Euro 2012 Qualifying Group B - General Discussion

Saw most of the Russia v Bulgaria game, it was bit drab to be honest and the goal was somewhat of a freak free kick which the keeper messed up. He did well to stop Dzagoev in the second half who had a good run and shot and Pavyluchenko could have scored following that, Zyrianov had some decent shots from distance. The heat seemed to slow the game down (no idea why they didnt play later in the evening when the sun wouldnt have been as direct), Bulgaria offered very little upfront so it's hard to say how the Russian defence was as it was never really tested.

Highlights are here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtmGXqcA7X0

Slovakia highlights here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-OZtpUIfnY

We have to win our opening two games to set us up nicely for the rest of the qualifying.

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Originally Posted by Irish_Praha

I don't know the rest of the fixtures but if Russia and Slovakia don't play eachother in the last two rounds this group could be virtually decided on the day we play Russia.

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They do play each other on the second last day, and the second day next month.

The dream is 9 points got by the time we go to Bratislava/Trnava/Zilina/Mongolia, but the probability is we're looking at a win against Andorra and maybe two other draws, before heading out there. Don't be surprised if the group goes down to the 6pm shootout on the final Tuesday with the three big guns fighting it out for the prize.

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Originally Posted by mypost

The dream is 9 points got by the time we go to Bratislava/Trnava/Zilina/Mongolia,

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Supposedly this game is scheduled to take place in Zilina now, contrary to initial plans to have it in Bratislava: http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soc...276763488.html

That's 125 miles away from Bratislava. The FAI have appealed to UEFA and the Slovakian football association to move it back to Bratislava, however, in order to accommodate those Irish fans who've already made their travel arrangements to there.

The game is still in Bratislava until such time as UEFA allow the Slovaks to change it. Personally I don't think they will. It's too late in the day now for that to happen, and they will strongly consider the FAI's position.

Here are the Slovakia, Armenia and Macedonia squads:

Slovakia
GK: Ján Mucha (Everton), Dušan Kuciak (FC Vaslui), Dušan Perniš (Dundee United)

DF: Peter Pekarík (VfL Wolfsburg), Martin Škrtel (Liverpool), Tomáš Hubočan (Zenit Petrohrad), Kornel Saláta (ŠK Slovan Bratislava), Radoslav Zabavník (1. FSV Mainz), Marek Čech (West Bromwich Albion)

MF: Miroslav Karhan (1. FSV Mainz), Mário Pečalka (MŠK Žilina), Juraj Kucka (AC Sparta Praha), Zdeno Štrba (Škoda Xanthi), Kamil Kopúnek (Unattached), Marek Hamšík (SSC Napoli), Marek Sapara (MKE Ankaragücü), Vladimír Weiss (Glasgow Rangers), Miroslav Stoch (Fenerbahce)

FW: Stanislav Šesták (MKE Ankaragücü), Erik Jendrišek (Schalke 04), Róbert Vittek (MKE Ankaragücü), Filip Hološko (Besiktas), Tomáš Oravec (MŠK Žilina)


Armenia

GK: Roman Berezovski (Khimki), Gevorg Kasparov (Mika), Stepan Ghazaryan (Banants)

DF: Robert Arzumanyan (Randers), Hrayr Mkoyan (Mika), Ararat Arakelyan (Banants), Artur Yuspashyan (Pyunik), Aghvan Mkrtchyan (Mika), Sargis Hovsepyan (Pyunik), Levon Hayrapetyan (Unattached), Artak Yedigaryan (Pyunik), Hovhannes Hambardzumyan (Banants)

MF: Karlen Mkrtchyan (Pyunik), Masis Voskanyan (Rouselare), Davit Manoyan (Pyunik), Artur Edigaryan (Pas FC), Artak Dashyan (Metallurg Donetsk), Edgar Malakyan (Pyunik), Levon Pachajyan (Sanat Naft), Artak Aleksanyan (Ural)

FW: Samuel Melkonyan (Banants), Gevorg Ghazaryan (Pyunik), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Metallurg Donetsk), Markos Pizzelli (Pyunik), Edgar Manucharyan (Pyunik), Yura Movsisyan (Randers), Hovhannes Goharyan (Pyunik), Artak Grigoryan (Ulysess)


Macedonia

GK: Edin Nuredinoski (Ethnikos Achna), Darko Tofiloski (MFK Košice), Martin Bogatinov (FK Rabotnički)

DF: Aleksandar Todorovski (FK Rad), Igor Mitreski (Neftchi Baku), Boban Grnčarov (APOEL), Nikolče Noveski (1. FSV Mainz), Vanče Šikov (Ethnikos Achna), Goran Popov (Dynamo Kyiv), Aleksandar Lazevski (FK Partizan)

MF: Veliče Šumulikoski (Sibir Novosibirsk), Filip Despotovski (Volyn Lutsk), Slavčo Georgievski (Neftchi Baku), Mario Gjurovski (FK Vojvodina), Armend Alimi (NK Istra 1961), Agim Ibraimi (NK Maribor)

FW: Goran Pandev (Inter Milan), Ilčo Naumoski (SV Mattersburg), Aco Stojkov (FC Aarau), Ivan Tričkovski (APOEL), Stevica Ristić (FC Bunyodkor), Blaže Ilijoski (Gangwon)

Great Scott, not Aghvan Mkrtchyan! Players with few vowels are known to have big games in big spots says Tommy Smith.
I thought Velice Sumulikoski had retired from Int'l play do to acquiring Polio. And supposedly Boban Grncarov is considering skipping the game all together to go skiing in Nepal.

I know a lad called Mkrtchyan. Nice man. Not that hard to pronounce once you get used to it.

Not as many of the Slovak squad play for Zilina as I expected. They just qualified for the CL proper. Slovak football is clearly on the up these days.

By all accounts young Weiss was excellent for Rangers last weekend.

Yep. He came on as a sub for last 25 minutes. Set up Rangers 2nd in a 3-0 win at Easter Road. Looked decent enough from what I saw of him.

Weiss is a fantastic little player. Didn't realise he had gone to Rangers, and I'm not sure whether he'll feature from the start against us. Skrtel has started well for Liverpool this season, he'll mark Doyle I'd imagine. That could be a key one.
How we handle karhan & Hamšík in midfield, and Vittek and Sestak up front will decide how we fare. I think we can do damage to them at the back.

who would you prefer to have? andorra san marino or the faroes? who would u say are the weakest?

San Marino are the weakest, Andorra are a bit better but the Faroes have much more quality than them two.

The last thing we would need is facing Brian Kerr and the Faroes.
Word is, the Faroes are all ready to harpoon the next best thing, the North, when they come to visit in October.

are they really that decent? i can recall the north drawing 1-1 with barbados so the faroes have a shot but there not good enough to beat the north are they?

They were leading Estonia (?) until injury time last month, but conceded 2 goals in injury time.

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Originally Posted by sean r

who would you prefer to have? andorra san marino or the faroes? who would u say are the weakest?

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Andorra and San Marino are much of a muchness. The Faroes are better than both.

The Andorrans 10-0-0 formation is a sight to behold. Imagine them coming to Dublin and taking the lead using such tactics! :D

Oh, wait...

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/3042/noooooofk.jpg

All credit to the Andorrans. Anyone who's capable of walking at a full 30 degree angle deserves all of our respect.

All them mountains. It's normal to them.