Preliminary Draw of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

**SkStu** · 01/08/2011, 4:51 PM

dont think Sweden or Germany will be too happy about getting us.

**Charlie Darwin** · 01/08/2011, 5:00 PM

Originally Posted by zero

i like your positivity, but i expect the germans to win every game in the group with the possible exceptions of sweden away and us away. they have an 100% record in the euro qualifiers and have lots of good young players who will only improve.

Germany are still on the up but will Klose be there after the Euros? He's still a vital game-winner for them. Remember in the qualifiers for the World Cup they drew 3-3 with Finland, though they showed how lethal they can be by beating Russia when they needed to and topped the group.

**DannyInvincible** · 01/08/2011, 5:51 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

dont think Sweden or Germany will be too happy about getting us.

Anyone aware of the mood in Sweden or Germany as regards the draw? I was trying to have a look through some of the German media online, but I can't speak German and Google Translator isn't really up to much.

**Stuttgart88** · 01/08/2011, 7:51 PM

Great draw. i've long felt we have a better chance against northern europeans than southern or ex-soviet bloc teams. we owe austria one from '95. Still under no illusions though, it's gonna be tough and we're realistically fighting for 2nd, but sweden have been my benchmark for some time now. now i can see if we can match it.

**paul_oshea** · 01/08/2011, 7:59 PM

Stutts can use mobile foot.ie!!

**AlaskaFox** · 01/08/2011, 8:00 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Anyone aware of the mood in Sweden or Germany as regards the draw? I was trying to have a look through some of the German media online, but I can't speak German and Google Translator isn't really up to much.

Quotes from the various bosses here:
http://greenscene.me/2011/08/reactio...orld-cup-draw/

**BonnieShels** · 01/08/2011, 8:39 PM

I like reading about opinions of us from abroad. It's interesting to see the consistency of opinion though amongst the other teams of us.

I also think we are better than some of us are giving ourselves credit for.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 01/08/2011, 9:32 PM

Originally Posted by Gather round

Everyone else seems to have understood it well enough.

No, they can't be bothered to argue against such warped 'logic'....

**Crosby87** · 01/08/2011, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I think we already have. The two games we'd have slipped up on in previous years would be Armenia away and Macedonia away.

Yes. Thats the difference with Trap I think. It doesn't matter what it looks like to win, but you need those 3 points. I joke around about Kerr Staying up late with a candle, Ouija board, and half a bottle of Goldshclager, waiting to screw us but honestly if Trap is in charge they will get 6 off the Faroes. If Stan was in charge they would get a late penalty to tie us and screw us with our pants on. If life could be like Playstation and Kerr of Ireland could go up agaisnt Kerr of Faroe it would somehow end 2-2 yet again screwing us.

**Charlie Darwin** · 02/08/2011, 12:09 AM

We really shouldn't have any problem with the Faroes. As much as they battled against the North (and really should have scored more than once), they only drew the game because Nigel's team seemed determined to avoid scoring at all costs, except for Lafferty who must not have received the memo.

**Crosby87** · 02/08/2011, 1:43 AM

I hate looking forward to this Charlie but i will remind you of this post. B/C who knows who is managing.

**theworm2345** · 02/08/2011, 2:13 AM

...and we'll really shake them up when we win the World Cup, 'cause Ireland are the greatest football team.

**Deckydee** · 02/08/2011, 6:28 AM

Any word yet from Trap?

**ArdeeBhoy** · 02/08/2011, 7:34 AM

About what?

Croatia? Slovakia?

**pineapple stu** · 02/08/2011, 8:21 AM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Anyone aware of the mood in Sweden or Germany as regards the draw

My sister's working in Germany at the moment and says that the reaction there is that they've basically qualified already. And they're probably right.

**OwlsFan** · 02/08/2011, 8:23 AM

Whoever said earlier in the thread that we can beat anyone at home seems to have forgotton our home performances under Trap against the major teams in our groups. I don't believe we have won any and lost to both France and Russia. We will find it VERY hard to beat any of Austria/Germany or Sweden in Dublin based upon past performances but they will find it tough to break us down in their backyard.

Germany - lost 3 qualifiers in the last 76 I heard someplace. I'd say they are quaking in their boots facing Whelan and Andrews.

Sweden/Austria - similar to us. It will be one chance in three for us which of us goes through with the odds slightly favouring the Swedes as the 2nd seed.

A tough draw but 2nd place odds at around 35% with the Swedes 45% and the Austrians 20%. Great from a travel point of view.

Looking forward to it already.

p.s. There is a long history of national managers putting one over on their countries of birth. Please God that won't happen to us.

**pineapple stu** · 02/08/2011, 8:26 AM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Germany - lost 3 qualifiers in the last 76 I heard someplace.

2 of the last 74 per the greenscene link. Which'd probably mean 2 ever. I think they also lost one Euro qualifier (against Portugal)?

Interestingly, one of the teams to have beaten them is the North.

Also - since when is Bierhoff the German manager?!

Edit - presumably it's a typo; Loew still in charge per wiki. Good article though.

**mypost** · 02/08/2011, 8:28 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

My sister's working in Germany at the moment and says that the reaction there is that they've basically qualified already. And they're probably right.

I don't know when it was ever any different. They always think they've qualified. They do qualify, but sometimes it's a close run thing for them.

**AlaskaFox** · 02/08/2011, 8:32 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

2 of the last 74 per the greenscene link. Which'd probably mean 2 ever. I think they also lost one Euro qualifier (against Portugal)?

Interestingly, one of the teams to have beaten them is the North.

Also - since when is Bierhoff the German manager?!

Edit - presumably it's a typo; Loew still in charge per wiki. Good article though.

He's the general manager. Forgot the word "general"

**DannyInvincible** · 02/08/2011, 8:44 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Interestingly, one of the teams to have beaten them is the North.

God yeah; Jackie Fullerton didn't half go on about that right through the '90s. I think they beat them twice in qualifying for UEFA '84 though. Did they beat them in World Cup qualifying as well at some point?

Originally Posted by mypost

I don't know when it was ever any different. They always think they've qualified. They do qualify, but sometimes it's a close run thing for them.

The certainty of it all must make things awful mundane.