Ireland vs Estonia (1st Leg) - Match Thread

[Kingdom]

Every team/country has them and yes it is a shame.

So Estonia will be missing their central pairing in defence and their first choice keeper as well... hmmm.... :-)

We have more than a few of them, and they're becoming a bit more noticeable lately. Thankfully the good eggs get the media attention.

[mypost]

At 3-0, their lot were throwing glass bottles and fireworks into the Irish section, and they brought a stash of Union Jacks with them too. Someone got injured, but the police did nothing about it.

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...d-2932947.html

[BonnieShels]

The Union Jack thing was explained here on the night. And a lad I met on Friday had spent some time in Estonia and explained the suss to me.

[Closed Account 2]

Heard a couple of stories about people being refused into the home end. Didn't know where the nearest pub to the ground was, so went with safety rather than risking missing half the game altogether.

Yeah this seemed to be happening, I was in block 4 (home end) and there were 3 Irish fans in green home shirts in front of me. Two were let in by the security guy on the left and went streight to their seats, but one one was stopped by the security guy on the right. He seemed to join a queue of about 10 Irish fans (again all wearing colours) who were held back - there was a rumour that these guys all ended up in the side stand next to the proper away support, but I wouldnt have been surprised if they hadnt been let in at all. I went through to the same security guy on the right and he started questioning me if I was an Ireland fan and was I wearing an Ireland shirt under my jumper etc, but I just started speaking German and pretended I was a German tourist and he let me past in the end after about 5 mins of this charade.

[Irwin3]

Yeah this seemed to be happening, I was in block 4 (home end) and there were 3 Irish fans in green home shirts in front of me. Two were let in by the security guy on the left and went streight to their seats, but one one was stopped by the security guy on the right. He seemed to join a queue of about 10 Irish fans (again all wearing colours) who were held back - there was a rumour that these guys all ended up in the side stand next to the proper away support, but I wouldnt have been surprised if they hadnt been let in at all. I went through to the same security guy on the right and he started questioning me if I was an Ireland fan and was I wearing an Ireland shirt under my jumper etc, but I just started speaking German and pretended I was a German tourist and he let me past in the end after about 5 mins of this charade.

Fantastic!

[tetsujin1979]

Team announced for the second leg tomorrow: https://twitter.com/#!/FAIreland/sta...15013155950593

Team for 2moro is Given, St.Ledger, Ward, O'Shea, Dunne, Whelan, Duff, Andrews, Doyle, Keane, Hunt #Euro2012 #IrlEst #GoGreenOnNovember15

Can the second leg thread be reopened with this?

[pineapple stu]

Bit harsh on Walters. I know Doyle is our second-most experienced forward, but I think Walters - and even Cox - have shown that they're on better form for us at present. But I don't think it'll matter much tomorrow night.

[geysir]

Yeah this seemed to be happening, I was in block 4 (home end) and there were 3 Irish fans in green home shirts in front of me. Two were let in by the security guy on the left and went streight to their seats, but one one was stopped by the security guy on the right. He seemed to join a queue of about 10 Irish fans (again all wearing colours) who were held back - there was a rumour that these guys all ended up in the side stand next to the proper away support, but I wouldnt have been surprised if they hadnt been let in at all. I went through to the same security guy on the right and he started questioning me if I was an Ireland fan and was I wearing an Ireland shirt under my jumper etc, but I just started speaking German and pretended I was a German tourist and he let me past in the end after about 5 mins of this charade.

Great story.

Though if the Estonian was on his game, he would have sussed that a German tourist would have arrived 5 minutes before the gates opened.

[Philly]

http://news.err.ee/Sports/8116bd0d-6...e-9fa9aa866ee1

Check out that piece by the Estonian public broadcaster. Was the ref really that bad? Are they making excuses? Do we care? In all honesty, I think the cards were all of the "frustrating but fair enough" variety. They were mostly a result of Estonia not dealing with us running at them.

[Crosby87]

Team announced for the second leg tomorrow: https://twitter.com/#!/FAIreland/sta...15013155950593

Can the second leg thread be reopened with this?

You aren't a moderator Tets? Recount! Give Tets the keys!

[DannyInvincible]

http://news.err.ee/Sports/8116bd0d-6...e-9fa9aa866ee1

Check out that piece by the Estonian public broadcaster. Was the ref really that bad? Are they making excuses? Do we care? In all honesty, I think the cards were all of the "frustrating but fair enough" variety. They were mostly a result of Estonia not dealing with us running at them.

What a load of rubbish. They can have absolutely no complaints about any of the red cards. None whatsoever. The penalty was also the correct decision.

[boovidge]

We got a very lucky decision for us against Armenia. Estonia got what they deserved. What in the hell was the guy who handballed it doing?

[osarusan]

I think that Piroja, who was the second guy sent off, can feel hard done by. He didn't do much in the Andrews tackle - it was a harsh booking in my opinion. On the second, Robbie definitely did give him a nudge, and it should probably have been a free kick.

On the rest, they couldn't have any complaints.

[CraftyToePoke]

Can the second leg thread be reopened with this?

I was surprised it was locked to begin with to be honest, after all if a thread on the 90 minutes which is going to see us oficially qualify for the first Euro's in my adult life doesnt belong on here, then it is surprising, as the other thread clearly said '1st' leg, so I started a second leg one, fair enough I reckoned as we now have one for footage and videos even.

I have stamped my little foot and complained bitterly to the powers that be, but to no avail as yet.

[pineapple stu]

I think that Piroja, who was the second guy sent off, can feel hard done by. He didn't do much in the Andrews tackle - it was a harsh booking in my opinion.

Not entirely sure about this; it was a blatant obstruction, and I think he deserved a yellow just for basically standing in Andrews' way without making any effort to play the ball.

On the second yellow, yeah, Keane at best shoulder-charges him, putting him off balance and causing him to handle. Looking at the replays, I think it does look a little harsh. Not that it mattered much at that stage.

[geysir]

http://news.err.ee/Sports/8116bd0d-6...e-9fa9aa866ee1

Check out that piece by the Estonian public broadcaster. Was the ref really that bad? Are they making excuses? Do we care? In all honesty, I think the cards were all of the "frustrating but fair enough" variety. They were mostly a result of Estonia not dealing with us running at them.

"We were ridden over roughshod by Kassai"

I prefer the term 'ridden rock solid', easier to say and is more evocative.

[Razors left peg]

Havent seen anyone mention the fella that went in the the high boot on an irish players face(cant remember who it was), but he was was only booked when it could have been a straight red

[tetsujin1979]

Was it not Andrews? Had to be taken off the pitch to have the cut he received seen to

[Fixer82]

Havent seen anyone mention the fella that went in the the high boot on an irish players face(cant remember who it was), but he was was only booked when it could have been a straight red

I thought it was Ward he went in on. Dangerous tackle alright

[koneinc]

I thought it was Ward he went in on. Dangerous tackle alright

It should have been a straight red, the lad was very lucky