World Cup Qualifying - Group D

[paul_oshea]

There was also no Euros in 2006 -



I also don't think many teams at all have gone unbeaten in the last 18 years.

I think the whole thing should actually read -



That said, I think any notion of going unbeaten through this group is fanciful.

Ya a lot of those seemed a bit off for me, but I was trying to understand what he was saying first and foremost. I failed at the first attempt

And ya, I dont think he meant 18 games unbeaten, just in qualifying matches alone he meant but that was a given even if not written and/or explained

[geysir]

Traditionally we're ****e against Austria, but even at our worst point in years we should have beaten them at home. They're nothing special at all.

Group D is a competitive vanilla group, traditionally Austria didn't need to be anything special to better us, they've been on the way up for the last 4 years and have finally crossed that qualifying barrier with ease. They blooded a new kid called Schöpf at the Euros who really impressed me.

I don't know why Serbia have such a poor qualifier record, relative to their player pool. It's as if there's a lack of interest, an apathy or some serious issues around the international set up. A coach's personality could swing it, I see their new coach has actually managed more clubs than Jack Nicklaus.

[paul_oshea]

That and points deducted and 3-0 wins awarded, its a serious factor for lack of motivation.

I think if they start well they will be there abouts come the end of the campaign, they have a decent squad of players.

[Kingdom]

It's very simple. Paul thinks if we remain unbeaten but only win once against our rivals we probably will not qualify. Rather than post all of the qualifying records since Euro 2000 which I probably should, the results show that we will have a very very high percentage chance of making a playoff.

[geysir]

It's very simple. Paul thinks if we remain unbeaten but only win once against our rivals we probably will not qualify. Rather than post all of the qualifying records since Euro 2000 which I probably should, the results show that we will have a very very high percentage chance of making a playoff.

In your orig post you mentioned two targets, remaining unbeaten against our rivals and the other target remaining unbeaten in the the group. Your questions were about just remaining unbeaten in the group campaign. There is a big difference between the two.

2006 wc qual campaign, the group of draws, if we had managed that 6th draw v France, i don't think we would have finished in top 2, would have been 4 teams on 18points and goal diff kicks in. But definitely one win and 5 draws would have clinched top spot there..
Our 3 rivals were unbeaten in that campaign.

[Kingdom]

It absolutely was - with hindsight. Nobody expected Armenia to figure as much as they did in that group.

Since we've started challenging for groups (okay okay, for runner's up in groups) the formula is pretty simple. 6 points from the weak teams or lower seeds. Draw with the higher seeds away and nick one win at home. That's a pretty solid template if you're a second or third seed to begin with. When you're fourth seed that is a different kettle of fish!

If we were to remain unbeaten on the road, beating Moldova and Georgia home and away, and got one victory at home remaining unbeaten against the others, I'd be happy enough with that.

In your orig post you mentioned two targets, remaining unbeaten against our rivals and the other target remaining unbeaten in the the group. Your questions were about just remaining unbeaten in the group campaign. There is a big difference between the two.

That's my original post. Paul disagreed with that, which led to next inquisition post. I'm obviously stupid, because I fail to see what is hard to grasp about my posts.

[geysir]

Ah, I didn't see that post, i only read your next original post .

Any thoughts on my live case scenario from past campaign?

[Kingdom]

In your orig post you mentioned two targets, remaining unbeaten against our rivals and the other target remaining unbeaten in the the group. Your questions were about just remaining unbeaten in the group campaign. There is a big difference between the two.

2006 wc qual campaign, the group of draws, if we had managed that 6th draw v France, i don't think we would have finished in top 2, would have been 4 teams on 18points and goal diff kicks in. But definitely one win and 5 draws would have clinched top spot there..
Our 3 rivals were unbeaten in that campaign.

Ah, I didn't see that post, i only read your next original post .

Any thoughts on my live case scenario from past campaign?

You are spot on with the live case scenario. Even the draw in the game we lost would have only enabled us to finish 3rd, as I'm pretty sure standings were decided on points, goal difference then goals scored, unlike now where the head to head counts. Had it counted, we'd have finished 2nd on away goals v Switzerland.
And yes had we have had one win and remaining draws, we'd have topped the group.

[geysir]

You are spot on with the live case scenario. Even the draw in the game we lost would have only enabled us to finish 3rd, as I'm pretty sure standings were decided on points, goal difference then goals scored, unlike now where the head to head counts. Had it counted, we'd have finished 2nd on away goals v Switzerland.
And yes had we have had one win and remaining draws, we'd have topped the group.

It was thee most complicated group in the closing stages re permutations,
When 3 or more teams are tied, the head to head doesn't figure. It turns into a mini group
Had that group ended with 4 teams level on points with all games drawn between the 4, it would have then come down to goals scored. In that mini group of 4, Israel would have topped the group with 7 and Swiss into playoff with 5
Had we equalised against france we would have been equal with Swiss on 5 goals scored but Swiss would still have gone through on criteria nr.4, goal diff in all group games.

[Deckydee]

Hi Guys,

Austria is my away trip this campaign and a pre-sale for the tickets has just gone online. There is a gotcha though...if you buy now you will need to buy for both the Irish and Welsh match. I really want to go as it is pretty close for me so I have already purchased for me and my other half (and her parents). Link here:

https://www.oeticket.com/fifa-world-...from=erdetaila

P.S - Anyone want 4 tickets for the Wales - Austria match?