Republic of Ireland V Poland - Sunday, 29th March 2015 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

[Crosby87]

What are you shrewd chaps predicting as a result?
Me head says 3-0 Poland me heart says 2-0 Poland.

[tricky_colour]

Head and heart say 3-0 Ireland

[TrapAPony]

2-1 for us

[Crosby87]

Tricky im sitting in third in a 204 person ncaa pool, and neither of the 2 people in front of me have kentucky winning. This could be the big one.

[DeLorean]

The full Poland squad is as follows;

• Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Bournemouth), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea), Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal);
  
• Defenders: Thiago Cionek (Modena), Kamil Glik (AC Torino ), Jakub Wawrzyniak, Rafal Janicki, Grzegorz Wojtkowiak (all Lechia Gdansk), Marcin Komorowski (Terek Grozny), Paul Olkowski (FC Koeln), Lukasz Szukala (Al-Ittihad);
  
• Midfielders: Maciej Gajos (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Michael Gyro, Tomasz Jodlowiec, Michael Feldman (all Legia Warsaw), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Sevilla), Karol Linetty (Lech Poznan), Sebastian Mila (Lechia Gdansk), Slawomir Peszko (FC Koeln) Maciej Rybus (Terek Grozny), Krzysztof Maczynski (Guizhou Renhe);
  
• Fowards: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Arkadiusz Milik (Ajax Amsterdam), Luke Teodorczyk (Dynamo Kyiv).

Balls.ie

[DannyInvincible]

'Five questions that hold key to Euro showdown': http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-31086783.html

IN the shadow of a pivotal period in the English club season and a spring where rugby affairs have dominated Irish headlines, the build-up to the most important match of Martin O'Neill's tenure has been relatively low-key.

That will change this week as the importance of Poland's visit to the Aviva Stadium is cemented into the previews. The permutations can be teased out in the detail but there's a fairly straightforward bottom line.

If Ireland fail to win this game against the group leaders, their chances of automatic qualification to the 24-team Euro 2016 will be extremely remote. And that worst-case scenario would also set up a June joust with Scotland with seismic implications for the whole project.

The positive slant is that Ireland start the year with their destiny in their own hands, and four out of the next five games at the Aviva Stadium. Regrettably, an uninspiring home record at the renovated venue checks the enthusiasm.

O'Neill has to craft Ireland's best Dublin result in 14 years to keep the show on the road, a nod to the famous Lansdowne triumph over Holland, when his assistant Roy Keane was in the centre of the action. After spending the last four months as a scout, here are the main questions the Derry man faces as the scene sets.

...

[SwanVsDalton]

McClean pulled up in training today - was taken for a scan on his ankle but now doubtful for Saturday.

This could rubber stamp Wilson for left-back if Ward is missing. Probably be McGeady or Brady, fitness depending.

[geysir]

McClean pulled up in training today - was taken for a scan on his ankle but now doubtful for Saturday.

This could rubber stamp Wilson for left-back if Ward is missing. Probably be McGeady or Brady, fitness depending.

According to MON, it's just a wee "bit of pain across the ankle", "a little bit sore"

If Ward is only getting some screws taken out from his ankle this week, then he can't be that match fit, regretfully (for him) he may have to miss this game altogether.
I don't like the idea of a midfielder (McGeady or Brady) filling in at full back unless it's a last option, partly inexperience but mainly because the midfield position is selected with that vulnerable inexperience at fb in mind. If it comes to it, you'd hope that Wilson is selected.

[back of the net]

McClean pulled up in training today - was taken for a scan on his ankle but now doubtful for Saturday.

This could rubber stamp Wilson for left-back if Ward is missing. Probably be McGeady or Brady, fitness depending.

MON has ruled out playing Brady at left back

On a seperate note....choose the playlist of tunes to be played at the game

http://www.fai.ie/ireland/pick-your-...adium-playlist

[SwanVsDalton]

MON has ruled out playing Brady at left back

On a seperate note....choose the playlist of tunes to be played at the game

http://www.fai.ie/ireland/pick-your-...adium-playlist

Sorry- that should read Brady or McGeady in front of him [Wilson].

[Crosby87]

http://www.fai.ie/ireland/pick-your-...adium-playlist

Are you gonna be my girl by Jet? Someone planning on proposing at the half?

[zero]

The full Poland squad is as follows;

• Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Bournemouth), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea), Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal);
  
• Defenders: Thiago Cionek (Modena), Kamil Glik (AC Torino ), Jakub Wawrzyniak, Rafal Janicki, Grzegorz Wojtkowiak (all Lechia Gdansk), Marcin Komorowski (Terek Grozny), Paul Olkowski (FC Koeln), Lukasz Szukala (Al-Ittihad);
  
• Midfielders: Maciej Gajos (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Michael Gyro, Tomasz Jodlowiec, Michael Feldman (all Legia Warsaw), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Sevilla), Karol Linetty (Lech Poznan), Sebastian Mila (Lechia Gdansk), Slawomir Peszko (FC Koeln) Maciej Rybus (Terek Grozny), Krzysztof Maczynski (Guizhou Renhe);
  
• Fowards: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Arkadiusz Milik (Ajax Amsterdam), Luke Teodorczyk (Dynamo Kyiv).

Balls.ie

i always think looking at the clubs players in the squad are with is a reasonable indication of the teams quality and based on that i'd immediately think they are defensively vulnerable.

we're going to have to go for it.

[Crosby87]

But Terek Grozny has one of the finest defenses ever assembled.

[Stuttgart88]

i always think looking at the clubs players in the squad are with is a reasonable indication of the teams quality and based on that i'd immediately think they are defensively vulnerable.

we're going to have to go for it.

i bet that's what Celtic felt when they drew Legia!

I expect these guys will be decent, but thoroughly beatable if we get our sh1t together for once.

[DeLorean]

i always think looking at the clubs players in the squad are with is a reasonable indication of the teams quality and based on that i'd immediately think they are defensively vulnerable.

You got me doing a bit of idle research to find out a little more. All eight defenders started their most recent club games. Only Olkowski of Koln didn't complete ninety minutes, subbed off after an hour with his side trailing 1-0. They went on to draw 1-1 against Werder Bremen courtesy of a late penalty.


Thiago Cionek (Modena) - 28
13th in Italy's Serie B but have one of the best defensive records in the division, only conceding 27 goals in 32 games.
Played centre back at the weekend in a 2-1 defeat.

Kamil Glik (AC Torino) - 27
7th in Serie A, conceding 30 goals in 28 games.
Stated in the centre of a back 3 at the weekend, won 2-0.

Jakub Wawrzyniak (31) Rafal Janicki (22) Grzegorz Wojtkowiak (31) (all Lechia Gdansk)
7th in the Ekstraklasa, conceding 28 goals in 25 games.
Wawrzyniak and Janicki played centre back with Wojtkowiak right back in a 1-0 win at the weekend.

Marcin Komorowski (Terek Grozny) - 30
9th in the Russian Premier League, conceding 19 goals in 20 games.
Played centre back at the weekend in a 1-0 defeat.

Paul Olkowski (FC Koeln) - 25
12th in the Bundesliga, conceding 32 goals in 26 games.
Played right back at the weekend in a 1-1 draw, substituted after 59 minutes.

Lukasz Szukala (Al-Ittihad) - 30
3rd in Saudi Pro League, conceding 20 goals in 20 games.
Played centre back at the weekend in a 1-0 win.

[DannyInvincible]

McClean pulled up in training today - was taken for a scan on his ankle but now doubtful for Saturday.

McClean insists he'll be ready as it's nothing major and just some bruising to the bone: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/inter...tness-concern/

There are "concerns" over Gibson though. Whether or not that means he's a doubt, I'm not sure. I can't imagine it's too serious or I'm sure there'd have been more in the news about it.

McClean was sent for a scan on Tuesday after limping out of training at Gannon Park in Malahide, leaving manager Martin O'Neill with his fingers crossed.

However, the Wigan midfielder has insisted he will be ready for the Group D clash even if he may not train again until later in the week.

McClean told the Irish Independent: "The ankle should be fine. I said I'd give it a go in training, but unfortunately it was just too sore to carry out the session.

"I went and had a scan and thankfully it's just some bone bruising. It should be cleared up in time for the weekend's game, which is obviously positive news.

"I will just need to rest it now with plenty of ice and re-evaluate it in the morning to see if I can train. If not, then hopefully I'll be able to get a training session or two in before the game."

However, O'Neill still has concerns over full-back Stephen Ward and midfielder Darron Gibson, who are struggling with ankle and groin problems respectively.

By the way, you might need to re-jig your weekend plans. Game's on Sunday night!

[DeLorean]

Stating the obvious but it's such a massive game. If we win I would see us as favourites for second place, with the fixtures we have out of the way. The Scotland game becomes a massive opportunity for us to take a firm grip on our own destiny, with huge confidence that a long awaited big win would give. Another win there and we would be genuinely challenging Germany for top spot. Of course, in that scenario, Germany would just come to Lansdowne and win but still! If we draw or lose, third place will look extremely doubtful and the Scotland game becomes a high pressure, must win fixture that we don't really excel in.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Really really have a bad feeling for this...we definitely won't win.

We just aren't good enough any more.

[DeLorean]

There are "concerns" over Gibson though. Whether or not that means he's a doubt, I'm not sure. I can't imagine it's too serious or I'm sure there'd have been more in the news about it.

It sounds pretty dodgy if Gibson himself is concerned, knowing his own body and all that. More here-

Darron Gibson missed out again today. He’s got a groin, I’m not sure of the medical term, and he’s a bit concerned. It’s too early for me (to be concerned). I just said to him, ‘we’ll play it day by day.

Although having a groin, in itself, shouldn't be too much of an issue

[DeLorean]

Apparently Thierry Henry will be covering the game for Sky. They're trying to work out ways to get him past a hostile Irish crowd.



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