QuoteIt'd be interesting if we got either Wales/Austria along with Denmark. O'Neill's results would be a true barometer of whether we're improving or degrading.
Thanks, however, the answer was already in the linked Football Seeding article, I was just posing a riddle.Originally Posted by pineapple stu
If you don't know then try and figure out what would or could happen in that circumstance before reading the answer in the article.
It'd be interesting if we got either Wales/Austria along with Denmark. O'Neill's results would be a true barometer of whether we're improving or degrading.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Tough luck for the unqualified top teams in our league B left vying for the play off-spot, should there be less than 4 teams left unqualified (the conventional way) in League A.
If say 2 teams from League A drop down to League B looking for a play-off partner, they will be paired against the top 2 play-off candidates from League B who will not only have to face (much) stronger opposition but will also have to play away from home, instead of a banker home play-off against lowlier opposition.
From the Football Seeding article
'Play-off slots are dropped down to lower Leagues if less than four teams remain available for a play-offs. Best-ranked team will play against fourth best-ranked team and second best-ranked team will play against third best-ranked team (higher-ranked teams play semi-final at home field, venue for the final will be drawn in advance between the two semi-finals' winners).'
Denmark!
Wales!
Well, here we are.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
When will the dates be announced? Particular interest in the Cardiff game
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
about 3.30
oops, deleted by acident.
Nations League: League B
Group 1: Czech Republic, Ukraine, Slovakia.
Group 2: Turkey, Sweden, Russia.
Group 3: Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria.
Group 4: Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Wales.
So, our next two competitive games will be against the same opposition as our last two competitive games.
I really don't want to face Denmark again so soon. Wales will be out for revenge, and will be unpredictable with a new (and unproven) manager in charge
Fixtures
Nations League: When will the games be played?
Specific fixtures will be announced by Uefa in due course, but this is when matches will take place. Teams in League A and League B only have four matches so will play on four of the six matchdays.
Matchday 1: 6–8 September 2018
Matchday 2: 9–11 September 2018
Matchday 3: 11–13 October 2018
Matchday 4: 14–16 October 2018
Matchday 5: 15–17 November 2018
Matchday 6: 18–20 November 2018
Nations League Finals draw: early December 2018
Nations League Finals: 5–9 June 2019
I'll spin that in a different way - Denmark after a world cup hangover and Wales with an unproven manager. We will be singing ; we are the champions ( of group 4b ) come November.
What's the aim here? Second? Or should we be pushing for first? That would presumably require six points from the four games, minimum.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
I think first may be beyond us given the Denmark thrashing. I know we had to go for the win, but they were streets ahead of us even over the whole 180 minutes. Not sure what's going to change between now and then.
Also, now is the time to start asking whether we want to finish third and get relegated to League C so we can have an easier shot at winning a Euro spot through the play-offs. (It has been suggested that the back-door play-offs will be available for the World Cup as well, though it's not confirmed)
Last edited by pineapple stu; 24/01/2018 at 11:11 AM.
I haven't been this excited since I last tied my shoelaces.
Finish First:
- Promoted to Nations League A for 2020/21
- Guarenteed a play-off for Euro 2020 no matter what happens in Qualification
- Enter Pot 2 for Euro 2020 Draw
Finish Second:
- Stay in Nations League B for 2020/21
- Enter Pot 2 for Euro 2020 Draw
Finish third:
- Relegated to Nations League C for 2020/21
- Enter Pot 3 for Euro 2020 Draw
I wouldn't have minded some alternative opposition seeing as our last three competitive games were against Denmark and Wales. Being drawn against NI might have added a bit of spice to things. At the minute, I'm still finding it difficult to feel properly enthused about this (mainly due to the fact that the first games are still nine months away and I know we have no World Cup to look forward to before that in the summer), but I'm sure that mild apathy will disappear once the games eventually come round.
As has been pointed out, I guess facing the same opposition again will be a good way of testing who has improved, stagnated or regressed. Despite the 5-1 loss in the second leg of the play-offs, I'm not overly daunted by facing Denmark again. They looked toothless enough when we kept things tight in the first leg whilst the heavy loss in the second leg resulted from us having to chase the game and Martin O'Neill losing the plot by giving their talisman more space within which to operate than he could ever have dreamed of. It was a total tactical ****-up. They're obviously a better team than us technically, but they're not a Germany, a Spain or a France either.
The Wales games will be tough slogs again. They have 0-0 written all over them. In fact, I could see us drawing every game in the group here.
Thanks, that's by far the clearest post and or media article on how this works
When will the draw for the qualification proper be made?
2nd December
Horrid draw. Last thing we needed. He's going to have to make good use of the March and Summer friendlies.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
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