Slovakia - Czechs live on TV

[Dodge]

Seem to remember most people being happy we got Germany first, hoping for a world cup hangover. The thing I remember most about the lead up to the fixtures was Staunton saying he didn't want to go to Cyprus in June as "Irish people don't like the heat" Not sure but think he was hoping for no June games at all. When you take that stance, you're severely limiting your options. Not that I think it matters mind...

[geysir]

There was a sense that Germany weren't firing on all cylinders in Saturday's game but neither were we. A better team than us would have troubled them more.
The worse case scenario didn't happen, most people who were there saw an improved team playing a tough away fixture and took enough positives along with the dissapointments.
I had thought that the Czechs were better than Slovakia anyway, but a 0-3 win puts the pressure of not only beating them at home but beating Slovakia away just to stay level with the Czechs. By accounts Slovakia didn't play badly.This is asking us to achieve something which better Irish teams have not managed to do before - beat a higher seeded team away and then beat a top seeded team at home (which we haven't done in 5 years).
So Koller hasn't retired.

[NeilMcD]

Slovakia were terrible last night in my view. Their defending was shocking.

[geysir]

The accounts didn't mention that, just a bright start and a flurry of shots later on. So they were outplayed?

[Dodge]

Thoroughly. Czechs better in every area

[NeilMcD]

Well I saw the match and the Czechs could have won by a lot more than 3. Slovakia were so poor it was unreal, for a derby match. If we were that poor say against England at home these boards would be full of Staunton out.

[DmanDmythDledge]

I know it makes some sort of a difference but at the end of the day eveyone plays the same matches, if you don't do your job you're out, bar your rivals doing bad too. We've got to say we need to do x to qualify and not worry too much about what other teams are doing. If we end up being so engrosed in other games how can we be expected to win our own games?

[backstothewall]

If they are that bad, and they still hammered Cyprus, there can be no excuses. We need to win comfortably

[German_Tim]

I dont think the Czech result was a disaster for us.


In my opinion it was the worst case for Ireland cause a draw or even a Slovakia win would have been better for you.

The Czechs surprised me a lot in Bratislava...and it's clear now that you have to defeat them at home! I'll press my thumbs for you!