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

**DeLorean** · 13/10/2015, 8:47 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

I'd be more interested in playing Sweden than Bosnia, as they've come into great form, but Ukraine I'd be steering clear of

Yeah Sweden look a shadow of their usually efficient selves. I wouldn't be too fussed whether it's them or Bosnia, Hungary the dream ticket and Ukraine the nightmare, but hardly that big a nightmare really.

**geysir** · 13/10/2015, 9:03 PM

There's not a lot of difference between seeded and unseeded.
I'd rate Bosnia the best seeded team there.

**zero** · 13/10/2015, 9:04 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

There's not a lot of difference between seeded and unseeded.
I'd rate Bosnia the best seeded team there.

i think they were actually top ranked team in their group but started badly.

for ireland i think having the away leg first is nearly more important than who we draw. could we get trap in to coach the away leg ??

**geysir** · 13/10/2015, 9:05 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Yeah Sweden look a shadow of their usually efficient selves. I wouldn't be too fussed whether it's them or Bosnia, Hungary the dream ticket and Ukraine the nightmare, but hardly that big a nightmare really.

I don't know why Ukraine are regarded a nightmare, they are an average team. If we draw them it's 50/50 imo.

**backstothewall** · 13/10/2015, 9:08 PM

There are a lot of unknowns here. An injury to Dzeko or Ibrahimovich could massively change our thoughts on playing Bosnia or Sweden

**elroy** · 13/10/2015, 9:10 PM

i would argue that a Poland side with a serious in form lewandowski are at least as good as any of the seeded teams

**davidatrb** · 13/10/2015, 9:12 PM

Originally Posted by elroy

i would argue that a Poland side with a serious in form lewandowski are at least as good as any of the seeded teams

Polish team with Lewandowski is better than all the playoff teams by virtue of the fact that they didnt need a playoff to get through!

**Kingdom** · 13/10/2015, 9:13 PM

Can I just point out something with Hungary....they've been bringing through a decent group of youth teams since the Millenium, nothing crazy in the scheme of things, but decent for them, and football does seem to be on the upswing there. They were unlucky in the extreme in the youth world cup, conceding in the last minute to go to extra time against eventual winners serbia. They've had some really notable results underage too, and facing us will not be something they're fearful of.

In the last few qualifiers:
Euro12 a crazy last round saw them edged out for second, WC14 a last minute Romania goal kept them out of the playoffs (which Romania made)
Even this group, they were the better team in Belfast before Lafferty struck late on to equalise, which ultimately kept Romania just ahead.

They're not to be feared either, but they're no mugs.

**geysir** · 13/10/2015, 9:15 PM

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

There are a lot of unknowns here. An injury to Dzeko or Ibrahimovich could massively change our thoughts on playing Bosnia or Sweden

That should go without saying, otherwise we would say nothing.

**geysir** · 13/10/2015, 9:17 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Can I just point out something with Hungary....they've been bringing through a decent group of youth teams since the Millenium, nothing crazy in the scheme of things, but decent for them, and football does seem to be on the upswing there. They were unlucky in the extreme in the youth world cup, conceding in the last minute to go to extra time against eventual winners serbia. They've had some really notable results underage too, and facing us will not be something they're fearful of.

In the last few qualifiers:
Euro12 a crazy last round saw them edged out for second, WC14 a last minute Romania goal kept them out of the playoffs (which Romania made)
Even this group, they were the better team in Belfast before Lafferty struck late on to equalise, which ultimately kept Romania just ahead.

They're not to be feared either, but they're no mugs.

Hungary finished third in the group of bottlers (Faroes excepted of course).

**IsMiseSean** · 13/10/2015, 9:19 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Yeah Sweden look a shadow of their usually efficient selves. I wouldn't be too fussed whether it's them or Bosnia, Hungary the dream ticket and Ukraine the nightmare, but hardly that big a nightmare really.

Spot on, I wouldn't go as far as saying Hungary are a dream ticket though, but they'd be my pick from that bunch.

**DannyInvincible** · 13/10/2015, 9:19 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Can I just point out something with Hungary....they've been bringing through a decent group of youth teams since the Millenium, nothing crazy in the scheme of things, but decent for them, and football does seem to be on the upswing there. They were unlucky in the extreme in the youth world cup, conceding in the last minute to go to extra time against eventual winners serbia. They've had some really notable results underage too, and facing us will not be something they're fearful of.

In the last few qualifiers:
Euro12 a crazy last round saw them edged out for second, WC14 a last minute Romania goal kept them out of the playoffs (which Romania made)
Even this group, they were the better team in Belfast before Lafferty struck late on to equalise, which ultimately kept Romania just ahead.

They're not to be feared either, but they're no mugs.

NI managed to beat them in Budapest, although it is over a year ago now.

**backstothewall** · 13/10/2015, 9:25 PM

If we consider last week's 2 games to have been a playoff of sorts we went through on away goals

Germany and Poland will both be stronger than any of those sides

**geysir** · 13/10/2015, 9:29 PM

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

If we consider last week's 2 games to have been a playoff we went through on away goals

Germany and Poland will both be stronger than any of those sides

We have at least a 50/50 chance against any of the play off opponents and seeded or unseeded makes little difference. We just have to turn up in fine fettle to take the advantage.

**drummerboy** · 13/10/2015, 9:30 PM

Are the unseeded teams drawn to play at home first in these playoffs

**Kingdom** · 13/10/2015, 9:41 PM

Bucharest

Ukraine - win in Belarus, point in Slovakia
Hungary - Point in Bucharest, Point in Belfast
Sweden - point in Vienna, point home v Russia, 4 points v Montenegro
Bosnia - 4 points from Wales, Point in Bruxelles
Slovenia - win v Switzerland, win in Vilnius,
Norway - 6 points v Bulgaria, home win v Croatia
Denmark - 6 points v Serbia, rescued point away v Albania.

these are some of the nice results the other play-off qualifiers achieved versus their peers. We took a point away to Scotland and at home to Poland.
I'm worried.

**backstothewall** · 13/10/2015, 9:44 PM

Ireland - 4 points from Germany, point in Glasgow

**MeathDrog** · 13/10/2015, 9:45 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Bucharest

Ukraine - win in Belarus, point in Slovakia
Hungary - Point in Bucharest, Point in Belfast
Sweden - point in Vienna, point home v Russia, 4 points v Montenegro
Bosnia - 4 points from Wales, Point in Bruxelles
Slovenia - win v Switzerland, win in Vilnius,
Norway - 6 points v Bulgaria, home win v Croatia
Denmark - 6 points v Serbia, rescued point away v Albania.

these are some of the nice results the other play-off qualifiers achieved versus their peers. We took a point away to Scotland and at home to Poland.
I'm worried.

Why leave out the fact we got 4 points against Germany?

**Kingdom** · 13/10/2015, 9:51 PM

Originally Posted by MeathDrog

Why leave out the fact we got 4 points against Germany?

I used the phrase "versus their peers" specifically. We achieved two incredible results versus Germany, in both situations where there was no pressure, and no expectation. The days where there was pressure to beat our peers, Scotland and Poland, we failed on 3/4 ties, the Poland home tie was when we responded. That is what worries me.