Slovakia v Republic of Ireland - 8th October 2020 - Euro 2020 Playoff Semi Final

**jbyrne** · 07/10/2020, 7:28 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

You didnt think that us having the larger amount of possession in games for the 1st time in years was something to build on?

kinda... but we created very little and looked wide open at times

**Eirambler** · 07/10/2020, 7:35 PM

You'd have to imagine he's in Slovakia given how close we are to kick off. Unless the positive test result was held back from the public domain for a few days. Similar to Scotland earlier today any close contacts might also have to drop out. Presumably if it had ruled out a few more players they would have had to forfeit the fixture, but that seems unlikely at this stage.

Hopefully everything is OK on our side after the positive test from the FAI staff member yesterday. There are next to no Irish journalists over there so news is very slow to filter through, there's a bit of an 80s behind the iron curtain feel about the whole thing. You'd wonder whether these playoffs will actually be finished as planned next month and whether the tournament will be able to go ahead next year in its current form, spread across so many countries.

**Diggs246** · 07/10/2020, 7:44 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

You'd have to imagine he's in Slovakia given how close we are to kick off. Unless the positive test result was held back from the public domain for a few days. Similar to Scotland earlier today any close contacts might also have to drop out. Presumably if it had ruled out a few more players they would have had to forfeit the fixture, but that seems unlikely at this stage.

Hopefully everything is OK on our side after the positive test from the FAI staff member yesterday. There are next to no Irish journalists over there so news is very slow to filter through, there's a bit of an 80s behind the iron curtain feel about the whole thing. You'd wonder whether these playoffs will actually be finished as planned next month and whether the tournament will be able to go ahead next year in its current form, spread across so many countries.

Thanks for ruining my night!

**Razors left peg** · 07/10/2020, 7:45 PM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

kinda... but we created very little and looked wide open at times

We created a few chances that if we had taken it would have had a very different outlook. It was pretty poor in last 2 games no doubt but I seen enough to think we are moving in right direction

**paul_oshea** · 07/10/2020, 8:02 PM

It seems like skrinirar has it too
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ind...-39599178.html

There's no excuse now lads. And I don't want to hear any come 10pm tomorrow night either .

**Diggs246** · 07/10/2020, 8:05 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

It seems like skrinirar has it too
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ind...-39599178.html

There's no excuse now lads. And I don't want to hear any come 10pm tomorrow night either .

Agreed
Winners or losers nothing inbetween

**seanfhear** · 07/10/2020, 8:13 PM

Opportunity Knocks ?

**paul_oshea** · 07/10/2020, 8:21 PM

The upcoming Euro 2020 playoffs that include the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland will go ahead as long as a team has 13 players available, including one goalkeeper.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soc...yers-1.4363834

**geysir** · 07/10/2020, 8:58 PM

The Faroe Island protocol won't work this time. If a whole team is placed into quarantine according to local covid regulations (as Slovan Bratislava were in Thorshafn) and therefore unable to fulfill the fixture, the game shall be rescheduled.

**paul_oshea** · 07/10/2020, 9:12 PM

Ya I can't read that article but they've left months opened either next month or just before the euros to complete. No game will be forfeit( this time around at least)

**NeverFeltBetter** · 08/10/2020, 8:02 AM

Better to play them now, if they are in any way weakened. But very concerning all the same. Hard to social distance on a football pitch

**tetsujin1979** · 08/10/2020, 8:39 AM

What happens if a player tests positive while the team are still in Slovakia?

**Diggs246** · 08/10/2020, 9:08 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

What happens if a player tests positive while the team are still in Slovakia?

Now that would be quite the doozy

**Fixer82** · 08/10/2020, 10:08 AM

They'd have to stay there. Or get the club to send out a private jet with a fully hazmat suit adorned pilot.

**seanfhear** · 08/10/2020, 10:34 AM

Its all getting ridiculous now ~ ~ maybe they should just Toss a Coin ! !

**Trequartista20** · 08/10/2020, 11:15 AM

It's been reported that Kevin Long and Cullen miss out on the matchday 23.

**tetsujin1979** · 08/10/2020, 11:20 AM

Cullen doesn't surprise me, he's been isolating since testing positive, so he might not be match fit.

**Trequartista20** · 08/10/2020, 11:40 AM

Possibly true in regards to Cullen, but it inevitably leads to questions over why he was called up at all.

You would have thought Long would have made the 23 as reliable central defensive cover. As it is, Derrick Williams is all we have as cover for both centre-back positions and left-back. Which seems to constitute a rather unnecessary risk in context of a potential 120-minute game when you're permitted 10 outfield substitutes.

**Diggs246** · 08/10/2020, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Trequartista20

Possibly true in regards to Cullen, but it inevitably leads to questions over why he was called up at all.

You would have thought Long would have made the 23 as reliable central defensive cover. As it is, Derrick Williams is all we have as cover for both centre-back positions and left-back. Which seems to constitute a rather unnecessary risk in context of a potential 120-minute game when you're permitted 10 outfield substitutes.

What? 5 subs no?