Sorry to be a pedantic ar$e but Cameroon went out in 82 undefeated 3 draws with Italy, Poland & Peru. They went out to eventual finalists Italy on goals scored.Quote:
Originally Posted by Feech
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Sorry to be a pedantic ar$e but Cameroon went out in 82 undefeated 3 draws with Italy, Poland & Peru. They went out to eventual finalists Italy on goals scored.Quote:
Originally Posted by Feech
Switzerland would be interesting opposition just as a real test of our improvement since they got the better of us under Kerr.
2 trips to basle is quite enough thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
ok, we have improved massively, but still.
lets hope luxembourg do greece and israel get into the play-offs, now they are sh1te, and are a team that we truly deserve revenge over.
Erm, didn't we go out of WC2002 undefeated?
And Euro '92 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Eu...ifying_Group_7)Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
The record the Swiss set at WC 2006 was the first team to ever go out without conceding a goal.
I just had a look at the current world rankings - when did Israel get so high?! They're currently at 22nd.:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by magnumpi
I was going to suggest that, were Greece to fall by the wayside, Ukraine would have a decent chance of becoming the 4th seed, but now i'm not so sure.
Probably totally irrelevant though, virtually no chance of Luxembourg beating Greece. So maybe i should just stop rambling on now..:o
Pretty sure Scotland went out in 74 undefeated as well with 2 draws and a win. Missed out by a goal to Brazil on goal difference.Quote:
Originally Posted by endabob1
They beat Greece twice. I'd rather our improvement was tested at the WC next summer and we play Greece instead!Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
It's fantasy talk about Switzerland being in the play offs.
Still, it might be a good game if the Israelis get a goal
Quote:
Originally Posted by craig7042
Personally I'd prefer a 1st leg at home. Get a 1 goal lead and hang on for dear life away. We are well accustomed to picking up 'credible' draws away to top teams - Holland, France, Italy
Sorry all - if this was posted already - i just didnt want to go through all the prev posts - comment from arshavin:
"It is a pity Greece is one of the seeded teams. Talking about our possible opponents I can say that I have enough of British football that is why I don’t want to meet Ireland."
it all depends. id prefer the 1st leg at home aswell only if we dont concede an away goal. even a 0-0 is ok and try and get the away goal yourself in the 2nd leg. if were at home 2nd and havent managed to get an away goal then it could be curtains.Quote:
Originally Posted by Polster
I think ourselves (maybe along with Bosnia) will be the two unseeded teams that France, Russia, Greece/Swiss and Portugal want want to play. I'm sure they will be hoping for a match vs Slovenia/Slovakia.Quote:
Originally Posted by back of the net
Yes Slovenia Slovakia would be the draw the big boys would want.
I'm not sure they'd be crapping themselves at the prospect of facing us over two legs, but they'd prefer it less to the Slovenians I'm sure.
Under the system Trap plays I think we would be best playing Greece or France. Portugal on their day can be very good and I dont think our system would work so well against them. I know they havent played well recently but over a two legged play off they just have way too many skillful individuals and our record isnt great against them either.
France have a strong team but I think we could frustrate them and their manager. I certainly would back Trap to win the tactical battle there.
Greece, for obvious reasons the poorest of the four, but somehow I think we perform better against teams that we are the obvious underdogs. I think the games against Greece would be dour but who cares if we get through.
Russia, the away trip would be tough, I would be fearful of Arshavin. They looked quite impressive at Euro 2008, although a bit porous at the back. If we could come away from Moscow undefeated then we would have a chance. Id def prefer to play the first leg away in this tie over any other of the potential ties.
I do not want Russia....MY PREDICTION IS WE GET RUSSIA
We won't get Greece, Ukraine will. Sepp won't won't to risk Ukraine coming up against France, Portugal or Russia.
Thank you. Good to see you respond so thoughfully and intelligently to the points raised.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
(Apologies for getting the undefeated thing messed up, the corrected version sounds even better though!)
They didnt conceed a goal in the World Cup by playing the most negative football I've ever seen - and I've seen 2nd division matches in Armenia. It was a total misery to watch them stagnate every game they played in, a trait which they resumed at Euro 2008. I think Benaglio is a good keeper but apart from that I would fear no one in their squad. If Luxemburg can beat them 2-1 away we should relish the chance to dish out revenge should it arise. They are reeling out Hakan Yakin again at 32 and with dodgy knees, he can only last about 45 mins.
Wales thought that too in 2003. Having got a draw in Moscow, they lost the return leg.Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
Football wise, they aren't that fearful, they've just come out of a much easier group than ours. Climate and travel wise, presents a far more difficult challenge.
I still hate playoffs though, not just in the WC, but in every competition. It should be the top 2 guaranteed qualification in European groups, finishing in November. If it means bigger groups, that's fine.
I'd balance that though by saying the football under Charlton was terrible stuff to watch too, and is a period most people on here hark back to.Quote:
Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo
Yakin only plays a minor role these days but is still a very good player. You'll find the majority of the others play in a top European league, it wouldn't do to dismiss them so quickly - esp. based on past results!
Anyway, hopefully the Swiss will qualify tonight and Ireland will meet Greece....
I thought the FIFA seeding meant the seeds would be at home in the second leg, to gain an advantage if it was to go to extra-time?
No, it's a separate draw to determine the home/away order.Quote:
Originally Posted by endabob1
I think Russia is the worst possible draw. Ireland get through games with tenacity, this doesn't count for much when you are playing a more skilled team who are as tenacious.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
Russia match vs Azeris in Baku now on
http://www.fromsport.com/video-93058.html
I think you may have been Russian in a previous life Edmundo:D
maybe... who knows...
anyway they are 1-0 up playing a sort of half way team (some full players some youth ones) have looked in control... Arshavin scored
Semak is back - for Denisov, and their ball rention in midfield has been very solid. They've thrown Dzagoev (set up goal for Arshavin via the post), Rebko and Bilyaletdinov into the starting 11 and their pace (with Bystrovs too) has been causing problems for the Azeris.
Yanbaev has been booked, not sure if he has prevous yellows, prob not as he's a bit part player for the national team.
1-1 Azeri's have equalised, utter howler from the Russian keeper Akinfeev, the ball did bounce before reaching him but he still should have got it.
Ukraine are confirmed as through, so that resolves the potential issue of Croatia overtaking Portugal in the table of the top seeds in the playoffs
Finished
Russia 1-1 Azerbaijan
Russia got 3 yellows, Yanbaev, Semak and Torbinsky but I don't think any had previous ones, so they should all be available for the 1st leg.
according to sky sports scorecentre, if things stay the same (denmark losing, sweden winning and portugal winning) portugal will finish third. Surely this is a mistake or have i missed something?
there was a slim chance of this happening but I thought their win the other night meant they would go through if winning tonight
Yep definite mistake. If Portgual win then they're confirmed as second, it doesnt matter what Sweden do
portugal a point ahead of sweden so if they win they are through.
Switzerland have gone through so it will be Greece in the playoff from that group.
Greece limped past the mighty Luxemburg tonight, hopefully the draw will be lucky.
I suppose Greece would be the weakest of the 4 we could play.
If I remember correctly didn't Luxembourg actually beat Switzerland early on in the group?
Bizzare.
Correct, 2-1 in Switzerland - that was a very weak group with a lot of average teams in it (Israel, Switzerland, Greece). Fair play to Latvia, Moldova and Luxemburg who on occasion played well themselves.