Not sure if this deserves a thread of its own as we're not there yet, but it's just starting now.
There may be a redraw if we do qualify.
And around a third of the teams have already been drawn.
It is probably the daftest UEFA draw ever
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Not sure if this deserves a thread of its own as we're not there yet, but it's just starting now.
There may be a redraw if we do qualify.
And around a third of the teams have already been drawn.
It is probably the daftest UEFA draw ever
Poland in the Bilbao/Dublin group
Sweden as well. There's worse draws if that's what we end up with. Portugal, Germany and France are all in the one group
Group E: Spain, Sweden, Poland, play-off B winner I think that B is our group?
Path B: Bosnia and Herzegovina v Northern Ireland*, Slovakia v Republic of Ireland
That is a good draw really is we make it, could have been a lot worse!
Ireland's record vs Poland: P:28, W:6, D:11, L:11, last win on Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Ireland's record vs Sweden: P:11, W:3, D:3, L:5, last win on Wednesday, 1 March 2006
Ireland's record vs Spain: P:26, W:4, D:7, L:15, last win on Wednesday, 26 April 1989
Would need four points minimum really. So beat Sweden, and a draw against Poland. If we can win the next two games there's no reason we couldn't aim for that. If.
Group F looks like a fun watch. English should be a bit nervous.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Would you have preferred France Germany and Portugal?
It is not the best but it is not the worst either, obviously Spain, but they are currently ranked 8th.
Anyhow we have to qualify first, one mountain to climb at a time. :)
What could have been better than to be placed in a group with 2 home games against teams from outside the top ranks?Quote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
Besides that glimmer of hope, the draw was a crock with so much being predetermined by pre selected venues strung out over long flight journeys and maximising the cost to fans following their teams.
There are countries which have the stadiums and the infrastructure to hold such a Euro tournament on their own, like Spain, England, Germany, Italy, Russia and France. I doubt if many would care much if the host for the Finals revolved around those countries.
3 points with a good goal difference will probably be good enough (eg Portugal and N. Ireland last Euros). Beat Poland (or Sweden) at home and keep the other matches tight. Doable.
3rd place would give us Group Winner B or C in next round in Bilbao or Budapest (Belgium or Netherlands - but if say Belgium slip up and could be likely as Denmark and Russia will have home advantage against them in the group games then this might be a nice option), Runner up would be Runner up England Group in Copenhagen (Croatia maybe), Winner and its a 3rd placed team in Glasgow but our group winner won't be paired with the 3rd place of GER/FRA/POR...
Good to see we're not getting ahead of ourselves then. :)
I see France, the world champions, were second seeds while Portugal, the European champions and Nations League winners, were third seeds. Madness, but a great group.
Imagine if you had to win two playoffs just to be presented with the prize equivalent of first over the top at the Battle of Somme (Group F).
If Ireland don't make it, in later life it will be a case of 'je ne regrette rien' ..... except for that one thing, not making to that peach of a Group E at Euro 2020.