World Cup qualifying seeding (non Irish discussion)

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Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

England got Croatia :D

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Liked the cheers that went up when Croatia came out :D

Full Groups

Group 1 Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Albania, Malta

Group 2 Greece, Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, Latvia, Luxembourg

Group 3 Czech Republic, Poland, Northen Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia, San Marino

Group 4 Germany, Russia, Finland, Weles, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein

Group 5 Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia, Estonia

Group 6 Croatia, England, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Andorra

Group 7 France, Romania, Serbia, Lithuania, Austria, Faroe Islands

Group 8 Italy, Bulgaria, Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia, Montenegro

Group 9 Holland, Scotland, Norway, FYR Macedonia, Iceland

Group 1 & 9 look the toughest, imo.

2 looked the hardest to call for me. Greece/Israel/Switzerland/Latvia:confused:

9 is a very handy draw for the top two.

A handy draw for Macedonia too.

I'd give Israel a shout in their group too.

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Originally Posted by JC_GUFC

I'd give Israel a shout in their group too.

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I would as well. I think Greece have benefited in the rankings from an easy EURO 08 group. They didn't qualify for the WC either. I think a good few of their key players are approaching retirement age too.

Israel have an excellent home record in competitive games (only one loss to Croatia over two campaings I think).

I think Ireland's group is the group of death.

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Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

I would as well. I think Greece have benefited in the rankings from an easy EURO 08 group.

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Still won it very handily in fairness (five points dropped in 12 games). They're a good team.

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Originally Posted by dmandmythdledge

I think Ireland's group is the group of death.

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Don't know if I agree. Bulgaria are probably the weakest of the second seeds (not that they'll be easy obviously). Going from seven to nine groups though means less groups of death. Hard to see any fourth seeds making any sort of challenge, so it's two from three in each group, then take your luck in the play offs. We're just unlucky to get Montenegro, but there's only two million in the country, so I don't think they'd be any better than a fourth seed. Georgia are average fifth seeds and Italy will walk the group.