Euro 2016 Play-Offs - November 13th and 16th

[Fixer82]

I really don't get the fear about Turkey. It's not based on science or history or on Turkey's home performances. Our record is good against them and generally we have a good record in eastern Europe and in similar fan frenzied environments. And considering last night's game, tactically they went for a draw, they still went for a draw despite the Czechs being 2 up, you never got the sense that direct qualification was on the agenda they were shít scared and then they scored late on out of the blue from a free kick.

When we played them for Euro 2000 qualifiers they did everything in their power to screw with the players, made us traipse all over the country by boat, train and coach to get there. Gave us a kippy hotel. Players barely slept.
The Turkish FA are historically very very cynical and unsportsmanlike when it comes to this stuff

[DeLorean]

I really don't get the fear about Turkey. It's not based on science or history or on Turkey's home performances. Our record is good against them and generally we have a good record in eastern Europe and in similar fan frenzied environments. And considering last night's game, tactically they went for a draw, they still went for a draw despite the Czechs being 2 up, you never got the sense that direct qualification was on the agenda they were shít scared and then they scored late on out of the blue from a free kick.

Fear would be overstating it for sure, just wouldn't have fancied the thought of having to go there in a winner takes all playoff scenario. Their lunatic supporters would be up for it in a big way and their team is probably as good if not better than the top seeds we're left with. It's well established that teams that have finished third aren't world beaters, so any opinion or preference thrown out there is in the context of the other possibilities. I'm quite happy that Turkey and, in particular, Croatia were taken out of the equation.

[davidatrb]

Ireland, Slovenia and Bosnia are the only teams in the playoffs that have beaten a top 10 team in the last 4 years. Slovenia beat Switzerland when they were ranked 10 in the world by FIFA, Bosnia beat Wales at 8 and Ireland beat Germany ranked 2. Like they say there are no world beaters in there (except maybe us!).

Some hard facts about our potential opponents here.

http://fog2014.blogspot.ie/2015/10/i...opponents.html

We can talk about the potential match ups till the cows come home - but not really that much to say. We are all a bunch of failed qualifiers.

[Crosby87]

It's a virtual who's who of who cares!

[boysingreen]

Don't know about anyone else, but feels like we're already out to me.

That's not a commentary on the strength of potential playoff opponents- would think our odds at this stage amount to a coin toss.

It's more the manner of defeat that has set the mood. Seemed like we did little more than show up and hope lady luck would open a door for us.

[SkStu]

So what is the current situation in a comprehensible manner?

ie something like this:

the Irish team have discovered their four potential playoff opponents: Sweden, Ukraine, Hungary and Bosnia.

Yes I think someone posted a list of four teams, but nothing else was not sure what they signicified so I had to find out myself.

I think we will given than are not eligible for international national competitions!!

[edited to make more sense, or not as the case may be!! ]

You really are completely mental. In a good way. But just bananas.

[geysir]

Fear would be overstating it for sure, just wouldn't have fancied the thought of having to go there in a winner takes all playoff scenario. Their lunatic supporters would be up for it in a big way and their team is probably as good if not better than the top seeds we're left with. It's well established that teams that have finished third aren't world beaters, so any opinion or preference thrown out there is in the context of the other possibilities. I'm quite happy that Turkey and, in particular, Croatia were taken out of the equation.

Maybe it's different for some fans but it appears that the away team players just love playing in Turkey and on evident form and ability, Turkey would be behind Sweden, Bosnia and Ukraine. I'd have taken us playing Turkey in a heartbeat over any of those 3 opponents.
But as i might have said before, it's mainly about us turning up, not who we are paired against.

[tricky_colour]

Fear would be overstating it for sure, just wouldn't have fancied the thought of having to go there in a winner takes all playoff scenario. Their lunatic supporters would be up for it in a big way and their team is probably as good if not better than the top seeds we're left with. It's well established that teams that have finished third aren't world beaters, so any opinion or preference thrown out there is in the context of the other possibilities. I'm quite happy that Turkey and, in particular, Croatia were taken out of the equation.

So am I indeed the top seeds seem weaker than bottom seeds, however I guess Bosnia and Croatia are a good example.
Looking at their historic fifa ranking it is impossible to see how Bosnia are higher seeds, so I really do not know
how they managed to achieve that it must be a crash system.

[backstothewall]

I think a lot of the reputation Turkey has as a hard place to go has it's roots back in the 90's when they were playing in a rickety old ground and giving it all the welcome to hell stuff. But these days it's a nice modern stadium with plastic seats like any other.

Not that dissimilar to our own experience with the renovation of Landsdowne Road actually.

[tricky_colour]

I think a lot of the reputation Turkey has as a hard place to go has it's roots back in the 90's when they were playing in a rickety old ground and giving it all the welcome to hell stuff. But these days it's a nice modern stadium with plastic seats like any other.

`

So I guess it would have been a case of plastic paddies on plastic seats!!

[DeLorean]

Maybe it's different for some fans but it appears that the away team players just love playing in Turkey

How's that?

on evident form and ability, Turkey would be behind Sweden, Bosnia and Ukraine. I'd have taken us playing Turkey in a heartbeat over any of those 3 opponents.

Ability is obviously subjective but their form is quite clearly better than the three sides you mention. Their results this year-

Turkey 1-0 Iceland
Czech Rep 0-2 Turkey
Turkey 3-0 Netherlands
Turkey 1-1 Latvia (conceded injury time equaliser)
Kazakhstan 0-1 Turkey
Turkey 4-0 Bulgaria
Luxembourg 1-2 Turkey
Netherlands 1-1 Turkey

That's an impressive run by any standards.

[ArdeeBhoy]

We can't even play Turkey...
Who aren't even in Europe.

Total red herring.

[Kingdom]

Ability is obviously subjective but their form is quite clearly better than the three sides you mention. Their results this year-

Turkey 1-0 Iceland
Czech Rep 0-2 Turkey
Turkey 3-0 Netherlands
Turkey 1-1 Latvia (conceded injury time equaliser)
Kazakhstan 0-1 Turkey
Turkey 4-0 Bulgaria
Luxembourg 1-2 Turkey
Netherlands 1-1 Turkey

That's an impressive run by any standards.

Turkey are one of the form teams in Europe. They've got Terim back who is a god to most Turkey fans, and players will run through walls for him. They were poxed in Amsterdam too conceding in the last minute.

They've played their recent matches in Konya, right in the middle of Anatolya, wonder how much of a factor that played.

[DeLorean]

We can't even play Turkey...
Who aren't even in Europe.

Total red herring.

Simple discussion about the merits of the teams we can play compared to those we'll now avoid. At one point on Tuesday night we could have played Turkey (who are partially based in Europe but more importantly participate in UEFA competition). I think it's a fairly natural way for the conversation to evolve after the various permutations started working themselves out.

[punkrocket]

We can't even play Turkey...
Who aren't even in Europe.

Total red herring.

Turkey? herrings? I haven't had my lunch yet.
Anyone else feeling Hungary?

[Stuttgart88]

Me to. I'll head to Iceland to buy some food.

[osarusan]

Too early to finnish work, surely?

[OwlsFan]

Hungary, Bosnia-H, Sweden and Ukraine in that order.

[Fixer82]

`

So I guess it would have been a case of plastic paddies on plastic seats!!

or in Plasticland, just known as Paddies on seats

[Fixer82]

Turkey? herrings? I haven't had my lunch yet.
Anyone else feeling Hungary?

I was really hungary the other day and a lady on Aungier street saw my gaunt look and kindly handed me a plate saying 'Here'z-a-govindas'.

That's a right turkey isn't it??
See ya lads, it was nice knowing you all

*coat on, car revving outside front door, ticket to Mexico in arse pocket....