It's France

**dingbat** · 19/10/2009, 12:40 PM

Sat 14th will be huge. Can't wait! We'll lift the roof off the place for 90 minutes.

**Junior** · 19/10/2009, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by Lenny82

What the **** happened to the second draw to determine who plays home first? Another last minute movement of the goal posts by FIFA?

Jaysus thats an awful draw but better than getting Russia or Portugal.

So much for Trap being the luckiest manager ever. Didn't see much luck there!!

There was 2 draws.

One ball from Pot 1 and one ball from Pot 2 went in to a central Pot.

Then the first ball drawn from the Central Pot was the Home Tie first.

**dr_peepee** · 19/10/2009, 12:40 PM

Merde...

**Dun Laoire** · 19/10/2009, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

I don't understand the pessimism. France haven't been great in the qualification so far and we've seen that we can get results against good teams. Given a choice of Portugal, Russia or France, I'd definitely take France. Greece would have been ideal but this is still second best IMO.

i agree, it was more the home/away draw i was looking out for. Didn't go in our favour but still............

**youngirish** · 19/10/2009, 12:42 PM

Any suggestions of where the best place to get tickets for the game in Paris? We can make their home game as hostile an atmosphere for them as possible. Can't see the FAI having anywhere near enough for the demand. I'd prefer to not be stuck in the French section as if we nicked a win I'd say it could get fairly hostile and also I don't like the smell of onions and garlic.

**dr_peepee** · 19/10/2009, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

I don't understand the pessimism. France haven't been great in the qualification so far and we've seen that we can get results against good teams. Given a choice of Portugal, Russia or France, I'd definitely take France. Greece would have been ideal but this is still second best IMO.

Nah.. Too much individual quality to turn us over. Like Henry did at Lansdowne..

I was hoping for Portugal (Ronaldo's lack of fitness) or Greece..

**Jon'o** · 19/10/2009, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Any suggestions of where the best place to get tickets for the away game is? Can't see the FAI having anywhere near enough for the demand. I'd prefer to not be stuck in the French section as if we nicked a win I'd say it could get fairly hostile and also I don't like the smell of onions and garlic.

From the last trip, tickets WONT be a problem, there were patches of ireland fans dotted all around the stadium and the stewards couldn't care less.

I would suggest that an admin looks at unlocking or bumping the thread on the fans site as it had all the info you'd need.

**pineapple stu** · 19/10/2009, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Jon'o

I would suggest that an admin looks at unlocking or bumping the thread on the fans site as it had all the info you'd need.

Which thread is that?

**youngirish** · 19/10/2009, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Jon'o

From the last trip, tickets WONT be a problem, there were patches of ireland fans dotted all around the stadium and the stewards couldn't care less.

True my good friend but that was a fairly run of the mill qualification game early in the group (at least as far as the French fans were concerned) and as such the demand for tickets from the home supporters would have been considerably less than for this play-off.

**FarBeag** · 19/10/2009, 12:53 PM

We have no hope with the team we currently have. We have some hope if we can find a proper left back, Steven Reid is fit and remains so, we find someone who is good enough to partner him and A Reid is drafted back into the squad so we have something different up our sleeve instead of predictable hoof it up the park and hope someone gets lucky.

**Duggie** · 19/10/2009, 12:55 PM

if we can just keep a clean sheet at home then we have a good chance. IF though. a 0-0 wouldnt be to bad even. will be tough with there fire power.

**noddy102** · 19/10/2009, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Duggie

if we can just keep a clean sheet at home then we have a good chance. IF though. a 0-0 wouldnt be to bad even. will be tough with there fire power.

What are the chances that if we draw 0-0 at home, then are drawing 1-1 at half time that Fifa will clarify during half time that away goals don't count?

**an_ceannaire** · 19/10/2009, 12:58 PM

I dont buy into all this pessimism atall! And here is why. France for me is the ideal draw. Right now, they are rubbish. Their manager is a joke. Their talismatic leader is having a nightmare season. There is no Zidane. There is no Viera of 98. There isnt even a Makelele. Their man man is Ribery and he is over rated. Quality, yes, Zidane...no! More Arjen Robben than Zinadine!
They have a dodgy keeper, they cant defend set pieces. Ask the Bulgarians about Irish set peices

Their defence is shaky. The parisian Crowd will turn quicker than a runny egg on them. Remember France Romania??!!
And, and this is a major plus. Say we had drawn Russia....we would be lucky to get 1000 fans going over. So we would be going over to a freezing, completely hostile environment to face Arshavin and co. As it is, we could have as many as 10,000 fans in the stadium that night and the place will be buzzing.
So long as the tie is still alive (which it will be) going to Paris, then we have a HUGE shout.

ps...on a side note, given his form in recent days and the monumental game we have coming up, Trap really needs to swallow his pride and get Andy back. For the sake of the team! Imagien the 2 reids in the centre. Different team completely.

**Emmet7** · 19/10/2009, 12:58 PM

I'm actually quite happy with the draw.

France on paper look a great side. But the reality as has been shown over the last few years is something different.

As a unit they aren't great. Anelka seems a completely differnt player playing for France, not half as good as for Chelsea.

And sometimes it's not a good idea to have a lot of talented creative players in your team. You need someone to do the tracking back, to do the harsh tackling, to throw their bodies into it and shove other players off the ball. If France have 7 or 8 creative players who want to be on the ball and pass it, who will be the holding midfielder, who will be the rugged central midfielders to win the ball and pass it to the creative players. You cannot win matches with creative players alone.

I am highly doubtful of the battling qualities of the French. Sure they have the talent. They can produce a moment of brillance to turn a game. But it seems only one or two moments in a game.

Ireland have matchwinners of our own who will get at the French and produce chances.

And France have been poor at setpieces, while Ireland are good at scoring from setpieces. If the French are poor at defending the high ball, corners, free kicks into the box, then Caleb Folan might just be the man at a certain stage.

I see the French as being similar to the Italians. Good technically with the ball at their feet, but poor from setpieces and dealing with big aggressive players from opposing teams such as Dunne and Folan.

We can beat the French and setpieces might be the key area where we do it.

As for the football purists, I don't care what they think. If we beat the French by lobbing high ball after high ball at Caleb Folan up front, I will be well pleased.

**paul_oshea** · 19/10/2009, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by alltogethernow

�60 return at the minute on the train. just booked it

just got �60 return over tuesday back thursday morning.

**noddy102** · 19/10/2009, 1:01 PM

Ignoring the ability of France, I'm just happy we have to chance to seek revenge for the match in Lansdowne Road, 2005.

Domenech famously called the Irish fans that night 'like animals in a barn', so it is the perfect opportunity to stick the two fingers up at him, and hopefully be the reason for his sacking!

**Herr Dots** · 19/10/2009, 1:01 PM

who will be the holding midfielder, who will be the rugged central midfielders to win the ball and pass it to the creative players.

Lassana Diarra

**luka** · 19/10/2009, 1:01 PM

I'm moving house for the week anyway. French Wife..........................

**DeLorean** · 19/10/2009, 1:05 PM

I think people are overly concerned about the fact that we are at home first. I'm not even so sure it is a disadvantage. I recall Celtic's UEFA Cup run where they got to the Final and I think they were drawn at home first in nearly every round. It suits some teams and I think we could be one of them. France will more than likely be fairly content with 0-0 at Croke Park, which gives us a real chance of keeping it tight and hopefully keeping a clean sheet.