Euro 2012 Qualifying Group B - General Discussion

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08/10/2011, 5:42 PM
Jaysus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Forget the seeding BS, give me a draw on Tuesday and I'll be happy to live to fight another day. We're a tiny country lads.

Big deal, Armenia are smaller.
08/10/2011, 5:43 PM
Murfinator

Wouldn't concern me at all losing him in current form, may actually enhance our team. If all of our squad strikers aren't capable of getting change from an Armenian defence we might as well not go to the Euros to begin with.
08/10/2011, 6:02 PM
tricky_colour

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scooby Doo

Armenia are going to be extremely up for this. We are really going to have to be at our best. No mistakes, absolute concentration and doggedness in midfield and ensuring that we don't waste clear chances like we have done enough times already in this group.

Check out the link below. The fans celebrate like they've won the bleedin Euros! That is how much they will want it on Tuesday.

http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24352805.html

It would be their first every major tournament, this is a bigger game for them than it is for us. I'd love for them to make it to the finals however there is one obvious problem with that.
08/10/2011, 6:49 PM
boovidge

They're just happy because they get to play the famous Boys in Green on tuesday.
08/10/2011, 7:38 PM
Cuyahoga

I was watching Football Focus this morning. I heard Gary Mc Allister say Ireland are nailed on for 2nd place and have done well to get to the play off. I wish I was as confident as Gary. Its going to be a tough night on Tuesday I feel.
08/10/2011, 8:03 PM
geysir

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuyahoga

I was watching Football Focus this morning. I heard Gary Mc Allister say Ireland are nailed on for 2nd place and have done well to get to the play off. I wish I was as confident as Gary. Its going to be a tough night on Tuesday I feel.

Usually those comments are made without knowledgeable respect for a team like Armenia.
Unlike many of us, I doubt if Gary has sat down in front of his screen and watched Armenia once since we beat them.

But maybe there is something to said about knowledge being a curse.
08/10/2011, 8:28 PM
ArdeeBhoy

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero

my concern is that the FAI / management team won't even be aware of this seeded / unseeded situation and just figure 'don't lose to armenia and we'll be in the playoffs'.

So why don't we all e-mail/Ph.the FAI to tell them?? Though seriously don't believe even they're that naive.

Their e-mail address is AFAIK, info@fai.ie and Ph. is 01 8999500 with various direct lines as derivations of the main no, but you need to change the last 2 digits.

Given his knowledge of the lingo, if an old Italian gentleman answers, don't bother trying to explain...
:rolleyes:
09/10/2011, 6:52 AM
Stuttgart88

Quote:

Originally Posted by geysir

Usually those comments are made without knowledgeable respect for a team like Armenia.
Unlike many of us, I doubt if Gary has sat down in front of his screen and watched Armenia once since we beat them.

But maybe there is something to said about knowledge being a curse.

I'd say he hasn't a rashers about Armenia's recent results. Or our recent performances.
09/10/2011, 3:35 PM
Dvo-Van

Armenia has already posted a 4-1 and 2-1 against Ireland U21. Same players on the pitch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
09/10/2011, 7:37 PM
Irwin3

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/091020...p-nations.html

We wouldn't be the only team with inept management at least...
09/10/2011, 8:31 PM
pineapple stu

Brilliant!
09/10/2011, 8:35 PM
Stuttgart88

Could you imagine the furore if anybody else had said "Africa is a jungle"?
10/10/2011, 9:37 AM
Charlie Darwin

Has anybody mentioned yet that this is Armenia's cup final?
10/10/2011, 9:44 AM
ArdeeBhoy

Or told the FAI...
10/10/2011, 10:47 AM
p2011

This is the situation for 2nd place teams at the mo'...
http://www.world-results.net/uefa/ranking.html#2011

Factoring out the teams already qualified gives us this ranking:
Portugal
Croatia
Greece
Sweden
France
Denmark
Serbia
Ireland
...i.e. Seven teams ahead of us.

Three of these teams can very safely be ruled out of the playoffs as one of Greece/Croatia will win a group, one of Portugal/Denmark will win a group, and Sweden/Denmark will very likely be the best second place team. It doesn't matter which team does what, three teams can be ruled out.

So that leaves four teams ahead of us in the rankings. In order to be one of the top four seeds we need one of France or Serbia not be involved in the playoffs... which is likely... i.e. France coming 1st in their group (relegating Bosnia to 2nd), or Serbia not to win in Slovenia (giving Estonia 2nd). Perhaps the combination best would be France qualifying and Serbia losing out to Estonia, giving us the one in four chance of facing Estonia to qualify. ;-)
10/10/2011, 10:55 AM
p2011

Afterthought:
If we fail to get seeded, I think we are doomed. So it's essential we get past Armenia and that either France or Serbia stay out of the playoffs. My reading.

There is a big gap between the non-seeded teams (who look beatable, Czechs/Scots/Estonia/Bosnia/Montenegro...) and the seeded teams (who are all better outfits than us, France/Serbia/Croatia/Greece/Sweden/Denmark/Serbia...).

I know Bosnia and Montenegro and the Czechs are not mugs, but they're beatable.
10/10/2011, 11:27 AM
Stuttgart88

The Serbs don't look as formidable as they were.
10/10/2011, 11:29 AM
Kingdom

Irwin3 and myself conspired to give all the scenarios on another thread, but that's fairly close P2011.

The three big matches of the night that will dictate our seeding status are:
Turkey V Azerbaijan
France vs Bosnia
&
Slovenia vs Serbia.

The other games Denmark v Portugal, Georgia v Greece and Croatia v Latvia, should go to plan.

provided we do our bit and beat Armenia....
10/10/2011, 11:36 AM
Kingdom

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

The Serbs don't look as formidable as they were.

If it came down to it, would you like to play them?
10/10/2011, 11:46 AM
p2011

@Kingdom:
Yes, now I see that on the other thread. Fair play, good to see we are all barking up the same tree.

I think Turkey will squeeze past Azerbaijan, but Turkey are behind us at the moment. Belgium and Scotland are goosed. Not sure whether I would prefer to see France out (for the ha ha factor) or to see Estonia in. Serbia will be hard pushed to win in Slovenia, but France in a big decider in the Stade de France probably means France will get the result they need...

Important we win tomorrow and stay ahead of the Czechs. Like I say, I think being a 2nd seed would be just too big an ask.

@Stuttgart88: True about Serbia, but still lethal striker (on his day) and proper footballers who can keep the ball and an intimidating away fixture.
10/10/2011, 12:26 PM
Stuttgart88

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingdom

If it came down to it, would you like to play them?

No, I'm rubbish.
10/10/2011, 12:35 PM
Kingdom

lol, it's lighter moments like that which make the lead in to an important game durable. That, and whisky.
10/10/2011, 1:01 PM
boovidge

Quote:

Originally Posted by p2011

Afterthought:
If we fail to get seeded, I think we are doomed. So it's essential we get past Armenia and that either France or Serbia stay out of the playoffs. My reading.

There is a big gap between the non-seeded teams (who look beatable, Czechs/Scots/Estonia/Bosnia/Montenegro...) and the seeded teams (who are all better outfits than us, France/Serbia/Croatia/Greece/Sweden/Denmark/Serbia...).

I know Bosnia and Montenegro and the Czechs are not mugs, but they're beatable.

Alan hansen today described montenegro as 'as good as a pub team'. How do these guys keep their jobs?
10/10/2011, 1:11 PM
Charlie Darwin

Because he's voicing the opinions of your average gob****e in a pub who honestly believes England will win the Euros, as he has for every other major championships since he learned to walk.
10/10/2011, 1:15 PM
geysir

Didn't Montenegro rest 3 players against England, hedging their bets in case they had to get a result in Switzerland?
10/10/2011, 1:20 PM
koneinc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Because he's voicing the opinions of your average gob****e in a pub who honestly believes England will win the Euros, as he has for every other major championships since he learned to walk.

Grating as it is, it does make it all the more enjoyable when the English team implodes
10/10/2011, 5:31 PM
mypost

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Denmark v Portugal, should go to plan.

What is the plan?

Looks like the classic winner-takes-all, 6-pointer to finish the group to me.
10/10/2011, 6:35 PM
French Toasht

The Portugal v Denmark one is an interesting one. Both sides can draw and advance as Denmark would get best second, this is presuming Sweden don't get a result in Holland. I hope Sweden get the best second place. Think they would be a more difficult assignment than Denmark if we end up unseeded.*

*If we end up in the play-offs in the first place.
10/10/2011, 7:18 PM
mypost

Sweden are at home. Holland have nothing to play for. If we got them, it would be a menu starter for the next campaign.
10/10/2011, 7:22 PM
geysir

Holland don't play a dead rubber game. Sweden will have their work cut out to get a result.
11/10/2011, 2:24 AM
DannyInvincible

I've only had the chance to skim through this briefly but am I correct in thinking that if we beat Armenia and France beat Bosnia & Herzegovina then we'll be seeded for the play-off draw? Even if Serbia do manage to beat Slovenia away?

At the minute, of the teams yet to have qualified (with the exception of Russia who should beat Andorra at home and qualify top of our group) ranked ahead of us for the purposes of seeding, we have seven in Serbia, Denmark, France, Sweden, Greece, Croatia and Portugal. That number will be whittled down to four no matter what happens as three of them will have to qualify automatically from Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Croatia or Portugal. That would leave four ahead of us as things stand in Serbia, France, Greece/Croatia and Portugal/Denmark/Sweden (two of these three must qualify automatically, either as group winners or best overall runners-up, if I'm not mistaken). If France beat Bosnia, we'll move into that fourth slot. Is this correct or have I missed something?

Obviously, if we draw, that will complicate matters and we may have to rely on Slovenia holding or beating Serbia, France beating Bosnia, and Turkey being held by or losing to Azerbaijan. Maybe even the Czechs drawing with or losing to Lithuania?
11/10/2011, 8:34 AM
BonnieShels

Yes you are.
11/10/2011, 9:03 AM
geysir

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Is this correct or have I missed something?

If we do win, afaiu the Czech Rep and Turkey can overtake us in that UEFA ranking table, if they better our winning difference by 2 goals.
11/10/2011, 9:06 AM
mypost

Current Seedings

Pot 1
Croatia
Sweden
Ireland
Bosnia

Pot 2
Scotland
Belgium
Montenegro
Estonia

There will probably be a change or two before the final list is known.
11/10/2011, 9:13 AM
zero

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I've only had the chance to skim through this briefly but am I correct in thinking that if we beat Armenia and France beat Bosnia & Herzegovina then we'll be seeded for the play-off draw? Even if Serbia do manage to beat Slovenia away?

At the minute, of the teams yet to have qualified (with the exception of Russia who should beat Andorra at home and qualify top of our group) ranked ahead of us for the purposes of seeding, we have seven in Serbia, Denmark, France, Sweden, Greece, Croatia and Portugal. That number will be whittled down to four no matter what happens as three of them will have to qualify automatically from Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Croatia or Portugal. That would leave four ahead of us as things stand in Serbia, France, Greece/Croatia and Portugal/Denmark/Sweden (two of these three must qualify automatically, either as group winners or best overall runners-up, if I'm not mistaken). If France beat Bosnia, we'll move into that fourth slot. Is this correct or have I missed something?

Obviously, if we draw, that will complicate matters and we may have to rely on Slovenia holding or beating Serbia, France beating Bosnia, and Turkey being held by or losing to Azerbaijan. Maybe even the Czechs drawing with or losing to Lithuania?

that's correct i believe. i have not seen this mentioned in any media though, only on web forums.
11/10/2011, 9:15 AM
zero

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I've only had the chance to skim through this briefly but am I correct in thinking that if we beat Armenia and France beat Bosnia & Herzegovina then we'll be seeded for the play-off draw? Even if Serbia do manage to beat Slovenia away?

At the minute, of the teams yet to have qualified (with the exception of Russia who should beat Andorra at home and qualify top of our group) ranked ahead of us for the purposes of seeding, we have seven in Serbia, Denmark, France, Sweden, Greece, Croatia and Portugal. That number will be whittled down to four no matter what happens as three of them will have to qualify automatically from Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Croatia or Portugal. That would leave four ahead of us as things stand in Serbia, France, Greece/Croatia and Portugal/Denmark/Sweden (two of these three must qualify automatically, either as group winners or best overall runners-up, if I'm not mistaken). If France beat Bosnia, we'll move into that fourth slot. Is this correct or have I missed something?

Obviously, if we draw, that will complicate matters and we may have to rely on Slovenia holding or beating Serbia, France beating Bosnia, and Turkey being held by or losing to Azerbaijan. Maybe even the Czechs drawing with or losing to Lithuania?

i'm not sure if france need to beat bosnia. a draw will see france top, and bosnia second. we're ahead of bosnia in the rankings so that would remain the case - if we win.

http://www.world-results.net/uefa/ranking.html#2011

i have not seen this mentioned in any media though, only on web forums.
11/10/2011, 9:53 AM
geysir

Won't there be at least one 'upset' as regards getting through to the playoffs out of Armenia, Scotland, Estonia and Belgium?
I wonder which one it will be :)
11/10/2011, 10:00 AM
Sullivinho

I fancy Slovenia to torpedo the Serbs, to Estonia's delight.
11/10/2011, 10:38 AM
geysir

Then we are off the hook?
11/10/2011, 10:59 AM
Kingdom

Quote:

Originally Posted by mypost

What is the plan?

Looks like the classic winner-takes-all, 6-pointer to finish the group to me.

A 0-0 wouldn't surprise me.

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