Estonia V Ireland - Friday, 11th November 2011 - Euro 2012 Play Off 1st Leg

**nigel-harps1954** · 13/10/2011, 2:27 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

ive been informed its going to be absolutely freezing out there. Ive also been informed of something else which I would not like to disclose of right now.

Herpes?

**French Toasht** · 13/10/2011, 2:28 PM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

Who cares? Why even bother quoting those bitter, twisted pieces of garbage. All it highlights for me is how terrible the soccer supporters are up there compared to the rugby fans, some real gents support Ulster. Seem to be a pile of utter ****s who support NI soccer.

It really is pathetic. Reminds me of how they started singing "There's only one Thierry Henry", during a match that they were beaten by the mighty Albania.

They really need to brush those chips off their shoulder.

**Closed Account** · 13/10/2011, 2:28 PM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

In retrospect looking at this group for the 2010 qualifiers, what a hellish group it was. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FI...3_UEFA_Group_5

All 6 of those teams were in a potential qualifying position into the last day. 1 is qualified and 3 are in the playoffs. Led to a lot of those teams being underrated and underseeded coming into this campaign as we found out with Armenia.

Good spot, it also highlights how dominant Spain are at the moment. 100% record, and didn't concede a goal at home.

**French Toasht** · 13/10/2011, 2:31 PM

Must admit I do feel sorry for Bosnia. Look likely to miss out again, having come so close to automatic qualification by 12 minutes. Must be feeling like we did after the Macedonia 99 debacle.

**Murfinator** · 13/10/2011, 2:39 PM

I wouldn't count them out at all against Portugal. Neither teams will be happy with that draw. If it goes as expected though at least its a young side like Belgium who'll have more chances to bring their golden generation to the big stage. Would not like to have either in our WC qualifying group.

**geysir** · 13/10/2011, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

ive been informed its going to be absolutely freezing out there. .

If you call november weather absolutely freezing, what would you call the weather when they have their real winter, in february?

Ive also been informed of something else which I would not like to disclose of right now

a malicious, scurrilous newspaper slur campaign against your good name, no doubt

**Hibs4Ever** · 13/10/2011, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by French Toasht

Must admit I do feel sorry for Bosnia. Look likely to miss out again, having come so close to automatic qualification by 12 minutes. Must be feeling like we did after the Macedonia 99 debacle.

I reckon they'll beat Portugal

**paul_oshea** · 13/10/2011, 2:47 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

If you call november weather absolutely freezing, what would you call the weather when they have their real winter, in february?

I think that was with respect to what we Irish are used to, at least one can only assume

**Charlie Darwin** · 13/10/2011, 2:49 PM

I've been to Estonia in February. ****ing Baltic in every sense of the word.

**geysir** · 13/10/2011, 2:55 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I've been to Estonia in February. ****ing Baltic in every sense of the word.

February?
It's -13C in the shade, you're heroically trudging your way down the street towards the off-license, the steps are getting slower by the stride, when you get hit by the baltic wind at the intersection.

**Charlie Darwin** · 13/10/2011, 3:13 PM

It's a nice spot alright. Walking around Riga for 8 hours was also fun.

**French Toasht** · 13/10/2011, 3:45 PM

Ok don't get me wrong I don't want to get ahead of myself here but ...

This could be the first time we qualify for a tournament in Dublin.

Euro 88 : Qualification secured after a match in Sofia between Bulgaria and Scotland.

WC 1990: Qualification secured after a 2-0 win in Malta.

WC 1994: Qualification secured after a 1-1 draw with NI in Belfast.

WC 2002: Qualification secured after a 1-0 defeat to Iran in Tehran. (2-1 victory on aggregate.)

Euro 2012: Qualification in Landsdowne vs Estonia?????

Twud be some night in Coppers!!

**Stuttgart88** · 13/10/2011, 3:54 PM

Was going to go to the away match and not the home game, but Toashtie has probably changed my mind for me.

**ifk101** · 13/10/2011, 3:56 PM

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/new...d=1696105.html

"I won't deny the fact that we wanted to face Ireland more than the others. Maybe the experience of our victories against Northern Ireland will help us. Both teams have the same British style of football".

**French Toasht** · 13/10/2011, 3:58 PM

I think they are using NI as a yard stick for what to expect against us.

Lulled into a false sense of security. Perfect.

**dynamo kerry** · 13/10/2011, 4:29 PM

Originally Posted by French Toasht

I think they are using NI as a yard stick for what to expect against us.

Lulled into a false sense of security. Perfect.

This is a wierd statement. A country with a much lower ranking, less pedigree in players in terms of divisions played in is hardly comparable. I was going to say qualifying but we are only slightly ahead in that regard but even still to suggest the teams are anything close to comparable... well I guess it depends on how you look at it.

We see ourselves as been much better but to the rest of the world, what is the difference really...

How many players do we have with experience of play offs apart from the french game?
Given, Keane, Duff, Kilbane, Dunne?

You've got to have killer in the squad or at least around for this - his experience may be useful if only to help prepare..Kilbane as future coach anyone?

Once again those 3 qualifying campaigns with no results has really stripped the team of experience of these situations.

I still expect us to win but it won't be easy.

**theworm2345** · 13/10/2011, 4:47 PM

Going to be a long month of waiting...wish I could come over this one

**peadar1987** · 13/10/2011, 4:56 PM

I'm thinking pretty seriously about heading over for this, anybody know what the story is with getting tickets for the away leg? And with getting there, I'd be coming over from the UK, and the way flights are, it'd probably be Stockholm on the Thursday night. Stu mentioned something about a ferry?

**zero** · 13/10/2011, 4:58 PM

Originally Posted by theworm2345

Going to be a long month of waiting...wish I could come over this one

i think the rest of the fans will be glad if you don't. rain is one thing like...

looking at the estonian squad, we really should beat these without too much drama. i reckon they're inferior to armenia, maybe a bit better than macedonia.

**French Toasht** · 13/10/2011, 5:09 PM

Originally Posted by peadar1987

I'm thinking pretty seriously about heading over for this, anybody know what the story is with getting tickets for the away leg? And with getting there, I'd be coming over from the UK, and the way flights are, it'd probably be Stockholm on the Thursday night. Stu mentioned something about a ferry?

I read I think on RTE, Irish fans will get an allocation of 1,000 tickets for the game. Its a 10,300 seater stadium.

Yeah it was me that mentioned the catamaran from Stockholm. Basically fly as cheaply as you can to either Stockholm or Helsinki and get the Silja line cruise to Tallinn. I've caught this several times going from Sweden to Estonia, to get cheaper booze. It has never cost me more than €18 return but they do special deals from time to time, for example the cruise this weekend week is €2.

The link is http://www.tallinksilja.com/sv/speci...ilxTallinn.htm

You tend to get the better deals on the Swedish language version but here is the English homepage:

http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/

If you Ryanair it to Stockholm and book the cruise, your return journey will come to no more than €100. The boat is unbelievable craic.