team previously known as Czechoslovakia.

The draw represents an intriguing mix of different styles and characteristics and Staunton metaphorically scratched his head as he reviewed the group - "Obviously it is a very difficult group, we will be taking on some very strong teams.

"However, you can be sure the top teams will not be over-joyed at having to face Ireland as the fourth seeds and there are a couple of other groups there that look a lot harder."

Of vital importance will be the meeting to discuss the dates and venues of the matches. That meeting will take place on February 9th in Frankfurt.

It will be interesting to see whether Staunton will seek to play Germany quickly after the conclusion of the World Cup finals in June/July this year.

He said: "We will sit down next week and plan our strategy for the fixtures meeting. There can be advantages in playing a team immediately after they have competed in the World Cup finals, some teams can hit a dip in form.

"But it is not always that simple. If a team comes out of a World Cup finals tournament on a high that can make it much harder for their opponents."

Germany's manager, Jurgen Klinsmann, gave Staunton a warm handshake after the draw was completed and said he had good memories of meeting the Irish manager when he (Klinsmann) was playing in England with 'Spurs.

Said Klinsmann: "We have completely re-built our team from the last World Cup when we played Ireland. We now have almost an entire German team drawn from the U21 players from that time.

"I wish him (Staunton) good luck as a young manager but for me the focus has to be firmly on the World Cup finals next summer in Germany. All out attention must be directed in that direction for the moment."

John Toshack said: "It is a difficult draw for Wales but I will be starting this campaign believing it is a group we can qualify from.

"I wish Steve Staunton all the best in his first campaign as manager but obviously we will be hoping to win our two matches against Ireland. The two sets of players will know each other well from playing alongside each other in the Premiership."

The qualifying tournament is scheduled to start in September of this year. It will clearly be of importance to Ireland that matches against Germany and the Czech Republic, for instance, will not be played in Ireland until Croke Park becomes available.

Both represent matches of huge public appeal and with Croke Park likely to be available for matches on certain dates in March, October and November of 2007, the FAI will make every effort to push back the glamour ties against the top two until then.

It is obviously much too early to attempt to speculate on Ireland's prospects but a couple of points are worth considering - the Czech Republic will not view their matches against their former colleagues in Slovakia with any degree of comfort.

Rivalry between Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia has historically been ultra keen and it is highly likely they will lose points to one another. However with Wales so very familiar with Irish players, Steve Staunton's men will have competitive issues to occupy their own minds before they can speculate on their prospects.

[OwlsFan]

There you are - the FAI up to speed on their website :D :p

[Armando]

Germany away in Munich this October anyone? OKTOBERFEST!! It would be the happy death of us all.:)

[gspain]

Germany away in Munich this October anyone? OKTOBERFEST!! It would be the happy death of us all.:)

A doubleheader with Prague. :D