It's France

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Originally Posted by Reality Bites

Are you sure - then why all the fuss about fear of Given picking another yellow against Montenegro

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I could be wrong but George Hamilton kept saying they did not during the Montenegro match (unless of course you got one and were already on one then you are suspended for the first match). He said they wipe the slate clean for the playoffs.

When the draw came out first I was seriously p1ssed off about it but as the day went on I manage to convince myself that we are going to beat them. Not basing it on anything but blind faith but Im seriously excited about it already. Above all else we mustnt conceed at home, I would take 0-0 going to Paris happily because we have proven in the group stages that we will score goals anywhere

Don't know if this is said elsewhere but presume the home leg will be an early kick off to give as much time as possible to get the place ready for the rugby the next day?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns...pinion&cc=5739


Also, Henry is out for about 10 days, heres hoping its might last a bit longer than expected.

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Originally Posted by alltogethernow

Don't know if this is said elsewhere but presume the home leg will be an early kick off to give as much time as possible to get the place ready for the rugby the next day?

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Fcuk that, no way, we def need an evening kick off ie like the Italian game. All that will be needed it to change the posts, repaint the pitch and put up advertising hoardings etc. Im sure they'll manage that in the time between the two games.

Sagna, Gallas, Abidal, Evra and Gourcuff

Under yellow card difficulties, so says lemonde.fr....

ah the joys of google translate.

French team that played against Austria in their final group game. I think its unfair to compare man for man as I think Ireland are performing greater than the sum of the parts at the moment whereas the opposite could be said of France. Nonetheless the likes of Henry, Govou, Benzema stand out and that is ignoring Evra, Anelka and Ribery who werent included for this game.

1 Hugo Lloris
4 Julien Escudé
17 Sebastien Squillaci
7 Rod Fanni
13 Gaël Clichy
15 Florent Malouda
18 Alou Diarra
6 Moussa Sissoko
12 Thierry Henry
8 Sidney Govou
10 Karim Benzema
Substitutes
16 Steve Mandanda
5 William Gallas
3 Eric Abidal
2 Bacary Sagna
14 Jeremy Toulalan
9 Bafetimbi Gomis
11 Andre Pierre Gignac

Given > 8*Lloris

(SuperDave gives Given a smack with a karma stick)

Was chatting to a French lad in work a couple weeks ago and was saying to him we'd get France, be at home for the 1st leg and go through on away goals. 0-0 in Croke Park and 1-1 in Paris. Got the 1st 2 right, fingers crossed I'm right about the result;)

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Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

The one real positive are that France are French..... By that I mean that on a semi-regular basis they underperform drastically and have a complete howler, with the apathy of the Parisian crowd (not) ringing in their ears.

Nil all in Croker and I'd nearly back us.

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Brilliant. Perfectly put - you didn't need the explanation. That's why I'd have confidence. The main thing is not to give up no matter what happens in the first leg.

How about the ultimate glory scenario......we lose 0-1 at home, then throw the kitchen sink at them in Paris, win 2-1 and go through on away goals. It wouldn't be pretty, but I could see them panicking if we need a goal at the end to win it and are chucking everything up to Folan, Richard Dunne, etc.

No hassle.

France have a bunch of poncers in their team. If we can get a 1-1 draw in Bari then we can get one in Paris too. We've every chance after that.

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Originally Posted by MeathDrog

No hassle.

France have a bunch of poncers in their team. If we can get a 1-1 draw in Bari then we can get one in Paris too. We've every chance after that.

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If we get a 1-1 draw in Paris what has happened previous to that will have been important:D

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

If we get a 1-1 draw in Paris what has happened previous to that will have been important:D

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Aye that's what I meant, just worded myself wrong.

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Originally Posted by cudsy1

regarding complaints about the seeding of the draw...

Emerging unvanquished from their qualifying group was a laudable achievement but winning four matches – all against Georgia and Cyprus – out of 10 should not be enough to reach football's elite tournament, particularly for a European country, given that the continent is already over-represented.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/b...lic-of-ireland

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I'm amazed Paul Doyle has found the time to write about something that isn't about the English football team.

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Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

I'm amazed Paul Doyle has found the time to write about something that isn't about the English football team.

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So what, isn't he writing for an english newspaper?

Is ribery not injured aswell no? or was that just a small knock. Anyway i don't know why everyone is saying 0-0 at home i think we could nick it 1-0 and go over there and go for an early goal. We've scored early in most of our games like bar the away game in italy. I think also forget about the 2 reids and finnan he's not gonig to change the team now, plus duff should in on mcgeadys side and leave lawrence there, I'd also shove o' shea out to left back and leave ledger and dunne in the middle but that's just me

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Originally Posted by ger121

Was chatting to a French lad in work a couple weeks ago and was saying to him we'd get France, be at home for the 1st leg and go through on away goals. 0-0 in Croke Park and 1-1 in Paris. Got the 1st 2 right, fingers crossed I'm right about the result;)

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I agree. It's the most likely scenario. Trapp will play for nil all in Dublin. The French will go along with it. They will assume they'll beat us in Paris. 1-1 very possible in Paris. They're not the team that beat us in Landsdowne a few years ago. This is where Trappatoni's organization and tactics will come to fruition. As an earlier poster remarked we're greater than the sum if our parts.

It's going to be tough but I still think we can scrape through. A clean sheet at home is a must. Croke Park needs to be turned into a cauldron of noise and the atmosphere we managed to create for the first 89 minutes against Italy needs to go up another couple of notches.

France have some excellent players but we shouldn't fear them. If their tails are up then they could give us a footballing lesson so the key is to be aggressive and dominant from the start. We aren't going to get through by playing beautiful football. Set pieces, a strong defence and every player playing out of his skin for 180 minutes is required. If France are on the back foot and under pressure then William Gallas might have another hissy fit!

Evra and Sagna are two top class full backs and I doubt McGeady/Hunt/Duff or Lawrence would be able to get much change from them but Evra can be vulnerable in the air and consequently I'd expect us to start with Lawrence on the right hand side.

Having Stephen Reid and Finnan back would be a big boost and I hope they make the squad.

All being well I'd hope to see the following line up:

Given

Finnan Dunne St Ledger O'Shea

Lawrence Whelan S Reid Duff

Keane Doyle

Bring on Best and Folan with 20 minutes to go and then just pump long balls!!!

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Originally Posted by The Legend

So what, isn't he writing for an english newspaper?

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Doyle's articles mainly focus on:

England & Capello: A partnership made in heaven.

Isn't Stevie G brilliant.

John Terry is a warrior.

England will win the World Cup

Liverpool will win the League.

5 themes repeated 365 days a year. Hence my surprise that he actually broke away from this template.

I'd start Folan or Best before Doyle and try and get an early goal i don't see the point of bringing them on when we're chasing the game