World Cup draw

[Jerry The Saint]

It's 'mare group. What's worse, being so competitive that if we finish second, we might end up as the ninth worst second team that won't even get into the playoffs (I believe this is the case - ninth worse - but I'm open to correction).

Good point - group should be a lot more open than most so 2nd is likely to have one of the lower points total.

Shocked at the optimism on here, just because people don't rate Bulgaria. There is a chance that we could finish bottom of this group

(In fact, if we'd beaten Cyprus in Croker and Staunton had stayed in charge there was a very strong likelihood that this would happen )

[Aaron]

F****n Cyprusonly good for their spuds!!!

[Schlooooomp]

Montenegro qualified for the last world cup, though that was part of Serbia and Montenegor . In that competition, only one of the players was Montenegran, not sure if that was politics or ability though.

[fergalr]

Not quite Group 2 or Group 9 but it's doable.

Agree 100%. From a 3rd seed perspective, those are the only two easier groups. Could have been a lot worse.

[Stuttgart88]

I don't know why people wanted Bulgaria given how well they've done in the last year.

I can see us doing something similar to the last campaign. Serious improvement needed.

Having a good manager and all our best players fit is essential. Then, we might just get second place.

A real litmus test of whether the new regime is any better than the last one is obviously Cyprus.

Bring back Gary Doherty for Georgia. If they watch rugby they'll feel they owe us one.

[cheifo]

Very tricky Group but everybody is going to take points of each other.Some horrible away trips but it will all depend on whether our new manager prepares the team correctly.Tricky but not great teams.

[Noelys Guitar]

If the new manager brings consistent improvement then we have a half decent chance of finishing second. Bulgaria drew with Albania twice in their qualifying group otherwise they would have qualified for the Euro's so won't be easy.

[sligoman]

Anyone know when the fixture list will be out?

[Superhoops]

Not a bad draw, all those teams are well beatable with the right man in place (bar Italy who should top the group). We have a fantastic chance to qualify for South Africa I'm delighted. Glad we didn't get Group 9 I think only 1 comes out of that would that be right?

You do realise that only the group winners qualify for finals automatically? Finishing second only gets you into a play-off and then only if you are one of the best 8 runners up.

[Superhoops]

It's 'mare group. What's worse, being so competitive that if we finish second, we might end up as the ninth worst second team that won't even get into the playoffs (I believe this is the case - ninth worse - but I'm open to correction).

Agree totally. Several banana skins in there for us especially away.

[Red&White Rover]

As i see it:

On our day, we are able to beat any of them at home, we need to ensure we get at least 16 points off Georgia, Cyprus and Montenegro and we need to get a draw away to Bulgaria.


Do that and we're set...

UNfortunately though, every away trip there is a very tough one...

[eekers]

bulgaria have just got Penev back to manage them very recently. he managed them before between 92 and 96 their previous glory years.
we have no manager and the shocking possibility of venables, brady or o'leary

[Blue-Army]

Montenegro qualified for the last world cup, though that was part of Serbia and Montenegor . In that competition, only one of the players was Montenegran, not sure if that was politics or ability though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montene..._football_team

Look at their squad....vucinic of Roma is the only one I've heard of anyway...Serbia have a much stronger squad...

[onephillyhughes]

Theres a serious chance we don't win any away games in this group.

I see Montenegro's star man plays for Roma!! :O

[Cymro]

Not sure why you have sympathy for us. I think the Welsh group is much tougher. Very little chance of getting through that.

I think we have a decent chance of getting 2nd place anyway. Probably a straight fight between ourselves and Bulgaria which I would have taken beforehand. The lower seeds in our group are difficult but we're still better than them and no doubt they'll take some points of Bulgaria as well as us.

I think we can finish above Finland and nab the 3rd spot. Qualification was going to be very difficult anyway, but at least we got teams from the bottom 2 pots that we should be able to beat twice, making it a play-off against Finland for 3rd.

As I said Germany/Russia not the best of 1st/2nd seeds but I am very relieved we don't have to go to Montenegro, or Cyprus again, or Georgia where Scotland lost.

[Torn-Ado]

Montenegro was the worst possible team in the bottom group.

Personally I dont think we'll do the double over any of these teams.

[shaneker]

Not happy. As soon as the group took shape before we were drawn I was praying we wouldn't be in it, just our luck.

Montenegro are only bottom seeds by default, nasty away trip.
Georgia are just tough bas*ards.
Cyprus. God damn Cyprus.
Bulgaria are better than us and will be expecting to beat us home and away. Should be a good trip though.
Italy we will probably draw with at home but they will surely run away with this group.

All in all, thoroughly worrying. Who would want the Ireland job now?

[Schlooooomp]

He is just average though, remeber him playing for Roma against United last year and I wasn't overly impressed. Should be even less of a problem playing with players of lesser ability.

They will still probably take points from us.

[Stuttgart88]

Not one northern or western european team to play. Bad news in my opinion.

[Schlooooomp]

Damn, I thought Pavarotti had come back from the grave, until I looked up and seen 3 thin black dudes singing.