Will Croker be even half full? Does this game mean ANYTHING to Italy? Will this game be a damp squib?
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Will Croker be even half full? Does this game mean ANYTHING to Italy? Will this game be a damp squib?
We havent guaranteed a play off spot yet! and I would really rather not be banking on 3 points against Montenegro (should we lose to Italy god forbid) to secure it.
The Irish footballing public are not that docile......are they?
It's pretty anti-climatic compared to what it would have been if Bulgaria had drawn/beaten Italy. 0-0 written all over it, definitely a draw anyway.
we can still top the group. unlikely but you never know what could happen. every campaign theres at least one group that produces a set of mad results near the end to spring a surprise. did anyone really believe in 1987 that when we beat bulgaria 2 - 0 they would go on to lose to scotland and we would qualify??
It's Ireland playing a competitive game against the World Champions, when was the last time that happened? I'm certainly excited anyway. On the pitch a draw suits both parties so I'm sure it won't be a potential repeat of the drama of the Dutch game from a few years ago.
If it was anyone other than Italy we were playing I'd say maybe not, but....;)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-theories.htmlQuote:
Derby County v Juventus, 1973:
It is a scene immortalised in The Damned United: Brian Clough loudly informing the Italian press he would not speak to "cheating --------". Clough's first European adventure was mortally wounded by a 3-1 defeat in Italy after Archie Gemmill and Roy McFarland were booked – ruling them out of the return, which Derby won 1-0 – and Juventus substitute Helmut Haller accompanied referee Gerhard Schulenburg to his dressing room at half-time.
half full? I'll be shocked if attendance is anything less than 60,000Quote:
Originally Posted by an_ceannaire
Given their game against Cyprus on the following wednesday, probably not.Quote:
Originally Posted by an_ceannaire
Depends on the Italians to be honest, I'd imagine they'll set out their stall to not lose the game.Quote:
Originally Posted by an_ceannaire
Yes!!Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
wish i could believe that! well, whats the prediction this time around??Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Do you believe that Owls really believed?
Or did you beleive they really beleived that this one would end all other ones.
I think we'll win this one and the Montenegro game too. There is a slight chance of Cyprus drawing against Italy. Therefor, there is still alot to play for. I think it'll be a sellout. C'mon you boys in green. Remember Trappatoni is lucky.
We can dream when the dream is still alive :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Boru
If Ireland win the game it puts Italy under pressure to win against Cyprus.
They passed that test last time where they had get a result away to a Scottish side that had beaten France home and away. Who knows, on the day they might struggle against Cyprus but I doubth it. Even if we don't win the group it would be a great achievement to be in with a shout of winning it up until the final game, compared to being out of getting even 2nd place with 3 games to go in the last qualifiers.
If I have understood the seedings thread correctly there is still a slim chance of us making 2nd seeds for the next qualifiers but only if we win the next two games. So that is also something worth playing for.
will be very surprised if it is not sold out.
I just watch Ireland games. Don't really care who we're against.
Croker will be jammers.Italian FA have taken 1700 tickets, and will be in the Hogan side of the Hill, with a small gap for segregation, the rest of that end will be Paddys.These tickets are going onsale Friday 25th.Dead rubber with the current World champions, and every extended family member of every chipper in Dublin?....I don't think so!:D
a few months back in bari!Quote:
It's Ireland playing a competitive game against the World Champions, when was the last time that happened?
I believed enough to take the day off work to watch the game. There's a saying: where there's life, there's hope. I suppose the better word would be hoped rather than believed.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I also hope that we can take the number one place in this group but I also fear we could lose both of our last two games. Our away performances by and large have been better than the home ones.
Ha, indeed, but I meant at home what with the talk of half filled stadiums!Quote:
Originally Posted by Acornvilla
Well said!! And its not like they happen that often.Quote:
Originally Posted by boovidge
If we were out I would say it was boring but not now! There is much at stake, including future seeding. You all would be mad not to attend if financially feasible. Beating them puts a stamp on the Trap era and gives us some momentum heading into what will inevitably be a nightmare matchup such as Russia!:o
No such thing as a dead rubber of an ireland game and we can win the group and we can some second and we can come third, so how the hell is this a dead rubber at home to the world champions. Go back to bed and put away your spoon you clown.
Someone's came in off a session:DQuote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
Neil this is more like a post I'd do. Drink and post more often in future might liven the place up a bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
What do we need segregation for? The Italian FA said after their game in Bulgaria, that they won't be taking an allocation for their other away games.Quote:
Originally Posted by SUB of the day
Not that it will stop them though. With loads of them already here, they'll probably be in large areas of the home end, and the set up will be similiar to the Poland game.
Really some people on don't understand football at all . Dead Rubber is something that won't rub out your pencil marks .
..or a used condom?Quote:
Originally Posted by Claret Murph
An Ceannaire posts last week that his circle of mates would prefer an all-ireland win over a World Cup win.
This week he asks will Croker be anything more than half-full against Italy.
And yet everyone here falls for it, as if there's even a topic to be debated.
Uncompetitive or not I'd go along just to see the great man Andrea Pirlo in action. :)
Well lets just beat those World champions 1-0 then.
It won't do our players any harm to play against the World Champions.
Its my first international of the season having failed to make Sofia and so I'm not going to have the bubble of excitement that brings burst. I can't wait and I hope its an atmosphere and occasion to savour. 12th man and all that. A victory is very very possible here. That throws things open again going into our last game.
the game is not even a sell out!! The Rugby can put MORE people in Croker for provincial games or games against mediocre oppsition, and we cant fill it against the world champions...... football really has fallen from its perch in ireland :(
yaawnQuote:
Originally Posted by an_ceannaire
So! Sounds like you are more interested in seeing a crowd than supporting the team. In my opinion, the less event junkies that turn up, the better off we are.Quote:
Originally Posted by an_ceannaire
He is right though.Quote:
Originally Posted by lionelhutz
I'd be amazed if we struggle to sell out Croke Park against the reigning world champions. One of the biggest Irish games since 2002 and the Montenegro game could be the biggest of them all since Spain.
It is a struggle :confused:
Any indication of how many tickets have been sold?
Somewhere over 70,000 so far. It's a bit of a farce selling them in pairs with Montenegro but financially I can see where they're coming from. Selling 70,000 tickets twice is better then selling 80,000 for Italy and 50,000 for Montenegro for example, at least €500,000 extra ticket reciepts there.Quote:
Originally Posted by noddy102
Very harsh on fans outside Dublin though especially with the 7.00 kick off on Wednesday.
Then again, how often does Croker sell out for the GAA or the rugby, games against Scotland and Italy in the rugby have been well below capacity in teh past and if the Dubs aren't in Croker in the GAA it sells out for the finals and that's about it.
So if over 70,000 tickets have been sold, why are we even discussing this as a problem?
Where else on Saturday will there be 70,000+ fans watching a UEFA qualifier?
All the 6 nations games in Croke Park have been total sellouts incl Italy. I think Argentina was the only rugby game that didn't sellout.Quote:
Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er
All the Scotland rugby games in Dublin have been soldout for as long as I can recall. The early Italy games didn't but later ones in Lansdowne did.
I've been shocked at the number of people this week making arrangements to watch the game tomorrow in special places in Dublin (pubs and clubs). I've mentioned there are still tickets available but the pub seems more attractive.