World Cup draw

[onephillyhughes]

Balls :(

[gustavo]

could have been worse , balls getting montenegro , bulgaria are beatable all in all not too bad .

[Schlooooomp]

Option for a double header, Montenegro and Bulgaria, the don't seem too far apart :D

[Bluechip]

Would have preferred France or Holland to Italy. Either way :rolleyes:

[jebus]

Group 2 is one of the easier groups I've ever seen in a European draw, Group 5 however :o

[plasticpitch]

Our group is not too bad, well to think we could have got turkey, sweden, russia or england as 2nd seeds we didnt do too bad.
chance to avenge the Cyprus debacle. the player s will get the chance to prove they weren't talking through their backsides, also we get a good gage on how the new manager will be performing with the team

[sligoman]

Good group. If we don't finish minimum of 2nd then every Ireland player should retire as they'd obviously not be good enough:).

[Maroon 7]

The bad and the good of the draw.

Bad.

Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro are seeds below us that you would prefer to have avoided.

Good.

Bulgaria are one of the 2nd seeds that most teams wanted.

2nd place is definitely possible.

[gilberto_eire]

shame really..... was reading live updates on the Guardian site and it has before englands group...''easiest group''....hope they dont qualify out of it so!!

would have been nice to have gotten Greece, Poland or the Czechs again but at least we got a moderate 2nd seed though and we have had harder groups in the past!!

[Cymro]

I genuinely feel sympathy for you with that draw. Every single game will be difficult. Good luck fellas, I reckon you'll need it to get out of that.

Our draw was looking good until we got Russia and Germany. No chance of qualifying, realistically, but 3rd place is achievable.

[eekers]

bulgarians lost only one game in their qualifying campaign (away to holland) and italy are italy. we're gonna have to be really organised to get anything out of this group. and we need a manager with a good defensive record

[onephillyhughes]

What about Montenegro? The only bottom seeds that will be strong IMO. Just our luck...

[keenanboy]

Not a bad draw, all those teams are well beatable with the right man in place (bar Italy who should top the group). We have a fantastic chance to qualify for South Africa I'm delighted. Glad we didn't get Group 9 I think only 1 comes out of that would that be right?

[Partizan]

now, who flies to Bulgaria, Montenegro and Georgia?

Having lived and travelled to the Balkans many times, Czech Airlines have flights to Sofia via Prague daily. To get to Montenegro I used to get the train from Belgrade or fly JAT (Yugoslav Airways) to Podgorica. I think Czech Airlines also now do flights to Podgrica.

Its JAT or Czech Airlines.

[ofjames]

we need to arrange one of the italy games as the first or second fixture next september. That way we will have some chance of getting a result if they have a post-euro 2008 hangover. Especially cos they will probably replace donadoni after that tournament. One would think that a team with a new coach could be more vunerable.

Also, two other points:

could they lose some of their big players after Euro 2008 through retirement??

and given the way they defended corners against the scots. lets hope our new manager puts an emphasis on set pieces

[SuperDave]

northern ireland have five ryanair destinations, we have one. everywhere in their group can be reached easily from dublin with ryanair and ours are mostly miles away. these away trips are going to be difficult.

[teckno]

Happy enough lads!!

Montenegro - potentially the strongest of the last pot however should be capable of beating them.

Georgia - Tricky trip Scotland fell apart there.

Cyprus- we know what to expect here and more than capable of 6 points.

Bulgaria - Berbatov, Martin Petrov, and Stilian Petrov, again beatable were far stronger 2nd seeds there.

Italy - we have a good record against Italy and I would not fear them at all.

Decent draw and 2nd spot is without doubt in our grasp!!

[Naitch]

Disaster group for us, i can see it going the way of the Euro group with Italy and Bulgaria this time. Italy and Montenegro will prob be the trips fans go on

[fergalr]

What about Montenegro? The only bottom seeds that will be strong IMO. Just our luck...

What's the downside? Its the same for everyone else in the group.

[lopez]

It's 'mare group. What's worse, being so competitive that if we finish second, we might end up as the ninth worst second team that won't even get into the playoffs (I believe this is the case - ninth worse - but I'm open to correction).

[DaveyCakes]

Happy enough lads!!


Cyprus- we know what to expect here and more than capable of 6 points.



:eek:

[RiffRaff]

Thats good draw for me and I dont see it as a forgone conclusion that Italy will finish top - theyre not all that good. We should fancy our chances against any of those teams.

[Maroon 7]

I genuinely feel sympathy for you with that draw. Every single game will be difficult. Good luck fellas, I reckon you'll need it to get out of that.

Our draw was looking good until we got Russia and Germany. No chance of qualifying, realistically, but 3rd place is achievable.

Not sure why you have sympathy for us. I think the Welsh group is much tougher. Very little chance of getting through that.

I think we have a decent chance of getting 2nd place anyway. Probably a straight fight between ourselves and Bulgaria which I would have taken beforehand. The lower seeds in our group are difficult but we're still better than them and no doubt they'll take some points of Bulgaria as well as us.

[SuperDave]

It's 'mare group. What's worse, being so competitive that if we finish second, we might end up as the ninth worst second team that won't even get into the playoffs (I believe this is the case - ninth worse - but I'm open to correction).

yeah, i reckon the worst second placed team will be one who wasn't actually seeded second... like us.

[Schumi]

We could make the play-off from this all going well. Italy will likely walk away with the group and Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro probably won't challenge for qualification so it's between us and Bulgaria for the play-off IMO. Cyrpus and Montenegro are awkward draws but an Ireland team playing well should get past them without dropping too many points. It's a far easier group than the last one anyway.


Our draw was looking good until we got Russia and Germany.Most draws look good until you get the teams from the top two pots!

[Fergie's Son]

Not quite Group 2 or Group 9 but it's doable.

[onephillyhughes]

Just like we were better than Cyprus, Israel, Switzerland...

Nothings ever taken for granted with Ireland and I'm certainly not over confident of getting out of this group. We don't even know who'll me managing us!

[Schlooooomp]

Unless I'm mistaken, we could hardly beat any team in the last campaign, it will take a vast improvement to get out of this group, the choice of manager is critical.

[Partizan]

Montenegro use the Euro as their currency but its getting rather pricey (when i was there in 2004). For the beer try Niksicsko Pivo (Montenegrin beer), absolutley lovely when ice cold. I get the all whole time when I'm in Belgrade.

Its a cinch getting around. Public transport in ex Yugo countries is quite good.

[Blue-Army]

What about Montenegro? The only bottom seeds that will be strong IMO. Just our luck...
Thats what I was thinking...although I have only actually heard of one of their players...If we can't beat them home and away we're in big trouble...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montenegro_national_football_team

[Jerry The Saint]

It's 'mare group. What's worse, being so competitive that if we finish second, we might end up as the ninth worst second team that won't even get into the playoffs (I believe this is the case - ninth worse - but I'm open to correction).

Good point - group should be a lot more open than most so 2nd is likely to have one of the lower points total.

Shocked at the optimism on here, just because people don't rate Bulgaria. There is a chance that we could finish bottom of this group :eek:

(In fact, if we'd beaten Cyprus in Croker and Staunton had stayed in charge there was a very strong likelihood that this would happen :()

[Aaron]

F****n Cyprus:mad:only good for their spuds!!!

[Schlooooomp]

Montenegro qualified for the last world cup, though that was part of Serbia and Montenegor :D. In that competition, only one of the players was Montenegran, not sure if that was politics or ability though.

[fergalr]

Not quite Group 2 or Group 9 but it's doable.

Agree 100%. From a 3rd seed perspective, those are the only two easier groups. Could have been a lot worse.

[Stuttgart88]

I don't know why people wanted Bulgaria given how well they've done in the last year.

I can see us doing something similar to the last campaign. Serious improvement needed.

Having a good manager and all our best players fit is essential. Then, we might just get second place.

A real litmus test of whether the new regime is any better than the last one is obviously Cyprus.

Bring back Gary Doherty for Georgia. If they watch rugby they'll feel they owe us one.

[cheifo]

Very tricky Group but everybody is going to take points of each other.Some horrible away trips but it will all depend on whether our new manager prepares the team correctly.Tricky but not great teams.

[Noelys Guitar]

If the new manager brings consistent improvement then we have a half decent chance of finishing second. Bulgaria drew with Albania twice in their qualifying group otherwise they would have qualified for the Euro's so won't be easy.

[sligoman]

Anyone know when the fixture list will be out?

[Superhoops]

Not a bad draw, all those teams are well beatable with the right man in place (bar Italy who should top the group). We have a fantastic chance to qualify for South Africa I'm delighted. Glad we didn't get Group 9 I think only 1 comes out of that would that be right?
You do realise that only the group winners qualify for finals automatically? Finishing second only gets you into a play-off and then only if you are one of the best 8 runners up.

[Superhoops]

It's 'mare group. What's worse, being so competitive that if we finish second, we might end up as the ninth worst second team that won't even get into the playoffs (I believe this is the case - ninth worse - but I'm open to correction).

Agree totally. Several banana skins in there for us especially away.

[Red&White Rover]

As i see it:

On our day, we are able to beat any of them at home, we need to ensure we get at least 16 points off Georgia, Cyprus and Montenegro and we need to get a draw away to Bulgaria.


Do that and we're set...

UNfortunately though, every away trip there is a very tough one...

[eekers]

bulgaria have just got Penev back to manage them very recently. he managed them before between 92 and 96 their previous glory years.
we have no manager and the shocking possibility of venables, brady or o'leary

[Blue-Army]

Montenegro qualified for the last world cup, though that was part of Serbia and Montenegor :D. In that competition, only one of the players was Montenegran, not sure if that was politics or ability though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montenegro_national_football_team

Look at their squad....vucinic of Roma is the only one I've heard of anyway...Serbia have a much stronger squad...

[onephillyhughes]

Theres a serious chance we don't win any away games in this group.

I see Montenegro's star man plays for Roma!! :O

[Cymro]

Not sure why you have sympathy for us. I think the Welsh group is much tougher. Very little chance of getting through that.

I think we have a decent chance of getting 2nd place anyway. Probably a straight fight between ourselves and Bulgaria which I would have taken beforehand. The lower seeds in our group are difficult but we're still better than them and no doubt they'll take some points of Bulgaria as well as us.

I think we can finish above Finland and nab the 3rd spot. Qualification was going to be very difficult anyway, but at least we got teams from the bottom 2 pots that we should be able to beat twice, making it a play-off against Finland for 3rd.

As I said Germany/Russia not the best of 1st/2nd seeds but I am very relieved we don't have to go to Montenegro, or Cyprus again, or Georgia where Scotland lost.

[Torn-Ado]

Montenegro was the worst possible team in the bottom group.

Personally I dont think we'll do the double over any of these teams.

[shaneker]

Not happy. As soon as the group took shape before we were drawn I was praying we wouldn't be in it, just our luck.

Montenegro are only bottom seeds by default, nasty away trip.
Georgia are just tough bas*ards.
Cyprus. God damn Cyprus.
Bulgaria are better than us and will be expecting to beat us home and away. Should be a good trip though.
Italy we will probably draw with at home but they will surely run away with this group.

All in all, thoroughly worrying. Who would want the Ireland job now?

[Schlooooomp]

He is just average though, remeber him playing for Roma against United last year and I wasn't overly impressed. Should be even less of a problem playing with players of lesser ability.

They will still probably take points from us.

[Stuttgart88]

Not one northern or western european team to play. Bad news in my opinion.

[Schlooooomp]

Damn, I thought Pavarotti had come back from the grave, until I looked up and seen 3 thin black dudes singing.