I'm hoping NI end up based there. The feckers booked all the flights from Dublin to Paris when they qualified. I measured it on Google maps there the other day. If they end up based in Nice when they are picking up their bags at Paris CDG airport they will still have more than half their journey ahead of them.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
For what's it's worth, The Telegraph's early prediction has us in the second round:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...?frame=3503826Martin O’Neill’s energy and organisation will make Ireland an awkward opponent for whoever they face, but the lack of quality in the side will be difficult to complete compensate for.
Robbie Keane, Jon Walters and Shane Long will never stop working, but you’d expect the continent’s best defences to be able to cope with them without too much difficulty.
Wes Hoolahan and Seamus Coleman will provide some class in midfield and defence, but a gritty second-round exit is the most likely outcome for the Irish.
Hate slideshows? Use this link: http://deslide.clusterfake.net/?o=ht...rame%3D3503826
Also, if you need a reminder of how seriously to take predictions:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...e-at-euro-2016With the qualification campaign for the 2016 UEFA European Championship to be held in France having begun in earnest earlier this week, we predict which 23 teams* will be joining the host nation in the tournament proper in two years’ time.
De-slided here: http://deslide.clusterfake.net/?o=ht...e-at-euro-2016
Last edited by thischarmingman; 20/11/2015 at 3:47 AM.
That deslide site is amazing.
We could be the dark horse of the tournament, either that or Delaney's Donkey.
Can't be any worse than last time (one would hope).
Last edited by tricky_colour; 20/11/2015 at 3:46 AM.
It all depends on the draw really. There are a couple of "easy" draws there that could see us get out of the group but theres quite a few stinkers too! If it is anything like last time, I don't see us getting out but I also don't see us being as humiliated as we were under Trap. Some of the potential draws that are in between easy and tough will see us needing to be playing at 100% for three games to have a chance to progress. But, we are a better TEAM than we were 4 years ago, less individual talent, sure, but we are a far better sum of our parts than 2012 - this makes it possible.
Integrating Arter, Judge, Byrne, Mason, Duffy and a few of the outsiders is crucial over the coming months. We need to take a look at what we have. There's some talent out there. I really hope MON uses the next few friendlies as a way to evaluate what we have that will a) provide value in France and b) be ready to go for the WC qualifiers.
Isn't it just f*ckin brilliant to be going though?
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
I did all that the other night, and then someone on here burst my bubble. I think we're drawn into a group and then a draw to assign each country to a number in that group. So we could be anything from A2 to F4Originally Posted by DeLorean
Would I be correct in assuming we'll be either A4, B4, C4, etc? ]
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Knock, Knock:
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Nice please. My in-laws have a holiday home nearby!
Ha! I was afraid of that.
Just thinking about it there, we're not in too bad of a position. We know what our first XI/15 are (more-or-less). They've introduced/forced a more condensed style of play (narrow midfield/no trad. wingers) not usually associated with O'Neill or Ireland.
However with McGeady's plight [thus removing him from the starting equation], the potential emergence of Arter, Judge, mcClean the <remote> possibility of Bamford, we potentially have better options to change the course of a game if we're at a stalemate, or chasing a game, than we have before. That is a nice thought. dare I say it, springing Long from the bench might not be a bad plan B.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Well there's next to no chance of us getting a draw that tough again, so unlikely.
Spain, Italy, Sweden is equivalent.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
The draw procedure is outlined here: http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/finals/draws/
If I'm interpreting that correctly, the top seeds will all occupy slots B1 to F1 (France already occupy A1), but the positions (A2-A4, for example) within each group of the remaining teams will be determined by a second draw.
Don't think so, Spain and Italy aren't as good as they were four years ago. Spain and Italy were the best teams in the competition and Croatia weren't far off.
The bare default basics are that one team from each pot with occupy a place in each group. The position in that group must mean something and being seeded 2 or 3 doesn't mark your spot in the group. Probably means we'll end up in Corsica.
You just did out the thing I was gonna do.
Would I be correct in assuming we'll be either A4, B4, C4, etc? I know France are automatically A1 but does this mean the rest of the Pot 1's will be B1, C1, etc. If this is the case then these are the possible venues for our group games:
Game No. A B C D E F 1 Lens Bordeaux Nice Paris Saint Denis Bordeaux 2 Paris Lille Lyon Saint-Étienne Toulouse Marseille 3 Lille Saint-Étienne Paris Bordeaux Nice Lyon
I think it matters not really. Get a camper van. Plan to be there for the first 2 weeks. sorted.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Sorry, just seeing this now. What?? Italy are easily as good as they were 4 years ago. Unbeaten in qualifying. Underestimate Italy at your peril (as people probably did when we drew them 4 years ago). They'll be at the business end. Again. As always. Spain are Spain. Sweden are always strong in tournaments, similar to Croatia. So I presume you'd, what, fancy our chances of winning a point in that group?
Germany, Italy, Poland - equivalent.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
You never really know with Italy, write them off at your peril for sure, but talk them up at your peril also! Either side of their good run in 2012 they got knocked out in the group stages of the World Cups, a bit unheard of by their standards. The same question marks would have applied in 2012 though so I'd agree there's nothing to suggest they couldn't put a run together.
Yeah, I decided not to reference Brazil WC...forgot about SA!
Just to be clear though, I'm not talking about whether these teams will go far - I'm talking about getting a horrible draw and what combinations are out there. CD said it was impossible to get such a difficult draw again and while I agree that the quality of the 3rd seeds has diluted, it is still possible to get a few complete stinkers - similar to 2012.
To revise as CD has done and say well yeah but they were the two (possibly three) best teams in the tournament is a bit daft - at the time of the draw up til the game against Croatia there were many, many people here talking about 4 points being a target. On paper it was a stinker, on the pitch it was a stinker. I think the same applies to the two draws I've thrown out there. Any group with Italy second seed and Sweden/Poland/Ukraine in third is a stinker and equivalent to 2012.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Apparently I like the word stinker.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
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