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The UEFA money deal doesn't kick in until 2014 so this was the last draw the FAI had to worry about TV money supposedly. They will be delighted with Germany but I'm more concerned with our chances of qualifying.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Ah nice to see the positivity again Paul.
England have a dodgy enough group finally.
England are 2/5 to qualify.
Jaysus!
The realism, not negativity BS. We need that around here god knows, with a lot of the pie in the sky stuff, and the regular posters getting carried away with themselves.Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
Have the Groups already been decided upon as to which runners-up will face who already? Might be getting ahead of myself but just heard on Sky Sports our Groups Runner-Ups are due to meet the Runners-Up in the France/Spain group any confirmation on that??
I agree. Good assessment.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
It could come down to who can take the most if any points off of Germany. They will find it hard to beat us. If we could get one or two points from the two games then great. 3 points from the Sweden games. 4 from the Austria games. And full points from the other 4 matches and that should be enough for second place.
Heard that too but it was said with some mischief. I don't think the playoffs have been 'mapped out' but I stand to be corrected.Quote:
Originally Posted by sixesandsevens
The way they're carrying on lately they could easily get nothing out of that groupQuote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
No, there is still a draw for the playoffs. I assume it will be seeded again so if we do get to the Play offs again by beating Sweden we should be able to avoid France surely?
Only 8 of the 9 runners-up qualify so it can't be pre-determined. That draw won't take place until October 2013 so we shouldn't worry about it until then.Quote:
Originally Posted by sixesandsevens
First impressions:
Germany - Tough, but beatable
Sweden - Beatable (ask Stan), and what an away trip that must be
Austria - Shouldn't be a problem at home, plus Trap used to manage there so that would be an advantage (if he's still around)
Faroes - "The bumpy pitch in Torshavn" as George Hamilton referred to it over and over in 2005 can be tough and Kerr would love to get one over on us, still should be 6 points
Kazakhstan - Not the easiest of the "cream puff" teams and undoubtedly not an easy away trip, but 6 points are a must...cue the Borat jokes
Sweden's results so far in the Euro's http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/tea...hes/index.html
Austria's results http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/tea...hes/index.html
Ah grand so France it is then...Quote:
Originally Posted by EastTerracer
Play-offs at best, again.
:(
Still a few interesting trips in a flawed competition....
Janey! Sweden look pretty prolific!Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
looking at Austria's Euro qualification matches I don't think we have much to worry about there, but Sweden look a whole lot tougher than I first thought!
I'm happy enough. Looking at the other groups it could have been better but then it could have been alot worse.
Bar the Kazaks all the games are very accessible to fans and I've always wanted an excuse to go to Sweden...
Quote:
Originally Posted by sixesandsevens
Very little difference between us Sweden and Austria. I watched the Austria v Germany game and it was even Stephen stuff. Could have gone either way. I still believe we are the most likely to take points off of Germany. Holland hammered Sweden 4-1. Lets hope we keep improving. That is going to be the key.
Granted I haven't seen Austria play in long time but those results from the Euros wouldn't worry me. I'm sure Austria are always going to up there game against their local rival. I'd still like to think it would be two horse race for second spot between us and Sweden. Austria will probably be happy to give it a real go against the Germans and nothing elseQuote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
Not sure why you think that. I think it's being realistic. I'd have them as certs to qualify automatically for Euro 2012 as best runner-up throughout all the groups. They've won all their six games so far in that group, bar a loss to Holland in Amsterdam. They beat Finland 5-0 in their last group game in June. Their World Cup qualification record is also much more impressive than ours. They've qualified for nearly four times as many finals as we have; 11 finals to our 3.Quote:
Originally Posted by christo
Our all-time record against Sweden isn't too bad though:
Games played: 8
Sweden wins: 4
Draws: 1
Ireland wins: 3
Sweden goals: 14
Ireland goals: 12
Can't wait to go to Sweden and come back with Elin Woods twin sister as the new Missus. And 3 points of course.
Here's their results from the last 2 yearsQuote:
Originally Posted by Murfinator
EURO qualification grp. E 7 Jun 11
Sweden 5-0 Finland
EURO qualification grp. E 3 Jun 11
Moldova 1-4 Sweden
EURO qualification grp. E 29 Mar 11
Sweden 2-1 Moldova
Friendly 9 Feb 11
Sweden 5-6 Ukraine
Friendly 8 Feb 11
Cyprus 0-2 Sweden
Friendly 19 Jan 11
Botswana 1-2 Sweden
Friendly 17 Nov 10
Sweden 0-0 Germany
EURO qualification grp. E 12 Oct 10
Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
EURO qualification grp. E 7 Sep 10
Sweden 6-0 San Marino
EURO qualification grp. E 3 Sep 10
Sweden 2-0 Hungary
Friendly 11 Aug 10
Sweden 3-0 Scotland
Friendly 2 Jun 10
Belarus 0-1 Sweden
Friendly 29 May 10
Sweden 4-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Friendly 3 Mar 10
Wales 0-1 Sweden
Friendly 23 Jan 10
Syria 1-1 Sweden
Friendly 20 Jan 10
Oman 0-1 Sweden
That's W12 D2 L1.
That only a loss to Holland, a draw with Germany and a draw with Syria in some winter break friendly.
Delighted with that draw; five great trips. Germany and Torshavn were great trips last time out. Austria and Sweden should be good and convenient to get too, while Kazakhstan will be a real adventure - a place I've always wanted to visit. Nice mix of places.
Going to be tough to get out of though; Germany are usually certs to qualify and Sweden are always very solid in qualifying. Austria could be very tough fourth seeds.
But bring it on! New Fans' Forum threads to start too, and maybe a read over the old Faroes thread.
Sweden dont have any of that crap draw away win at home, as i said. They just win home and away.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
I Like!Quote:
Originally Posted by Poor Student
It's not a bad group, Germany will have it tough in Austria and Sweden are just the type of team that can take points of them. I'd say we have a 60/40 chance of finishing 2nd and if we improve on what Stan managed against Germany, we could give it a real go. Will Trap still be at the helm? he might be in a wheelchair by then.
The Faroes is the away trip of the group, but shít expensive to get to.
Overall I'm quietly pleased with the group. My concern would be that the Germans will be very clinical and get through the group fairly easily and we won't have much of a chance of 1st. Sweden are like a mini-Germany in how they tend to qualify and traditionally be very ruthless in the kind of games where we have a history of dropping points.
Germany (one of the best teams in the world. Should win the group with a game or two to spare, but Ireland could on our day draw with them home and away. My head says we'll draw with them in Dublin and lose in Germany).
Sweden (a really clinical team in how they qualify for tournaments, but I don't see us losing to them. Ibrahimavich could be retired from international football by the time we play them. I picture us taking 2 points off them).
Austria (could have been much worse with Poland, Bulgaria and Romania. I fancy us to take 4 points off them, but the Swedes will probably take 6 off them).
Faroes (6 points here)
Kazakhstan (pity we didn't get a Malta or a San Marino from this pot. I think we'll just beat them away with a scrappy 1-0; 6 points here. They
Obviously, much can change by the time this group kicks off. I'm sure there'll be some new young Irish lads coming up and playing well in the premiership/championship and some of our current hopes either flourishing or fading away, but I'm hopeful that we'll get 2nd and have a decent chance of qualification.
He's only 30 in October. He's about a year and a half younger than Robbie and no-one's expecting Robbie to hang up his boots. Has Ibrahimović spoken of retiring? In saying that, I've always thought him a bit over-rated with a bad attitude to boot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bungle
Going by the UEFA coefficient rankings and the FIFA rankings of UEFA teams, our group has the 'hardest' top 3 teams and the second 'hardest' top 2 teams (Group I with Spain/France having the 'toughest' 2 teams in a group). Basically it's just about as tough as it can get. As has been pointed out above, Sweden are currently enjoying some great form. Hopefully some players are soon to retire/drop off and we can nail that playoff spot (or better :)).
It must be remembered that only the eight best runners-up throughout all the groups qualify for the play-offs. Even if we do manage second position, that alone won't guarantee a play-off place.
Agree with Irwin3; think people are being a bit flippant about Sweden. We really are odds against to be going to Brazil unfortunately.
Not all of us are flippant stu. I pointed out at the very start they are very clinical and always have been.
They're accessible and expensive. All of them. No cheap and cheerful Eastern trips, like now. The team was held up out of the Faroes last time, so christ knows how the fans will get there and back.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
On the pitch, not happy with getting the Germans or the Kazachs. Hopefully we can get the Vienna/Germany trips out of the way in the same week. That apart, it's a poor draw.
Tough draw really, there are 9 teams in each pot and we got the 3rd best (by official Fifa rankings).
IncidentallyI think were were the second best team in pot 3.
England got it easy, Montenegro, were they not one of the 5th teams in Euro 2012, yep indeed they
were they were in pot 5 and and they are now englands toughtest opposition!!
What a fix!!!
Looking on the bright side Kazakhstan have some of the best prostitutes in the world.
Cleanest, not best. And it's just in the region. And Turkmenistan's are cleaner etc etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
Poor Kazakhs, they have had England and now Ireland and I bet that film will be a talking point whn they come to Dublin. They must be cursing Borat. :doh:
Some people on here will make every team we play against sound like the best team ever, turn average players into Pele (Pandev) or complain about everything Trap does.
I think the real issue will come down to if we make Euro or not. Team will need to regroup quick after Euro if we make it and get focused.
And of course the other conversation is, if we do not make Euro and Trap moves on, who the hell will the manager be? It will be like starting over again. But at least we will know one way or the other in Sept. Is it fair to assume that if we make Euro and Trap retires that Tardelli will be the man and it will offer some continuity?
Still cant wait to hit the gym in prep for the Swedish bikini team. GTL every day.
Thats not a positive surely!!:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bungle
We're ranked behind Israel and Switzerland, so third, officially.Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
Out of interest, do Kazakhs consider themselves a European or Asian people? Pete Mahon recently said it was one of the worst places he's ever been, and that wasn't even discussing the logistical nightmare that it was getting there in the first place.
I should hope not. The joke's been done to death, seems to completely miss the satirical point behind the character's creation in that it perpetuates the ignorance of the Western world Sacha Baron Cohen was obviously ridiculing and is undeniably insulting/racist. I cringe when I hear people still going on about it with any mention of Kazakhstan just in the same way I cringe when I see things like this:Quote:
Originally Posted by Cymro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XWAu...layer_embedded
Anyway... :o