The 2nd place qualifying table

[shakermaker1982]

I don't think the 2nd placed team in N.Ireland's group will be on more than 18 (12 if you take away the 6). That's just my prediction and I haven't even looked at other groups since yesterday afternoon.

Will Scotland beat Holland? Even a reserve Dutch side should have more than enough class to ensure they get a point. I know they have nothing riding on it but the squad players will be playing for a plane ticket to South Africa!.

[eirebhoy]

It's one of those nights. Individual ability goes out the window. If it's a draw with 10 minutes to go it'll be all Scotland imo.

[citizenerased]

scotland have no chance of beating holland, played some good football yesterday though

[seanfhear]

Here is another updated version of the second place table. Its a bit hard to follow but this one includes all the teams that still have a decent chance of finishing second. The group number down the left is probably the most notable thing at this stage. 8 of the bottom nine teams on the list are from Groups 1, 3 and 9 and the other team (Israel) is unlikely to come second in Group 2. So the lowest second place team will almost certainly come from Group 1, 3 or 9.

2nd Place Table September 6th

G TEAM P W D L GF GA GD PTS

7 Serbia---- 5 4 0 1 11 5 +6 13
4 Germany-- 5 4 1 0 10 4 +6 13
4 Russia---- 5 4 0 1 11 3 +8 12
1 Denmark-- 5 3 2 0 8 3 +5 11
8 Italy------ 5 3 2 0 7 3 +4 11
6 Croatia---- 6 3 2 1 10 7 +3 11
6 Ukraine---- 6 3 2 1 9 6 +3 11
7 France---- 6 3 2 1 8 7 +1 11
8 Bulgaria--- 6 2 4 0 10 5 +5 10
2 Latvia----- 6 3 1 2 9 5 +4 10
2 Switzerland 5 3 1 1 9 6 +3 10
2 Greece---- 6 3 1 2 9 6 +3 10
3 Slovakia--- 5 3 1 1 9 7 +2 10
8 Ireland---- 6 2 4 0 6 4 +2 10
9 Scotland-- 7 3 1 3 6 10 -4 10
5 Bosnia----- 5 3 0 2 14 6 +8 9
1 Sweden--- 6 2 3 1 4 3 +1 9
5 Turkey---- 6 2 2 2 8 7 +1 8
3 Slovenia--- 6 2 2 2 5 4 +1 8
3 N. Ireland-- 6 2 2 2 6 7 -1 8
9 Norway---- 7 1 4 2 7 6 +1 7
1 Hungary--- 5 2 1 2 5 4 +1 7
1 Portugal--- 6 1 4 1 5 5 0 7
9 Macedonia- 7 2 1 4 4 9 -5 7
2 Israel------ 6 1 3 2 8 8 0 6
3 Czech------ 6 1 3 2 5 6 -1 6
3 Poland----- 5 1 2 2 7 8 -1 5

And they say that football is for the unsophisticated man/woman.

[tricky_colour]

I do beleive Ireland could top the group, with Bulgaria second and Italy third and so fail to qualify!

[Hibernian]

I think after last nights result if we get at worst 3 points in either last two games we be safe to go through as top 8 second seed.

But Im more hopeful we can top this group. We need little bit luck from Italy to drop points lets hope they will on Wednesday night now

[geysir]

France are favourites for a 2nd place place spot and struggling with a bout of Saipanitis.

Dominech - agitation dans le camp

Serbia 4 points clear, play them at home tonight and are generously rated at 2/1 to win.

[Razors left peg]

Theres almost a very very small part of me that hopes we finish 2nd and get Northern Ireland in the playoffs.... just so we can knock them out

[Duggie]

there isnt an easy 2nd place game that we could get in the qualifiers really. bloody lottery, we can still top our group with a few favourable results.

[shep]

Theres almost a very very small part of me that hopes we finish 2nd and get Northern Ireland in the playoffs.... just so we can knock them out

A real dream scenario....but i think draw will be rigged so that so called bigger nations get drawn with "weaker ones" like ourselves and Norn Irn

[geysir]

Five teams are already red hot favoured for a play off place.
Sweden, Greece, France, Ireland and Bosnia.

Croatia could do with a point tonight, otherwise - Ukraine

Russia /Germany, tonight Russia must win to avoid play off

Czech Rep, 3 home games including SM, if they beat Poland at home, derr dare.

[Gather round]

Czech Rep, 3 home games including SM, if they beat Poland at home, derr dare

I'd have them slight favorites to finish second with 18 effectively 12 points. But they've been below par so far, only one win in six sgnificant games including a home defeat.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Theres almost a very very small part of me that hopes we finish 2nd and get Northern Ireland in the playoffs.... just so we can knock them out

I don't fancy us in a play off against the north. I just don't. Dunno if they'd even win a leg but I could easily envisage a scoreless draw in Belfast and a 1-1 in Dublin.

No thanks. I'd rather avoid them ...and that's without much consideration to the utter, utter langballs from both sides that'd seep through the floor.

[Gather round]

I don't fancy us in a play off against the north. I just don't. Dunno if they'd even win a leg but I could easily envisage a scoreless draw in Belfast and a 1-1 in Dublin.

No thanks. I'd rather avoid them ...and that's without much consideration to the utter, utter langballs from both sides that'd seep through the floor.

Agreed on yr second point, LR. Though it pains me of course.

You're capable of beating any of the likely play off candidates, relax.

[Duggie]

play off are a lottery. i wouldnt like the north for the crowd / atmosphere / tension it would create. take away from the whole occasion. on a footballing side we would win i think. couldnt see them coming to croker and getting anything, equally i couldnt not see us score a few against them.

[geysir]

I'd have them slight favorites to finish second with 18 effectively 12 points. But they've been below par so far, only one win in six sgnificant games including a home defeat.

They are slight favourites to finish second.
Reason for that is that it's in their own hands.
3 home games
On reports of recent form, they played well against Slovakia away.
Poland looked like powder puff against NI

[Gather round]

They are slight favourites to finish second.
Reason for that is that it's in their own hands.
3 home games
On reports of recent form, they played well against Slovakia away.
Poland looked like powder puff against NI

We're agreed they're slight favorite. It's not "in their own hands"- their 18 points would only in itself eliminate NI and Poland (both 17 maximum), but not Slovenia who can still make 20 by beating Poland, Slovakia and SMR.

play off are a lottery. i wouldnt like the north for the crowd / atmosphere / tension it would create. take away from the whole occasion. on a footballing side we would win i think. couldnt see them coming to croker and getting anything, equally i couldnt not see us score a few against them

They're a lottery, but who knows? We scored three against Poland, you none against Montenegro.

[DeLorean]

I'd have them slight favorites to finish second with 18 effectively 12 points

Not at all, shur they're still 0-0 with San Marino after 15mins!! Stan was right about em being a handful

[elroy]

From a purely playoff spot perspective, here is what we are hoping for tonight:

Group1:
Hungary/Portugal draw
Malta draw/beat Sweden

Group2:
Greece draw/lose to Moldova
Latvia/Swiss draw or Swiss win

Group3:
Slovakia/NI draw
Slovenia/Poland draw

Group4:
Russia lose to Wales

Group5:
Bosnia/Turkey draw or Turkey win (huge game in this group)

Group6:
Croatia lose/draw with England
Ukraine lose/draw with Belarus

Group7:
France lose to Serbia

Group9:
Scots lose to Holland

[gilberto_eire]

So is this settled after tonight?..... All games appear to be over in group 9 and the total is 10 points, we also have a better goal difference(unless we lose our last two)