Portugal, Greece, France or Russia

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Originally Posted by elroy

Russia, the away trip would be tough, 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.

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Wales thought that too in 2003. Having got a draw in Moscow, they lost the return leg.

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.

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Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

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.

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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.

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?

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Originally Posted by endabob1

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?

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No, it's a separate draw to determine the home/away order.

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Originally Posted by mypost

Wales thought that too in 2003. Having got a draw in Moscow, they lost the return leg.

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.

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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.

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.