World Cup Qualifying 2018, UEFA Group D - Opponent Watch

**DeLorean** · 11/10/2016, 1:55 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Very Surprised I was, especially after seeing the highlights. It actually reinforces my point though, both teams are muck at the back, and if serbia are proving that our game was an off day, then we really did let it slip by not imposing ourselves and going for the 2nd when 1 up.

So basically the complete opposite to what you predicted occurred and it just reinforces your point. How can you ever lose, eh?

If Serbia had an off day against us, a game they dominated almost totally, then maybe we also had an off day... which makes a draw an even better result.

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Serbia could be well ahead by the time we finish up the austria-wales-austria games, and we will probably be sitting where Austria are.

That's a hell of a turnaround from Serbia not even being capable of challenging for second, and not even being of the same level as Bulgaria or Slovakia in previous groups!

**tetsujin1979** · 11/10/2016, 2:29 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Very Surprised I was, especially after seeing the highlights. It actually reinforces my point though, both teams are muck at the back, and if serbia are proving that our game was an off day, then we really did let it slip by not imposing ourselves and going for the 2nd when 1 up. When I made this less than bold prediction, I over-estimated Austria defensively, they are as cack as Serbia defensively. Time for O'Neill to be brave now and actually go for an away win for once.

Even against Wales they(austra) seemed to be dodge. I am a lot more confident about the Austria game now, granted oneill will be more than happy if we go ahead and then concede from not holding onto possession and come out with a draw. Serbia could be well ahead by the time we finish up the austria-wales-austria games, and we will probably be sitting where Austria are.

Why bother? What could you learn? Didn't you say that the way the teams were lining up at corners wouldn't have been picked up on tv?

**geysir** · 11/10/2016, 3:24 PM

Paul has a very wide widescreen tv.

**DeLorean** · 25/10/2016, 8:41 AM

Austria's number one goalkeeper Robert Almer has done his cruciate. He made this pretty unbelievable save against Wales.

http://www.skysports.com/iframe/widg...CZT4722Yo5XAfK

He went off injured in that game against Wales also and was replaced by this fella. Doesn't seem to be playing at Leverkusen and has only a handful of Austrian caps.

**Stuttgart88** · 25/10/2016, 9:16 AM

Arnautovic is looking classier and classier every time I see him.

**jbyrne** · 12/11/2016, 9:33 PM

1 all wales serbia. serbia have looked dangerous going forward in 2nd half

**The Fly** · 12/11/2016, 9:37 PM

Wales & Serbia draw 1-1. That was the best result for us.

**liamoo11** · 12/11/2016, 10:04 PM

Hopefully Georgia can hold Serbia at home in March

**geysir** · 13/11/2016, 3:01 PM

James's goal was not even the best of the night in group D, but probably the most important

Georgia's Kazaishvili scored a delicious 'curler' from just inside the corner of the box, later (maybe) outdone by a volley on the turn from outside the box for the equaliser.

**paul_oshea** · 14/11/2016, 12:15 PM

Georgia remind me of Northern Ireland a few years ago, can put in some big performances and get some big results, but then can't beat their main rivals. Perhaps a good manager can change all that. They should be beating Moldova.

**geysir** · 14/11/2016, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Georgia remind me of Northern Ireland a few years ago, can put in some big performances and get some big results, but then can't beat their main rivals. Perhaps a good manager can change all that. They should be beating Moldova.

They should be beating Moldova but perhaps this fixture is a fiercely fought encounter, a Black Sea derby of sorts
(now that I know where Moldova is).

**paul_oshea** · 14/11/2016, 2:33 PM

Looking at the fans reaction it could well be, but Moldova doesn't actually touch the sea and there are a few countries seperating them as well as Ukranian land from the sea.

I have been reading lots of misquotes around Tets Lithuania comment. Fifa rankings were only introduced in 1992, so where are all these pieces getting their information from and what rankings are they talking about? We were seeded first I think for that 98 campaign, and finished the year level with Lithuania at 48.

The42 ran with a piece about rankings and seedings that "Dodge" had written saying czech in 67, Alan smith at the guardian seemed to use a similar one, not one has mentioned Tets one. I did interrupt a few guys talking yesterday about scotland 87 etc and pointed out it was lithuania. I got the impression they were thinking mind your own fcuken business

If John Dodge, is the Dodge here, then he appears to be wrong also, as his tweet specifically uses the word "rankings" again.

**geysir** · 14/11/2016, 9:49 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Looking at the fans reaction it could well be, but Moldova doesn't actually touch the sea and there are a few countries seperating them as well as Ukranian land from the sea.

Stuff your erroneous pedantry

Who said anything about Moldova touching the Dead Sea. Geographically Moldova belongs to the Black Sea region, is a long spit from the banks of the Dead Sea and has a 4km bank with the Danube which then flows in the Dead Sea (just around the corner). I have learned much since I discovered where Moldova exists.
Georgia v Moldova , the deadly Dead Sea derby.

**backstothewall** · 14/11/2016, 9:58 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Stuff your erroneous pedantry

Who said anything about Moldova touching the Dead Sea. Geographically Moldova belongs to the Black Sea region, is a long spit from the banks of the Dead Sea and has a 4km bank with the Danube which then flows in the Dead Sea (just around the corner). I have learned much since I discovered where Moldova exists.
Georgia v Moldova , the deadly Dead Sea derby.

It's banks actually being in Israel and Palestine, the Dead Sea derby is one hell of a derby match

**pineapple stu** · 14/11/2016, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

We were seeded first I think for that 98 campaign, and finished the year level with Lithuania at 48.

We weren't top seeds for 98; we've only been top seeds for 96 and 02 I think.

Romania were top seeds in 1998 (and justified it quite convincingly)

**Kingdom** · 15/11/2016, 10:55 AM

https://www.theguardian.com/football...asel-liverpool

A reference to a possible reason in the change in Serbia's fortunes. As it happens I've been espousing the positives of that formation with consideration to the players at our disposal for a good 18 months now.

**jbyrne** · 15/11/2016, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

We weren't top seeds for 98; we've only been top seeds for 96 and 02 I think.

Romania were top seeds in 1998 (and justified it quite convincingly)

we were seeded 3 behind portugal and holland for 2002. it was the qualifiers for euro 2004 that we were first seeds from memory

**pineapple stu** · 15/11/2016, 1:02 PM

Yep, sorry - meant 2004 alright.

**DeLorean** · 15/11/2016, 9:47 PM

Austria have just drawn 0-0 at home to Slovakia in a friendly so that won't lift their spirits too much. I was actually staying in the same hotel as them at the weekend, was wondering on Sunday night why they were still floating around the place as I didn't realise they had another game tonight. Serbia have been beaten 2-0 in the Ukraine.

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 15/11/2016, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Austria have just drawn 0-0 at home to Slovakia in a friendly so that won't lift their spirits too much. I was actually staying in the same hotel as them at the weekend, was wondering on Sunday night why they were still floating around the place as I didn't realise they had another game tonight. Serbia have been beaten 2-0 in the Ukraine.

They didn't try and change their booking?