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

**nigel-harps1954** · 13/10/2011, 9:16 PM

Originally Posted by irishfan86

Interesting that Joel Lindpere of the New York Red Bulls is considering a call-up for Estonia in these playoffs. He's a very good player who basically gave up international football to focus on his Red Bulls career.

He was named the Red Bulls MVP last season, plays in midfield and is a tidy footballer.

Christ I thought you meant Joe Lapira for a second..

**theworm2345** · 13/10/2011, 9:25 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Christ I thought you meant Joe Lapira for a second..

Should cause about the same amount of worry for us as Joe.

**French Toasht** · 13/10/2011, 10:21 PM

Brian Kerr brought in his folder on Estonia to the studio for an interview on RTE radio. Goes into specifics on individual players and what type of team Estonia are. A good insight into what to expect.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/mns/2...nsella_av.html

**BonnieShels** · 13/10/2011, 10:48 PM

What's the story with tickets lads?

After the game those of us who were there were told that we'd get first dibs on tickets... anyone know?

Edit: just saw this on the FAI website...
Please Note : Customers who purchased tickets for the Armenia game and have rights to buy for the Estonia game will be contacted
within the next few days with instructions on how to obtain their tickets.

Also premium level tickets are on sale now from the site.
https://tickets.fai.ie/matchtickets/match/ticketOptions

**boovidge** · 13/10/2011, 10:57 PM

I got an email earlier giving me the link to buy the tickets from 3pm tomorrow and was given a password.

**BonnieShels** · 13/10/2011, 10:58 PM

Best make a call in the morning to my designated ticket guy.

**DannyInvincible** · 14/10/2011, 1:10 AM

Originally Posted by boovidge

I got an email earlier giving me the link to buy the tickets from 3pm tomorrow and was given a password.

Will tickets be available on Ticketmaster to only those with a password then?

**boovidge** · 14/10/2011, 1:21 AM

This is the email i received

Dear MR. Boovidge,
The Republic of Ireland has been drawn against Estonia in the play-offs for next year’s European Championships, with the second leg taking place at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday November 15th. As you purchased tickets for the game v Armenia on Tuesday night last, you are being given the opportunity to purchase tickets for the playoff. You will be able to do so during the pre-sale window beginning at 3pm on Friday 14th October. You will need to use the unique password below (case sensitive) to purchase. You are entitled to purchase 1 ticket(s).

So presumably, as the game wasn't quite sold out, there will be a limited number of tickets on general sale after this "pre-sale window" ends. Also, being given a password doesn't entitle you to more tickets than you purchased for the Armenia game.

**paul_oshea** · 14/10/2011, 8:00 AM

Do they take you seriously there when you sign off like that?

**pineapple stu** · 14/10/2011, 8:32 AM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

What's the story with tickets lads?

After the game those of us who were there were told that we'd get first dibs on tickets... anyone know?

Edit: just saw this on the FAI website...
Please Note : Customers who purchased tickets for the Armenia game and have rights to buy for the Estonia game will be contacted
within the next few days with instructions on how to obtain their tickets.

Also premium level tickets are on sale now from the site.
https://tickets.fai.ie/matchtickets/match/ticketOptions

Jesus - I saw that e-mail come in, but I assumed it was spam and deleted it!!! Rescued from the depths of my deleted items folder; thanks Bonnie!

**BonnieShels** · 14/10/2011, 8:48 AM

I didn't buy from the FAI so I'm screwed.

**punkrocket** · 14/10/2011, 9:04 AM

Just off the phone to the FAI there to see what the story is for season ticket holders and whether we can buy extra tickets. They told me that we would have to wait untill the Armenia only people had a week or so to buy there's then they would be put on general release.
I thought for a minute that season ticket holders were getting shafted and was gearing myself up for a bit of Mentalitee untill he went on to say that Armenia only ticket purchasers can buy no more than the number they bought for the Armenia match, which is fair enough.
If we don't get through though the next friendlies will be hard to sit through.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 14/10/2011, 9:18 AM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

Dunno if this question has been asked and answered already but -is there a precedent for a team losing 4 qualifiers making it to the playoffs in the previous four Euros where there's been a playoff? I know we lost three in the Euro 96 qualification.

Just answering my own question here -having trawled back I can't find an instance where a team who lost four games finished within an asses roar of a play-off. It really took an improbable confluence of similtaneous collapses by Slovenia, Serbia and NI to let Estonia in -and YET they won in Serbia, Slovenia and Belfast. That has to be acknowledged and respected.

**pineapple stu** · 14/10/2011, 9:30 AM

Watching the goals video posted earlier, it seems a few of their goals - against Serbia in particular - were hopeful long range strikes which the keeper really should have done better for. Yeah, they had a fair bit of swerve on them, but I'd still hope that Given would prove his worth on those shots, which would be a major boost.

The second goal in Belfast is pure quality though, even allowing for the Nordy players being distracted by the wrong offside call.

**Closed Account** · 14/10/2011, 9:34 AM

Without knowing too much about the games in Serbia, Slovenia and Belfast, were the home team guilty of not giving Estonia enough respect?
On the plus side, it's not something we're likely to be guilty of. Every team we play has the potential to beat us according to some, until we actually beat them, at which point, they become a terrible team.

**geysir** · 14/10/2011, 10:23 AM

I watched 3 of their of their games, one the friendly where they beat Uruguay, where the chill factor was evident as well as the Uruguay goalie.
The game against the Faroes was just one of those days, missed chances, a penalty scored against them either side of half time, then down a man, and not least the destiny factory, the Faroes were destined to win a game. I watched a good bit of the Belfast game (on during the Andorra game), NI were as poor as I have ever seen them, Estonia took complete control in the 2nd half. They looked impressive against a poor team.
Still hard to believe they grabbed 2nd place. Serbia must be going through some strange times.

This is a big deal for Estonia, a new republic with a deep heritage, if I wasn't Irish I'd be rooting for them.

**Stuttgart88** · 14/10/2011, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Watching the goals video posted earlier, it seems a few of their goals - against Serbia in particular - were hopeful long range strikes which the keeper really should have done better for. Yeah, they had a fair bit of swerve on them, but I'd still hope that Given would prove his worth on those shots, which would be a major boost.

The second goal in Belfast is pure quality though, even allowing for the Nordy players being distracted by the wrong offside call.

I watched a bit of the Belfast game and the commentator noted (before the winner) that Estonia had scored more goals from outside the box than any other team in qualifying.

**pineapple stu** · 14/10/2011, 10:52 AM

On the Estonian FA website now that the game is on at 9:45pm on the Friday.

Edit - linky.

**Yard of Pace** · 14/10/2011, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by punkrocket

If we don't get through though the next friendlies will be hard to sit through.

On the contrary, whether we qualify or not, I reckon the next few friendlies will be really exciting as some of the fringe players and new players are tried and aim to prove their worth with the finals in mind OR we'll probably have a new man in charge and probably a big change in personnel. Hopefully it's the former!

**French Toasht** · 14/10/2011, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by geysir

I watched 3 of their of their games, one the friendly where they beat Uruguay, where the chill factor was evident as well as the Uruguay goalie.
The game against the Faroes was just one of those days, missed chances, a penalty scored against them either side of half time, then down a man, and not least the destiny factory, the Faroes were destined to win a game. I watched a good bit of the Belfast game (on during the Andorra game), NI were as poor as I have ever seen them, Estonia took complete control in the 2nd half. They looked impressive against a poor team.
Still hard to believe they grabbed 2nd place. Serbia must be going through some strange times.

This is a big deal for Estonia, a new republic with a deep heritage, if I wasn't Irish I'd be rooting for them.

Em ... you sure that was the case against against the Faroes? Brian Kerr said the Faroe keeper had one save to make in the second half and that it was a comfortable enough victory. Also there may be the destiny factor, but if you are a good enough team you will ensure that doesn't involve you.