Fixture dates confirmed

**finbarrk** · 12/02/2010, 11:10 PM

As the title says. Maybe it was said somewhere else on here but I can't find it.

**SuperDave** · 03/03/2010, 4:05 PM

Meeting in March 14th or 15th in Moscow. Sometime around then, anyway.

**Fr. Joe** · 04/03/2010, 10:57 AM

March 16th as far as I know

**MariborKev** · 15/03/2010, 3:33 PM

Any update on this lads?

**mypost** · 16/03/2010, 12:08 AM

Due out today, please god they will, and we don't have to wait for UEFA to draw them up.

Given the time difference, they should be out around lunchtime here if everything goes well. But I think it will be a hard slog, the Russians will probably play hardball when it comes to the fixtures, though they probably won't force anyone to go there in the depths of winter. Ideally, we'll get an Andorra game near the end of the series, which would allow us to have a celebration party if we've got the points from the other games.

What I don't want is the kind of fixture list the North got. Away first and last, no double home/away weeks, and off to Italy's qualification party in the last game. Scotland have to go to Spain last too. We don't want to have to go to Moscow that late in the series.

**EastTerracer** · 16/03/2010, 1:29 AM

Based on the story below it doesn't seem like the FAI are too confident that the fixtures will be agreed today. If none of the countries are able to agree then UEFA can step in and dictate the fixtures.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...266352578.html

**mypost** · 16/03/2010, 2:13 AM

I wouldn't be too concerned by that, in fact I think it's good that no fixtures have been pre-arranged. The whole point of the meeting is to sort them out there and then. They have the whole day to sort them out, and it could go on for 9-12 hours, like it did in 2004. As long as they get them done, that's the important thing.

But England's will have to be decided by UEFA, the second time in 3 qualifying campaigns. As usual, the Brits don't want to play in June. They don't realise that the draw is give and take.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle7063152.ece

Hope we don't have to go down that route, as it will probably mean a trek to one of the heavyweights later on.

**gspain** · 16/03/2010, 7:25 AM

This could be posturing to stop us being screwed by the Russians. There is the concern that a side deal has already been done. Italy, France and Scotland got together and screwed the Ukraine a few years back. They just said no thanks and got UEFA to draw the fixtures.

I have heard but can't provide a source that UEFA also take into account who they feel has been awkward. This means that the top seed doesn't necessarily get the last game at home etc.

I would have been happier if we had games arranged in advance.

**mypost** · 16/03/2010, 7:38 AM

Don't think it makes much difference if the games are arranged in advance, you still have to go to the meeting and formally agree to them. Even if they're pre-arranged, one slip up becomes a domino for all the other games.

But I also think, it should have been done on the day of the draw. All the delegations were there, they could just have easily sorted it out at the time, as very few would have changed their wish list in the intervening period. Whatever though, it's taken way too long just to get to this point, it should have been all done and dusted by Christmas.

**Gather round** · 16/03/2010, 8:24 AM

Originally Posted by mypost

But England's will have to be decided by UEFA, the second time in 3 qualifying campaigns. As usual, the Brits don't want to play in June. They don't realise that the draw is give and take

If by the 'Brits' you mean England (given that Wales are in the same group), they say they did manage to agree all their own fixtures, unlike all the other countries. Suggesting that they realise the need to give and take rather more than the others do.

What I don't want is the kind of fixture list the North got. Away first and last, no double home/away weeks, and off to Italy's qualification party in the last game

Most of our fans seem content with the set up. To be positive, if we're to improve it means winning away against similar size/ standard teams, so starting with Sovenia (or Estonia) makes sense. Pretty much nobody wanted an away double-header, which obviously in turn reduces the likelihood of a home equivalent. We did have one this time, which went well, but were then left with the two nominally strongest teams away in the last three games. More negatively, it doesn't really matter playing Italy away last as we won't be expecting much from the game. Unless they play with a man short for 87 minutes, maybe.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 16/03/2010, 9:27 AM

You are confusing us.

**Gather round** · 16/03/2010, 9:35 AM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

You are confusing us

It isn't difficult.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 16/03/2010, 9:38 AM

We know!

**EastTerracer** · 16/03/2010, 11:49 AM

No dates agreed - it's up to the UEFA computer now.....

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/...i_ireland.html

**mypost** · 16/03/2010, 2:11 PM

Originally Posted by Gather round

If by the 'Brits' you mean England (given that Wales are in the same group), they say they did manage to agree all their own fixtures, unlike all the other countries. Suggesting that they realise the need to give and take rather more than the others do.

I mean both of them, they were in the same group. Bulgaria objected to the arrangements.

In your group, Slovenia are a hard side to go to first. They beat you there in the last campaign. As for us, it's just more waiting.

**Declanus** · 16/03/2010, 5:29 PM

Seemingly they just couldn't agree dates. UEFA are going to do a draw in Isreal on the 25th March. Do they do a home and away draw or have they to meet again. Just means we won't be able to make arrangements any time soon.

**finbarrk** · 23/03/2010, 12:51 PM

Info about it here.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/new...d=1465821.html

**stiffler** · 23/03/2010, 5:42 PM

any idea what time on thursday these fixtures will be released?

**mypost** · 24/03/2010, 12:14 AM

Lunchtime

**eaststand85** · 24/03/2010, 2:24 PM

Originally Posted by finbarrk

Info about it here.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/new...d=1465821.html

Just been looking at that standard fixture list and in all cases where there's two matches to be played in the same week the weekend ones are scheduled for Fridays which would mean any of our weekend matches this year would be on a Friday (presumably at night).

Does anyone know if the associations can switch a game to the Saturday after the draw if they both agree? They may not want to, particularly if there's travelling to be done but be interested to know if it's a possibility.