I'd prefer the Swiss over the Dutch and the Italians but it's a fair point that the Swiss have generally navigated qualification pretty comfortably over the last decade and you can't say the same about Holland or Italy. Switzerland are a pretty formidable qualifying machine and thats what we're up against. They also beat Belgium 5-2 last week.
Yeah I get that, but as I said that assumes that - contrary to Article 16 of the regulations - that there is no draw to determine which teams go into which play off paths. I've come around to thinking Geysir's interpretation is right, but I still just think it's highly odd that UEFA specifically say a draw will be conducted to determine which play off path teams go into!
That's the spirit - Mick has always got us to second place, we now have a couple of strikers with immediate potential, our defence has been looking reasonably sound in the last few months (Wales drubbing aside), Coleman's back, Brady's back, McClean's back, James McCarthy will be back soon, Crowley's ready to come on board... if Rice comes back, we're flying.
With MoN and Keane we had no hope going into these qualifiers, not even a sliver, just more muck. Now we are in a group where 2nd place looks dooable and it would give added pleasure to stuff it to the mouthy Danes, from dynamite to a damp squid.
No way, especially the Dutch. Switzerland on paper are definitely the best team in the group but having good players hasn’t been their major problem.
Yes they had a good win over Belgium but for every big win like that you could find 2 or 3 results they have had that would give you hope.
A Danish newspaper describes the draw as a "dream" and us as "extremely primitive, defensive and limited". All good for us really.
I know that's a journalist rather than anyone in the national tram setup, but that's exactly why I'd have liked Denmark or Switzerland first
Frankly going on the past 24 months, that is exactly what we are. But whatever about the Swiss, the Danes can't say much given that in 4 games over 18 months, the main reason they beat us was because O Neill and Keane got a brainfart at half time in the play off game and took out the midfield defensive cover allowing Christen Erikkson the run of the Aviva.
They ain't any great shakes either.
People make big noise about Switzerland beating the "golden generation" Belgium too.. are people forgetting that Wales knocked the same Belgium out of the last Euro's just over two years ago in the quarter finals by three goals to one?
And Northern Ireland could easily have knocked them out of the World Cup in the play offs had they not conceded a very unlucky penalty kick?
Reality is, for the past few years.. we've been ****e. Really bad like.. being in the Aviva was a chore.. But we've been drawn against Switzerland and Denmark.. not Spain and Brazil
I think we'll see a few boring home and away draws against those teams if you asked me to put my house on it right now.
My biggest fear is that the group will be decided on goal difference and we'll lose out there.
But.. we'll be ready for the play offs after Mick has had the team together for 9 months
Sweden wasn't a complete once off though. One goal in two matches against NI and that from a farcical penalty decision. Serbia should have knocked them out in the WC group stage too even before Sweden beat them. They missed a host of chances and Mitrovic had a blatant penalty not given at 1-1 in the second half. Putting eleven past Iceland and Belgium in their two NL home games is pretty scary alright though to be fair.
Luas words, PS. But hopefully we win at a gallop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMRtDwwPk6Y
Hello, hello? What's going on? What's all this shouting, we'll have no trouble here!
- E Tattsyrup.
To be honest I think Iceland's best form is behind them now, and they are sinking slowly back to their real level i.e. Pot 3/4 team. Why do you think I only want 6 teams to qualify from Group B, if we don't get out ourselves.. I'd fear Iceland less than almost any of the group B teams at the moment
Probably. It's still impressive though regardless, eleven goals in two home games while we're struggling to muster up a shot on target.
They were minutes away from beating France away last month.
If i know anything about how football works the Danes are setting themselves up for a massive humiliation.
If our lads aren't up for the games against them we may give up on them. I'd say they will the be ready to sweat blood to beat the arrogant *****s.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
They scored more goals in that friendly than the number of times we got into France's half when we played them in May!
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