Euro 2008

**paul_oshea** · 24/08/2007, 1:28 PM

Originally Posted by bwagner

P�d Von Tirpitz - Thats the funniest post I have ever read hhahahahaahahahahahahaahaha...no wonder no-one likes you

Have I missed something?

**bwagner** · 24/08/2007, 2:02 PM

Nobody likes Von T because he smells :O(
Anyways guys back to the group , I think if Stan gets the right team and right subs in both games (please god Shay is back) I honestly think we can get 4 points , 6 would not be a total shock but I reckon 4 would be enough to build on .These young team we are now seeing as little fear and there are hungry to make the cut in Switzerland/Austria

**wallis** · 24/08/2007, 3:24 PM

If we beat Slovakia and draw with the Czechs then I think we will qualify.

It leaves us a point behind the czechs but I cant see them winning in Germany as the Germans will need to win that game to clinch the group.

Germany will target that game as their three pointer and will be glad to leave Croker with a point.

**Wolfie** · 24/08/2007, 3:37 PM

The Wales away fixture takes place on the 17th Nov 07. The Czech's play the Slovaks in Prague that night.

We don't figure in the last round of games that take place on 21st Nov 07:

Cyprus v Czech Rep
Germany v Wales
San Marino v Slovakia

Still can't make my mind up if this is a good thing or a bad thing eg, to have the games over us or to be able to react to results as they happen on the pitch that night (if it still makes a difference).

Can anyone else visualise a panic stricken vigil by the tv that night- pacing the room and praying to God that Cyprus hold onto a draw?

I recall the last 4 minutes of Spain v Denmark in 1993 AFTER our game with the North had just ended? Excruciating.

**wallis** · 24/08/2007, 3:51 PM

With the way that Cyprus have performed at home in this campaign , I for one would NOT want to have to go there for three points. If they can stop us and Germany then they are very capable of upseting an under pressure Czech side.

**Wolfie** · 27/08/2007, 8:04 AM

Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy

I just hope we still have an interest that night.

Anyone else old enough to remember the Bulgaria v Scotland match in '87?

**billydoneit** · 27/08/2007, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

Anyone else old enough to remember the Bulgaria v Scotland match in '87?

Absolutely, a decent Bulgarian team as well, the Scots were not given a chance in that game if I remember correctly. The night (and the goal) that launched us into the big time....... I still believe with a bit of luck we could have gone on to win Euro '88, the performance against the soviets in Hanover remains my number 1 footballing memory, I thought we were brilliant that night. Anyway, enough nostalgia, I think we can take 4 points from these 2 games with a rub of the green and top performances all around but I have a feeling we will win in Slovakia and lose out by the odd goal against the Czechs.

**Bungle** · 27/08/2007, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by billydoneit

Absolutely, a decent Bulgarian team as well, the Scots were not given a chance in that game if I remember correctly. The night (and the goal) that launched us into the big time....... I still believe with a bit of luck we could have gone on to win Euro '88, the performance against the soviets in Hanover remains my number 1 footballing memory, I thought we were brilliant that night. Anyway, enough nostalgia, I think we can take 4 points from these 2 games with a rub of the green and top performances all around but I have a feeling we will win in Slovakia and lose out by the odd goal against the Czechs.

While I wouldn't be happy with that scenario, it would at least give our young team the confidence for future campaigns that they can go to places like Bratislava and come home with three points. We'd also be more or less guaranteed to be third seeds for the next campaign, which is something we could have only dreamt about after the Cyprus debacle.

**OwlsFan** · 27/08/2007, 1:53 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

Anyone else old enough to remember the Bulgaria v Scotland match in '87?

Took the day off work to watch it. One of the if not the HIGHLIGHT of my years supporting Ireland. Watched the tape of the goal about 50 times afterwards. Sent Gary Mackay a christmas card for many years afterwards - I jest you not - thanking him for that goal.

The commentary by George Hamilton almost did my head in. He'd be talking about cracking open the Champagne bottles one second and the next second "oh, it's cleared off ther line!!!". The most nervous final minutes bar none I have ever experiences as the Bulgars pressed for an equaliser. I still get goose bumps thinking about it. Have the game on a betamax tape still someplace

**NeilMcD** · 27/08/2007, 2:11 PM

can you convert from Betamax to DVD. I would love a copy of that. I remember watching it also. We played Israel the night before and won 5 nil I think. David Kelly hatrick. Who was on the panel then. Was Giles, I kinda remember a crap studio like it was a hall in RTE with facke bushes in the background.

**Ordinary Fan** · 27/08/2007, 3:19 PM

It is funny half-way thrrough the qualifiers how perspective of a group can change. At the start of this campaign we were in a really hard group andit was going to be a dog-fight for 3rd place between ourselves, Wales and Slovakia.
Now it has turned out to be not so difficult and we should have no problem winning 3 away matches in a row

All players fit, Stans team will be:

Name Age
Given 31
O'Shea 25
McShane 21
Dunne 28
Finnan 30
Ireland/McGeady 20/21
Carsley 32
Kilbane 30
Reid 25
Keane 28
Doyle 21

(I have tried to understate ages where I have some doubt)

Will you all stop talking about a young team, it is an experienced team with a couple of young players. More than half of these players will not play in another set of European qualifiers!

Most of this team flopped in Switzerland, Isreal, Germany, yprus and San Marino.
But they will win in Slovakia and then beat the Czechs?

If we get three points we eill do well but I suspect that it will be a draw against Slovakia and well beaten by the Czechs.

Come on Ireland!

**citizenerased** · 27/08/2007, 6:43 PM

fuuucck the other games, we shouldnt be afraid of anyone...BELIEVE

**Stuttgart88** · 27/08/2007, 8:06 PM

Anyone remember the last time we won a friendly in emphatic manner away from home? 3-0 away to Finland. Barrett & Healy both scored. Just months after WC02 I thought we we going to achieve great things. Look what happened next, both to the team and to those two. Jim Goodwin played a bit that day.

(I still think the next few years could have been very different if Duff hadn't got injured early in Moscow or if Harte (?) hadn't hit the bar early in that game!)

We shouldn't be getting carried away but at the same time these are only football games coming up. It's not a full on battle where the best equipped army always wins. I've seen thousands of football games and have seen less fancied and some downright poor teams win away from home on many occasions. The only problem is that it's never been us, but there's no reason at all why it shouldn't. Give it a go - just like Amsterdam 2000 for example - and see what happens.

**Wolfie** · 28/08/2007, 8:11 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Anyone remember the last time we won a friendly in emphatic manner away from home? 3-0 away to Finland. Barrett & Healy both scored. Just months after WC02 I thought we we going to achieve great things. Look what happened next, both to the team and to those two. Jim Goodwin played a bit that day.

(I still think the next few years could have been very different if Duff hadn't got injured early in Moscow or if Harte (?) hadn't hit the bar early in that game!)

We shouldn't be getting carried away but at the same time these are only football games coming up. It's not a full on battle where the best equipped army always wins. I've seen thousands of football games and have seen less fancied and some downright poor teams win away from home on many occasions. The only problem is that it's never been us, but there's no reason at all why it shouldn't. Give it a go - just like Amsterdam 2000 for example - and see what happens.

It can't be overtstated enough that we'll need to contain the Slovaks / Czechs early on and don't be unlucky enough to concede an early goal. Going a goal down would make it a particularly difficult task to claw two back.

We'll also need to be clinical enough to take the chances that hopefully come our way during the game - I'd hate for us to be having a dreaded "if only.............." debate after the game.

Come on Ireland - its now or never in this group.

**tetsujin1979** · 28/08/2007, 9:39 AM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

Going a goal down would make it a particularly difficult task to claw two back.

Off topic, when was the last time we won a competitive game after going behind?
I can't recall it happening under Kerr, although we came from behind to draw against Australia and Turkey in friendlies, under Stan we've only come back to draw against Ecuador, every other game we've gone behind in (Chile, Holland, Germany, Cyprus) we've gone on to lose.
I can't remember it happening under Mick, and the last game I remember coming from behind to win under Jack was away to Albania in the World Cup 1994 qualifiers!

**Stuttgart88** · 28/08/2007, 9:47 AM

Andorra 3-1?

**paul_oshea** · 28/08/2007, 9:49 AM

We'll also need to be clinical enough to take the chances that hopefully come our way during the game - I'd hate for us to be having a dreaded "if only.............." debate after the game.

Come on Ireland - its now or never in this group.

We have them anyhow, every bloody qualifying group we end up saying if only, but usualy in relation to a stupid result rather than chances in a game. But its always hte same and its fierce annoying and depressing.

Ya - it is now or never!!!

**Stuttgart88** · 28/08/2007, 10:02 AM

If we’re composed enough I see no reason why going a goal down should be a problem. I’ve often said that I admire the likes of Sweden & Denmark who regularly, but don’t always, qualify for tournaments and largely on the back of just going away and competing in a simple game of football. None of this cagey “draw away” nonsense.

I remember in Euro 2004 when England needed to beat (or draw with?) Croatia to go through. I wanted Croatia to go through and I recall thinking when they scored early it was probably the worst thing for them. Why? Because England can’t play careful, cagey football but if they’re forced to give it a go they usually have goals in them and are more dangerous.

If we go a goal behind and we keep our nerve, we’ve still every chance of getting a win.

**livehead1** · 28/08/2007, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

If we go a goal behind and we keep our nerve, we�ve still every chance of getting a win. I really liked when we scored in Denmark we kept having a go and got another.

I have a very suspicious feeling that will not happen in a competitive game