Can we still qualify?

**smithy** · 13/10/2006, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

Slovakia are a class act. I watched them take Wales apart on Saturday in a manner that we could only dream of.
They'll finish 3rd. If we're lucky we'll get 4th. But hey . . . de gaffur is building for de future now with de lads.

They looked poor against the Germans though. With the philosophy of the new German coach - Loew - the Germans will want to win every game. Look how Loew's team played against San Marino - they'll take every game seriously!

So, if Germany wins 2x against the Czechs - there's a definitely a chance for Ireland.

**Midgit** · 14/10/2006, 4:37 PM

No Way!!!!!!!!

**theleprechaun** · 15/10/2006, 2:02 PM

no. we still can do it yet

**DmanDmythDledge** · 15/10/2006, 2:20 PM

Qualification is still possible. 6 points against San Marino is guaranteed, as is 3 points against Cyprus at home. 6 points against Wales I feel is all but assured, if we play to the top of our game. I think we will beat Slovakia at home, but the away game could be tricky. That would leave us with 19 points, with games against Czech Rep(a), Germany(h) and Slovakia(a).

We're 6 points behind the Czechs if we win our game in hand, and they still have to play Germany twice. It looks like it will all come down to our game against the Czechs.

**bmozza** · 16/10/2006, 11:18 AM

I would hate for most of you boys to be on my Sunday side!! 3 games gone and it's all over already. No way, obviously things do not look favourable to say the least, but we aren't out of it until it's mathmatically impossible, and that is a long way off yet. The thing about this group is that everyone can take points off each other bar San Marino. We just need to get our own ship right and win as many games left as possible. We can stilll beat anyone on our day in Dublin, we just need to make sure we show up for every game, unlike in Cyprus.

**DeNiro** · 16/10/2006, 11:42 AM

International football is so unpredictable that it's hard to say what will happen. In fact, if we remember back to our qualifying group for Euro 96, we drew with Liechtenstein, lost twice to Austria, narrowly beat Latvia and lost to Portugal and we still ended up in 2nd place for playoffs. At the start of campaigns results are relatively predictable (Cyprus - Ireland aside) but become a lottery at the end. I do reckon the Germans will always be strong and could go the whole group unbeaten and dare I say with a 100% record.

**bennocelt** · 16/10/2006, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by bmozza

We can stilll beat anyone on our day in Dublin, we just need to make sure we show up for every game, unlike in Cyprus.

no not in a long time
i think what is more disturbing than the results is that staunton doesnt look like he has any idea of what to do, there is no way we will qualify

also wales are not as bad as people think, they still played decent enough football against the slovaks, just that those early goals took a lot out of them

**RogerMilla** · 16/10/2006, 1:40 PM

wales will up their game when they play us. it just depends if our players can match their passion , nevermind the cyprus game , i just wish we had beaten the czechs

**bmozza** · 16/10/2006, 1:56 PM

I don't think Wales will be easy beat over two legs, not by any means, and I also think we're well and truly up against it to qualify, but I certainly haven't given up hope and I do think we can still do it.

**OwlsFan** · 16/10/2006, 2:20 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

To can go into the next campaign with a winning habit, especially away from home, is the very least we should be aiming for.

Winning habit away from home

. We never had it - even under Big Jack where the best result was a win against Scotland in Hampden. Other than that I am not sure whether we've ever beaten a Top 50 team away from home in the last 25 years (I remember a win donkeys years ago against Czeckoslovakia I think when qualification was no longer possible). Amazing statistic but one that still doesn't dampen the enthusiasm or optimism of the travelling hordes. Other than Cyprus, Portugal and Basel 1, we have by and large been difficult to beat away but actually beating a rival away - alas not.

**Stuttgart88** · 16/10/2006, 2:59 PM

I remember saying it before Tel Aviv but a win there would have been notable for more than just the 3 points available. It would have marked a coming of age for the team, an away win against a decent country.

I'm fully aware of our away record in the last 30 years.

But I think we should be looking to win away in Wales and Slovakia. Accepting a draw beforehand as a decent result is defeatist. Not only do we need the points to qualify but we also need to develop a habit of decent away wins. Scotland have won in Norway & Slovenia in the last year for example, and in my opinion the confidence got from this type of result helped them win in potentially difficult Lithuania and meant they had momentum going into the French game.

Therefore I think we should be aiming for what I stated above not just to give the remainder of this campaign our best shot but also to build momentum for the next campaign.

Not an unreasonable objective to set out I think.

The old "draw away, win at home" mentality is years out of date.

**RogerMilla** · 16/10/2006, 4:27 PM

fully agree with that post stutgart , if we got nothing else but our first away win against a higher seeded team in this group it would be a boost going into africa 2010 qualification