The 2nd place qualifying table

[DeLorean]

The taxi thing didn't really bother me in Bratislava really. Even ripping us off it was still probably cheaper than here I found. Like somebody above said you just had to agree a price beforehand. The hotel we were leaving charged us a few ridiculous hidden extras as well but again - no big deal. I just thought the place itself was ugly, gloomy and miserable and the people were the same. Of course the weather didn't help but even so.

[paul_oshea]

I was in getting a meal with the girlfriend, the waitress(although seriously hot so i let her away with it) just threw the plates on the table, seriouslly, literally slipped her hand from under the plates before they touched the table and turned away.

If you go to cuba you will find the same sorta service, its a communist mentalitiy, why work harder for the same amount of money?! Very unfriendly place, and as I say I was with the girlfriend we didnt really hang around the Irish bars, so no real reason why people would be "suspicious" etc. Having said that Ive met a lot of slovaks over here and all have been more than friendly, but then again when away from home you need to be that way.

[eirebhoy]

but why are you surprised!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not surprised but it's typical bennocelt when that's the only single point you've picked up on. I had a good time in Bratislava because there was a good crowd there. But it seemed like we weren't wanted there which is a pity. Although it had the highest proportion of good looking women of all the cities I've been.

[DeLorean]

Having said that Ive met a lot of slovaks over here and all have been more than friendly, but then again when away from home you need to be that way.

Yeah I met a girl from Bratislava in Cork and she was sound. She couldn't believe that I thought her homeland was such a sh!thole!! I could have left it off I suppose but it wasn't long after the trip and I felt fairly passionately about it.

[NeilMcD]

Hope you were not trying to chat her up DeLorean. Never a good line to destroy someones home country.

[paul_oshea]

Yeah I met a girl from Bratislava in Cork and she was sound. She couldn't believe that I thought her homeland was such a sh!thole!! I could have left it off I suppose but it wasn't long after the trip and I felt fairly passionately about it.

HAHA, good way of breaking the ice there....You annoy her and then start joking and reel her in. "how much does a fat polar bear weigh?!" " i dont know" "either do i but it breaks the ice "

[geysir]

And if the ice hasn't broken, she is wondering why you thought of a fat polar bear.

[paul_oshea]

If the ice hasn't broken thats some thick ice, and a frosty reception received, or else its not a very fat polar bear

[Superhoops]

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!

Just out of interest I sent the following e-mail to FIFA in Zurich a week or so ago:

'When the draw is made on 19th October for the 4 ties to determine the remaining 4 places allocated to the European Zone between the best eight second placed group teams in the European Zone, will those eight teams be seeded or will it be a straight forward open draw?'

This morning I got this reply:

'we thank you for your enquiry. Please understand that - at the moment - there's no more information available.

Kind regards

Communications & Public Affairs
FIFA - Fédération Internationale de Football Association
www.FIFA.com'

Smells of rats and hot balls

[Stuttgart88]

PORTUGAL, GREECE,CZECH REPUBLIC,RUSSIA, BOSNIA-HERZ,CROATIA, FRANCE...these are the seven teams I expect to join us in the "draw".

I love a good conspiracy theory myself, but who of these would be FIFA's favourites?

Portugal (or Sweden), Russia & France on basis of perceived pedigree and size of TV audience.

How would you rank Greece, Bosnia, Czechs, Croatia and ourselves (assuming...)?

On size of country ourseves, Croatia & Bosnia would be at bottom I think.

From Edgar's site the October FIFA rankings are:

7 Croatia
8 Russia
12 France
13 Portugal
21 Czechs
22 Greece
29 ROI
45 Bosnia

If any open draw was to be fixed the only guess I'd make would be that Russia, France & Portugal would be kept apart. The rest FIFA can live with or without.

Sweden's ranking of 41 would put a spanner in the works if they got second ahead of Portugal. I think FIFA would like them at a WC. I would. Good looking birds and all that.

[DeLorean]

Hope you were not trying to chat her up DeLorean. Never a good line to destroy someones home country.

Yeah, tact passed me by on that occasion, as well as many others.

[Superhoops]

.....From Edgar's site the October FIFA rankings are:

7 Croatia
8 Russia
12 France
13 Portugal
21 Czechs
22 Greece
29 ROI
45 Bosnia

If any open draw was to be fixed the only guess I'd make would be that Russia, France & Portugal would be kept apart. The rest FIFA can live with or without.....

If these were the eight teams. I could see FIFA using the rankings as justification to keep the top four apart and from a footballing point of view they are probably the four teams of the eight they would prefer to be at the finals.

If that was the case, I could not see us beating any of them over 2 legs.

[gspain]

I love a good conspiracy theory myself, but who of these would be FIFA's favourites?

Portugal (or Sweden), Russia & France on basis of perceived pedigree and size of TV audience.

How would you rank Greece, Bosnia, Czechs, Croatia and ourselves (assuming...)?

On size of country ourseves, Croatia & Bosnia would be at bottom I think.

From Edgar's site the October FIFA rankings are:

7 Croatia
8 Russia
12 France
13 Portugal
21 Czechs
22 Greece
29 ROI
45 Bosnia

If any open draw was to be fixed the only guess I'd make would be that Russia, France & Portugal would be kept apart. The rest FIFA can live with or without.

Sweden's ranking of 41 would put a spanner in the works if they got second ahead of Portugal. I think FIFA would like them at a WC. I would. Good looking birds and all that.

The big thing is tv audience. France is a big country with a big tv market share. Germany is a massive tv market. They will be there.

Portugal is simply a Ronaldo thing - FIFA will want him at the World Cup.

Good looking Swedish fans or a big travelling Irish contingent don't really factor in. France's away support has always been pathetic. They sold half their allocation for a World Cup semi final in a neighbouring country and most of those were to touts. We had more fans at Israel v France ( I went home but my mates stayed on) than they had in 2005.

Although Russia is a massive market I don't know how financially lucrative it is for FIFA.

If it is just France then they'll probably let the balls fall as they do. If France, Germany and Portugal are in the playoffs then expect a seeding change at the last minute.

[geysir]

I wouldn't underestimate the power of good looking Swedish birds to heat up the balls.

[Stuttgart88]

very good

[elroy]

A guy on newstalk tonight said that Uefa have announced that the play off draw will be seeded, anyone hear anything to confirm this?

[Torn-Ado]

Yeah I met a girl from Bratislava in Cork and she was sound. She couldn't believe that I thought her homeland was such a sh!thole!! I could have left it off I suppose but it wasn't long after the trip and I felt fairly passionately about it.

I take it you got your hole then.

[Tipp Townie]

If that was the case, I could not see us beating any of them over 2 legs.

I'd actually be quite hopeful against all of those except Portugal and Russia. Germany would also be incredibly tough, were they to be involved.

Don't get me wrong i wouldnt actually jump with joy whoever we get. Some previous play-offs have included a weak team that everyone wanted to draw; but not this time it would seem.
Nevertheless, some of the more 'established' names there are in terrible form (France, Croatia), whilst we should feel confident of at least matching up to the others like Bosnia or Greece. All to play for, to use the old cliche.

Speaking of Greece - if we got them in the playoffs, surely that'd be the most boring 2 legs of football ever?!

[SuperDave]

A guy on newstalk tonight said that Uefa have announced that the play off draw will be seeded, anyone hear anything to confirm this?

Well, seeing as FIFA run the competition, chances are he was talking through his hole.

[youngirish]

Speaking of Greece - if we got them in the playoffs, surely that'd be the most boring 2 legs of football ever?!

The midfield for both sides could agree to meet in the centre circle before kick off for a few cans of guinness and a bottle of ouzo and sit out the entire game with no-one being the wiser.