Euro 2012 Qualifying Group B - General Discussion

**Predator** · 03/02/2011, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Jicked

Our hopes of Armenia doing us a favour against Russia, like they did against Slovakia, might not be too likely. Armenian daily newspaper Zhamanak today is suggesting Russian officials approached their Armenian counterparts with a view to paying for a guaranteed win, and that the game has long been rigged.

Can you add to this?

**Jicked** · 03/02/2011, 12:57 PM

I can't. The guy I heard it from might if you ask him: http://twitter.com/#!/jamesappell sportswriter who's a self-proclaimed Russophile. His knowledge of the Armenian dailies might be somewhat better than mine.

**rebelmusic** · 03/02/2011, 5:31 PM

From GreenScene -

Russia deny match fixing claim

3 February 2011 28 views No Comment Written by Michael
Ireland’s two Group B opponents, Russia and Armenia, have moved to distance themselves from match fixing allegations made in the Armenian tabloid Zhamanak.

The paper claimed that Russian authorities had made an unspecified “lucrative economic offer” to Armenia ahead of the game.
Armenian Football Federation President Ruben Hayrapetyan also strongly denied the claim by Zhamanak at a press conference in Yerevan on Thursday. He accused the paper, known for its pro-opposition reporting, of trying to discredit the national team, which, he said, is finally showing some good football.
Despite both countries denying the rumours, Zhamanak stood by the allegation in its Thursday edition, stating that “A government that has been giving Russia everything can also be expected to throw the football match with Russia,” it claimed.
Nikita Simonyan, a veteran Russian-Armenian player and current vice president of the Russian football union, dismissed the bribe talk completely. He stated, “We are waging a serious fight against corruption and fixed matches… This is ridiculous,”.
Currently Armenia sit just two points behind Russia, alongside Ireland and Slovakia in what is a very tight group. The result in Yerevan will have big consequences on who will gain the automatic qualifying spot.

**Stuttgart88** · 03/02/2011, 5:46 PM

I heard that the Russians offered to buy 4,000 Vantage Club seats from the FAI if they were given a 3 goal lead in Dublin.

**Yard of Pace** · 03/02/2011, 6:35 PM

And I heard when they saw who our centre midfield pairing was going to be they withdrew the offer...

**Noelys Guitar** · 03/02/2011, 10:30 PM

The KGB allegedly used ESP on foreign entities/individuals. "You must play Green and Whelan. You must play Green and Whelan. Get rid of rotund chap. Get rid of rotund chap".

**paul_oshea** · 04/02/2011, 9:40 AM

when did russias secret service start employing vietnamese/cambodian/korean mercenaries?

**Wolfie** · 04/02/2011, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I heard that the Russians offered to buy 4,000 Vantage Club seats from the FAI if they were given a 3 goal lead in Dublin.

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

And I heard when they saw who our centre midfield pairing was going to be they withdrew the offer...

An inspired "One...Two" there, Bill.

**geysir** · 04/02/2011, 1:53 PM

The Armenian president has stepped in and ordered the Armenian team to beat the Russians.
Ադրբեջանական նավթային ընկերությու

I bet most of you thought I was kidding.

**paul_oshea** · 04/02/2011, 2:31 PM

How? I mean how did you find it, apart from having UTF-8 to post those characters.

What do people think when they see this photo -> http://news.am/eng/news/45547.html

Lets hope the Armenian president is liked more than the egyptian president.

**geysir** · 04/02/2011, 2:51 PM

I am not smart enough to talk in terms of utf-8 or even have the remotest clue clue what it is.
A plain man like myself uses copy and paste of armenian text into the reply option url link in the post.

**paul_oshea** · 04/02/2011, 3:26 PM

I wouldn't describe you as plain or simple geysir.

**elroy** · 04/02/2011, 3:28 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

We have to win this one. No more to be said.

26-Mar-11 Ireland v Macedonia
26-Mar-11 Andorra v Slovakia
26-Mar-11 Armenia v Russia

Fact. Home win against Macedonia is a must and an away win if we want to top the group.

The ironic thing is the way we play Id be more confident of an away win at the moment.

**Noelys Guitar** · 04/02/2011, 7:42 PM

I like this build up to the Armenia v Russia game. Armenia hammered Slovakia above and beyond the 3-1 scoreline. They could do themselves and the rest of the group a big favour by beating or drawing with the Russians.

**Charlie Darwin** · 04/02/2011, 11:12 PM

It's really hard to gauge Armenia. We dealt with them very comfortably, I felt, but Slovakia were torn apart by them even though they seemed fairly solid when we played them.

**Spudulika** · 06/02/2011, 8:07 AM

The Russian media dealt with this accusation with a resounding guffaw, if that can be hear. On Russia 2 Sport News they reported it, likening the situation to the Eurovision Gazprom apparently bought, plus the World Ice Hockey Championships where a Canadian journo claimed the reason Russia won gold was because they'd bought off their opponents. Nothing would surprise me, though Armenia wouldn't like down like that. Oh, and it also referred to the English claims that Russia had paid bonuses to Croatian players for winning against England to send them through to the Euro's in 2008.

Regardless Ireland's fate is in their own hands. Beating Macedonia and Armenia, not losing to Slovakia and Russia and we'll be in at least a play off.

**paul_oshea** · 06/02/2011, 8:15 AM

Excuse my ignorance and i know its a poor country but wouldn't Russia be fierce rivals a bit like our relationship with England?

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/02/2011, 7:27 PM

A little bit, but they're mainly upset with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 06/02/2011, 8:34 PM

Having been there can echo that. Don't forget they and Azerbaijan refused to play each other when drawn in the same group, at least once, I believe?

And we were told they're still 'officially at war' when we were there. Though there was no obvious evidence of this.

**Spudulika** · 06/02/2011, 8:40 PM

Head up to the border Ardeebhoy. Remember the Azeri's regularly send in troops across the border and there are regular threats against Armenia from that side. The Armenians aren't blameless, they can be eejits as well, but the Azeri's really want to give them a tonking and are trying to outdo them in everything - the latest 2 are tennis and chess, mad as that sounds.