review of the Ireland V Austria game on UEFA.com: http://www.uefa.com/under17/matches/...ort/index.html
UEFA showing Belgium as group 4 runners up on 6 points and with a +2 GD, which would mean it's all over, I think.
review of the Ireland V Austria game on UEFA.com: http://www.uefa.com/under17/matches/...ort/index.html
Still there at moment. Chin up. As you say it's 1st and 3rd taken for the best runners-up and not the Final Group table.
But there is plenty of room for other nations to get above Ireland. I expect one if not two RU get 4 points from 1st and 3rd, other RUs to get 3 points with a positive GD and one group to have a spoiler nation with three draws messing up every ones chances bar the winners in that group.
It's a reminder, as you say, to stay clear of the trouble by winning the group. Helps with seeding later on.
Rep. of Ireland are the target at the moment. Last group finishes on April 01.
" I'll go right up to here,
it can't possibly hurt.
All they will find is my
beer and my shirt."
What a curious system. So we're two goals ahead of Belgium then.
Curious but welcomed.
Still alive in the race for best runner up.
looks like another group gone. England have beaten sweden 4-0 and Sweden then beat Slovaia 2-0 so likely to beat Malta and finish second but with a -2 GD.
3 groups to go but getting tougher here.
We need Holland to beat the Czechs or Georgia to beat/draw with Ukraine. A Ukraine win and a draw/win for the Czechs would put us out.
Then Germany's group is the real concern. We need Serbia to beat/draw with Germany or a 1 goal German win. We also need switzerland to beat/draw with Hungary. Complicated group
with strange results already so could go wrong for us.
Group 5 looks worse. We need France to draw with Wales or win by 1 goal. A welsh win or more likely a 2 goal French win would put us out. If there is any justice France will be leading 2-0 in the 80th minute and a Welsh player will punch in a goal.
Trust the English and the Swedes to present a nice clean group. Group 1 (today) and group seven (thurs) have seven combinations where RoI will stay ahead.
The other group 6, today in Hungary. The only combination to guarantee RoI fail is Hungary and Germany winning. Which sounds kinda normal to me.
That Wales group (Wed) is the danger. And it's the Welsh that have caused it with their two draws. If they get a third it's the best chance RoI have. Two draws is the only guarantee of safety.
Two teams have also won their first two games and not qualified Belgium and Croatia. Blame RoI for that one.
" I'll go right up to here,
it can't possibly hurt.
All they will find is my
beer and my shirt."
Czechs 1 up and Georgia just gone 1 up. Both at start of 2nd half.
Think we are still OK on this one once Georgia win/draw.
What a rollercoaster but we are still alive.
Ukraine 2 Georgia 2. Ukraine came back to lead 2-1 which would have put us out. A 78th minute penalty gave Georgia a draw. Czechs leading the Dutch 1-0 which will decide the group but we are safe as best runner up for the moment.
update
1-0 to the Czechs. they are through. The Dutch are out. We are still the best runner up. 3 groups to go.
Last edited by gspain; 30/03/2010 at 3:45 PM. Reason: update.
I would have been gutted if that group went above us.
Netherlands another nation that won it's first two matches and are now out. Nobody will ever know how close they came.
" I'll go right up to here,
it can't possibly hurt.
All they will find is my
beer and my shirt."
A Serbia draw tonight and they'd most likely put us out on 5 points unless they win the group. We ended up with 6 (appreciate teams on 6 had better gd and are behind us).
We need a 1 goal German win or a Serbian win in their match. 2 draws tonight though will do us also. Wins for Serbia and Switzerland will also work. Need a bit of luck tonight.
Germany 3-1 up
Switzerland 2 up
Presume that's no good for us?
I have a head only Snow White would love
No, Serbia are a man down and leaking goals. They couldn't live with Germany in the 1st half.
Only hope is bottom of the table Hungary score two and equalise against home side Switzerland..
That is good enough
" I'll go right up to here,
it can't possibly hurt.
All they will find is my
beer and my shirt."
That's how it stayed. Swit. 3-1 Hungary, Serbia 1-4 Germany.
Germany take over the best runners-up 4-2 GD 3pts. They can be overtaken by Group 5 nations. Wales have a small chance to over-take them but they will need to beat France in France.
This best runners-up only came about because Liechenstein lost some squad players and felt they wouldn't give a competitve performance as hosts of the Finals.
" I'll go right up to here,
it can't possibly hurt.
All they will find is my
beer and my shirt."
Shame. It was always a longshot but as a couple of groups went right it started to look good.
Sad to see them go out but really we got to do better and in future not rely on long-shots.
Our old friends France have taken the best runner up spot barring mathematical miracles. They needed to beat Wales by 4 goals to pip Germany and did just that.
To deny France a place in the finals Slovakia would need to beat England and Malta to draw with or beat Sweden. Even if Malta win it would take a 3 goal slovakia win.
In reality Sweden will beatr Malta and France are through.
Just to round things off - France did qualify as best runner up as expected. England beat Slovakia to win their group and qualify.
Thanks for all the updates everyone; made for compelling reading!
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
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