Preliminary Draw of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

[christo]

Delighted with his role in moving the Faeroes up a pot. That it contributes to the fall of Wales is also welcome.

My thoughts exactly

I'd be looking at Greece, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Estonia and Wales as the perfect draw.

How does the qualifying work this time round?

[Wolfie]

My thoughts exactly

I'd be looking at Greece, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Estonia and Wales as the perfect draw.

World Cup qualifying rules dictate that the cohort of teams above are reserved for England.

[Yard of Pace]

The Asian campaign has already started. There are prelims this week with some big countries involved (all bar the Koreas, Australia, China and Japan I think)

Carribean lads are well underway too. Still digesting the aggregate hammering The US Virgin Islands gave the British Virgin Islands a couple of weeks ago....

I don't get why everyone thinks Kerr would love to take points off us. He's a proud Irishman as far as I can see and I don't think he'd ever hope to hinder our chances to qualify for something, despite what happened with him and the FAI. He's not that bitter, imo.

[tetsujin1979]

Carribean lads are well underway too. Still digesting the aggregate hammering The US Virgin Islands gave the British Virgin Islands a couple of weeks ago....

I don't get why everyone thinks Kerr would love to take points off us. He's a proud Irishman as far as I can see and I don't think he'd ever hope to hinder our chances to qualify for something, despite what happened with him and the FAI. He's not that bitter, imo.

Are you serious? I struggle to think of a single article he wrote since leaving the job that wasn't laced with poison

[AlaskaFox]

Carribean lads are well underway too. Still digesting the aggregate hammering The US Virgin Islands gave the British Virgin Islands a couple of weeks ago.....

Just has a look at the results, Aruba v Saint Lucia ended 6-6 on aggregate after two 4-2 wins. There's something you don't see every day.

[ArdeeBhoy]

If we're worried about Kerr or the Faroes, then we might as well withdraw, FFS.


Even I'm not that pessimistic.

[Yard of Pace]

Are you serious? I struggle to think of a single article he wrote since leaving the job that wasn't laced with poison

His match previews/reviews in the Irish Times often did betray some bitterness, that's true. But he always came across as a fan of the Irish team and wanted us to do well. I'd say his success with the Faroes has erased that bitterness a fair amount. He got a raw deal from the FAI and from the fans and he was entitled to feel peeved. I think he's restored his reputation now somewhat and I don't for a second think that he'd really really hope to take points off us, if we ended up in their group. (Of course, if we're dropping points to the Faroes we'd probably not be good enough to qualify anyway)

[culloty82]

Don't forget the mammoth 16-game South American round robin will take two years to complete also. Interesting that Montenegro have climbed all the way from the last to the second pot, I'd happily take Norway, Slovenia, Albania, Faroes and San Marino.

[Hibs4Ever]

Would like:

Norway
Slovakia
N.Ireland
Estonia
San Marino

[CraftyToePoke]

I don't for a second think that he'd really really hope to take points off us

I would disagree there, Id say he would relish the chance, and it would boost his standing further, which will be his priority these days, not our campaign. And if he managed it, good luck to him, as sore as I'd be about it.

[Sullivinho]

Would like:

Norway
Slovakia
N.Ireland
Estonia
San Marino

I'd take that, even though Estonia seem to have improved of late. Two competitive games against the North of Ireland would be tasty. Wouldn't fear Greece from the top pot either. Ditto for Kerr's Faroes. I'd worry more about a Staunton-fueled Liechtenstein.

[mypost]

We qualified for 1990, 1994 and 2002 coming out of possibly the toughest of groups each time. I would love us to get Spain as our first seed (as in 90 and 94).

We got out of the 1990 group by 4 points and 12 goals. It wasn't the hardest group.

In saying that, I don't want Spain this time.

[Closed Account 2]

I've an excel sheet that does a random draw, if anyone wants it I can send via email / pm.

Here are the three last random draws I did:

Croatia
Sweden
REP IRELAND
Albania
Macedonia
Kazakhstan

Italy
Turkey
REP IRELAND
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Malta

Netherlands
Serbia
REP IRELAND
Poland
Cyprus
Wales

First seeds I'd like Norway, Greece or Croatia, even Italy at a push. I really wouldnt want Germany and to a lesser extent Holland.

2nd pot I'd take Slovenija and Denmark, I wouldnt want Russia or France (except for revenge on the latter), possibly not Serbia but the rest I would be happy enough with.

As were in the 3rd block I'm glad we avoid Switzerland and Israel as we dont have a great history against them. Bosnia and Belgium are two teams I'm happy to avoid as well. In pot 4 I'd take Lithuania or Scotland, of the rest I'd want to avoid Romania but wouldnt be devastated if we got them.

In pot 5 I wouldnt want Armenia or Finland and in Pot 6 Wales or Iceland, but you would hope to be able to beat all of the pot 5/6 teams anyway.

[Crosby87]

Is Borat the manager of Kazakhstan? My sister. She is prostitute.

[Deckydee]

To be honest I would love to get England. I have nothing against them personally, I visit there on a regular basis and could never ever say anything bad about them.

We've had some cracking matches over the years and there is always that something (as the french say, a certain "je ne sais quoi") when we play them.

My group:

England
Sweden
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Lithuania
Azerbaijan
Luxembourg