1:0

I reckon the plan before the game was to score at some point in the game and defend that lead, unfortunately because we scored so early, we decided to defend it for the rest of the game.

Despite playing the majority of the game in possession and in their half, we still struggled to make chances, mainly becasue they were massed behind the ball, Robbie in particular was anonymous for large parts of the hame. When we had the ball in the second half ,we were content to play at a walking pace into their half, whereas the Israelis ran right at us, could heat have been a factor?

With the French somehow managing to not score (watched highlights on Eurosport) we're still in a good position to qualify. But when the Swiss beat the Faroes, there will be four teams tied at the top of the table, we can't afford any more slip ups

The result didn't matter much today, as long as we didn't lose.
Win our home games and we top the group, might be a blessing in disguise,
We were the better team we played better football, we just sat on the lead.
Even if we had lost it would not have been a disaster.


Mind you I think it has been mentioned that the pitch was very narrow, I could not believe how small the pitch looked, it looked like an indoor 5-a-side pitch.

We went to defensive in the last few minutes but that is understandable,
we were unlucky, but if we has been more positive after the early lead
we might have killed off the game, but then again.....

Anyway its a good result.

We still seem to be suffering from McCarthyism, we go away against a team we should beat (and Israel looked a poor side tonight), start of playing well but then sit back. Near the end our players get the jitters, and we get a draw (or defeat) when victory was well within our grasp. Its all been the same, Skojpe, Croatia, Amsterdam (2000), even Basle last Sept, we go ahead and then muck up. I knew it was going to happen so switched off on the 86th min as I didnt want another Skojpe moment in my memory (I can still see that Macedonian corner floating in as tho it were yesterday).

It really is starting to cost us. Take Euro 2004 qualification, it should have been easy, Russia and Switzerland were poor but coz we couldnt put them away we slipped in the seedings and now face a more difficult group (with France in it). Irrespective of Germany '06, we cant afford to be slipping again or Euro 2008 wont happen.

Its been years since we beat a decent (or even half decent) team away in a proper game and it really does cost us. The big matches, France, Holland we do ok in and get draws, but against moderate teams (on a par or just above/below us) we underperform. We need to voodoo this hoodoo we've developed away from home or we never be in real contention.

its as you where. i would much rather be in our position with the home games to come. i thought it was a lifeless performance. no penetration.nothing. yer man Casey (spelling??) should have scored. it looked like we didnt want to score another goal.now as "the best fans in the world" we have got to get right behind the team and make lansdowne road a fortress.thought cunningham was rightly mom with given just behind him. was ipressed with finnan(excepth his set pieces). thought that carr had a nightmere.all in all we are still top of the table.

does anyone know of a place in dublin that will show isreal - france on wednesday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

Do you reckon Eurosport will have that on too? I was impressed with their coverage of the France v Switzerland game last night. Great camera work.

---

In comparisom to the camera work in The Ire v Israel game it was oscar bound. What was the story in Israel it was certainly art-house experimental stuff. Totally missed the Israeli free kick which they nearly scored from in the first half. The match on Wen is on setanta sports here in Ireland not sure bout eurosport. Anyone thnk thers's any chance the Swiss will mess up at home to Cyrus on Wen 3/4 nil I reckon and with a win for France or a draw leaves us third or even fourth in the group however with a game in hand over France and Israel.........Balls!