My wish was to be competitive, qualify and take our chances from there.
I have not got my wish yet.
Printable View
My wish was to be competitive, qualify and take our chances from there.
I have not got my wish yet.
My wish was just to be in with a shout to qualify at this stage of the campaign. We're very likely to reach the playoffs at this point. I'm happy considering the injuries we've had to Reid and Finnan and the Stephen Ireland situation.
It's a job almost done and while it will be interesting to see how the team play knowing they only need one point from 2 games, what determines my appraisal has moved on to see how we meet the challenge of the play offs.
We need 2 points to make the playoffs assuming Bulgaria win both their matches.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Point taken.
McDonnell in today's Independent seems to think it will be an open draw 'provided FIFA stay true to their plans'. Please let that be the case!
Certainly the least contentious approach.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
If we get that far - we're going to draw France regardless.
for some reason i think were going to get portugal. hope im wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie
dont want france either tho. anyone but these 2 for me.
France would be a great trip. we wouldn't get the same as before but id say we would get 10k
Bet they won 't sell their tickets over the phone/internet and post to Ireland this time. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Despite the ease of access France will be one I hope we avoid if we end up in the playoffs.
Portugal are likely to finish on 19 points (2 wins from 2). Its not inconceivable that they could yet win the group. I think in order for Portugal not to get second, we need Sweden to beat Denmark and for both to win their other game. That would mean they both finish above Portugal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duggie
Sounds like a Trappattoni press conference.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duggie
Russia?
Had to smile when he referred to Key yoke after the SA game.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
Group 3 has a good probability to be the tightest for a 2nd place spot.
Czech Rep and Slovenia have same goal diff.
It would be a major shock if Slovakia lost at home to Slovenia.
Slovakia all but top that group, but they could do with a point in the home game against Slovenia. If Slovakia win, that pretty much sends the pendulum way back to the Czechs to finish 2nd
A point gives Slovenia a chance of securing 2nd place by scoring more goals in one game away against SM than the Czechs can manage in 2 home wins against Poland and NI.
We know that there is a strong possibility that Poland will be beaten by the Czechs, but by how much? leaving a last game against a NI team that will circle the wagons.
with the bookies
Slovenia are 4/5
Czech Rep are 1/1
Slovakia need at least a point at home to Slovenia otherwise they will have to win in Poland assuming Slovenia beat San Marino by 3+. A point at home next gives them the group but if they lose Slovenia will most likely win it.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I think the Czechs will win both home games which just might be enough for a playoff. Still tough to call.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duggie
for some reason i think were going to get portugal. hope im wrong.
dont want france either tho. anyone but these 2 for me.
Agree that Russia would be the worst possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by newrynyuk
Yeah Russia would be the worst. They are playing well and are the type of team we would struggle against. Compared to most other possible teams it would also be a pain in the balls for the fans to get to the away leg.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scram
Would hate if it was Russia , I know for sure that I would not travel to that one .
Too right! Isn't Moscow is now the most expensive city in the world? And as for getting a visa to go to Russia...Quote:
Originally Posted by Claret Murph
Mind you, if Russia win their group and we are drawn against Germany instead, we are equally Ballacksed. Easier to travel to admittedly.
I heard that. Thought he did a better job than the English commentators though.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Slovakia would have been great, loved that trip to Bratislava! Dont fear portugal, I fear France, Russia.. Whoever we play it will be a close game, we'll prob play **** but we'll grind out something! Hopefully.
I would hate to have to go back to Slovakia , as Brat was a hole to tell you the truth .Quote:
Originally Posted by M@ttitude
for all you saying you dont fear portugal are you kidding me? imagine the fun ronaldo would have running rings around our world class left back zinedine kilbane... though they do ship quite a few balls themselves i think we would struggle against a side that plays flowing football.
Is that the truth? Myself and my 15 mates thought it was great..Quote:
Originally Posted by Claret Murph
Yeah not a great city at all. Probably the most unfriendly city I have been to on ann Ireland trip. Not that I had any bother or anything but the locals were just so unfriendly and they do not really know much about customer service there.Quote:
Originally Posted by dodgycanadian
I have read that on here before but none of us felt that about the place at all, although we did mostly try to avoid the irish fans at night and went to the local pubs and clubs which were fantastic and the best looking birds ever! Hated the following few days in Prague, sleazy dirty place that gave me food poisoning!
Just dont think Portugal have enough strength this year to be feared! Can someone jog my memory on our friendly with portugal over the past couple of years, I was at it and all I can remember is Ronaldo being non existent!
Bratislava was a disappointment I must admit. It was absolutely bucketing down the day before the game. The locals weren't as friendly or helpful as others places I've experienced. Taxi drivers were a complete rip off. And I was unfortunate enough to stay in a tip of a hotel with leaky ceilings and lukewarm water. Plus all the bars and clubs were shut after the match and we resorted to queuing nearly an hour outside the one kebab placed that stayed open.
That said, all talk of a return there is probably academic as Slovakia will most probably win their group.
There was 5 of us and I only found out on the day that they had double booked out apartment , lucky my other half back in Ireland sorted it out from home . Never once did any taxi driver work from his metre . in all the time I was there I can say hand on heart only remember once when I got a smile from market trader who was selling boiled cabbage , and that was it .
Now I have never been to eastern block when the wall was up but this is what I did think it would be like just a total distrust of anything western .
I was in China in 89 for 5 months and they were better than the slovaks .
Our first night in Bratislava we were in some club in the centre with a slide. I went into the toilet and the lights were turned off. A load of kids came in the jax and then the lights were turned on and they laughed. Like a scene from the hostel. :) There were men standing on street corners in the early hours of the morning waiting to mug some Irish person who happened to be on his own. Almost every taxi driver tried bringing us to brothels in the middle of nowhere. One taxi driver demanded a huge fair off us and got his baseball bat out of the boot when we refused (he accepted a 10 euro note in the end). The bars ran out of drink. The big niteclub wouldn't allow Irish in. We had a good time thanks to the dungeon karaoke club but you had to walk across a small road to have a **** in the pitch dark toilets. Crazy place.
Jeez eb, i hope you weren't the receipient of their actions?! Was it a glow in the dark type light?! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Cool story! I love stuff like this; getting up to all sorts of hijinks in unknown placesQuote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Bratislava = worst place I've ever been, and that's not exclusive to Football trips. I would have thought that with the right preparation the bars could have made a killing in the square, but they were just too depressed to bother I'd say. It was a long, painful chu chu train ride back to Prague but well worth it.
Another +1 for not wanting to return to Bratislava, an awful place. Friend of mine got mugged the last time, bars were extremely dodgy. Can Slovenia still finish second, a trip to Ljubljana would be amazing (and more importantly, extremely winnable!)
They are 2nd at present. Think it would be reasonable to disgard Northern Ireland's chances at this stage so Slovenia are 2pts ahead of the Czechs and 3 ahead of Poland.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jicked
If Slovenia beat San Marino then NI are out.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Re Bratislava,
Another late goal, taxis were a ripoff and it did rain non stop. Otherwise I thought it was one of the better trips. Better than Prague imo. We didn't go near the Dubliner thankfully but enjoyed good cheap food and plenty of cheap drink with friendly locals.
You needed to agree the price before getting i nthe taxi or you got totally screwed. We got caught once.
Good stuff, Ljubljana is one of Europe's most beautiful capitals (just check out Lake Bled about 40 mins outside it!) and the friendliest people I've ever met in Europe.
Jesus ye guys are funny..........."taxis were a rip off" ......what, really!!!!!!!!!!
I suppose ye all eat in Mcdonalds as well and drank min Oirish bars:eek:
I suppose you've no problems with ticket touts and the like. Are the taxi drivers allowed rip us off because they don't earn as much over there?Quote:
Originally Posted by bennocelt
but why are you surprised!!!!!!!!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
ill agree on this one ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jicked
Jees for more than a few reasons id love it to be slovenia.