Euro 2008 Qualification?

eirebhoy

He had a decent world cup but that's about it.

LuckyLloyd

eirebhoy wrote:

Seriously?

Not dodging this. Will write something on it when I get a chance later on. I think more players would be deserving of their place than you give credit for.

BaZmO*

cson wrote:

Matty Who scored the equaliser for us against Cameroon in 2002 and for the most part served the Irish team well.

No,still doesn't ring a bell.

Ghost Train

BaZmO* wrote:

No,still doesn't ring a bell.

he's one of these lads, the guy sitting on the ground, looks like his head has got stuck to the another players head
http://images.scotsman.com/2002/06/17/1706penb.jpg

here's his website http://www.matthollandweb.com/

BaZmO*

Oh yes that's right, Mr. Invisible. :rolleyes:

Funnily enough when you click the link for his website you get the following...

The Matt Holland site is currently being updated
Back soon!

A lot like his playing style during a game.

cson

He's still there you know. He came back re-incarnated as Kevin Kilbane.

BaZmO*

cson wrote:

He's still there you know. He came back re-incarnated as Kevin Kilbane.

Kilbane is a totally different player and he certainly doesn't go missing in games although a lot of the time it's quite easy to wish he would.

Ghost Train

BaZmO* wrote:

Funnily enough when you click the link for his website you get the following...

the wayback machine shows that "site is being updated" message has been there since 2003 lol

seriously though, i do think he has been a good player for ireland during the mick mccarthy days

BobbyD10

The next two away games will tell us alot about how far the team is progressing, considering how badly the previous two away games where.

redspider

loyatemu wrote:

table with San Marino removed:

1.Germany P4 - 10 pts
2.Czech Republic P4 - 10 pts
3.Slovakia P5 - 9 Pts
4.Ireland P5 - 7 pts
5.Cyprus P6 - 4pts
6.Wales P4 - 3 pts

we have to go to Czech, Wales, Slovakia and play germany at home. I don't fancy our chances.

I fully agree with you loyatemu.

Ireland's aim is still to finish 3rd in my book. Qualification is out of our hands and I expect DE and CZ to qualify, as I did when the group draws were made.

3rd is a respectable finish if you ask me and we still have a lot of work to get there, a LOT. Talk of competing for qualification is misguided I think.

Redspider

Stromecek

Well over here in Prague the press is having a field day over the party the players had after the germany game apparantly till six in the morning with a few escort girls thrown in for good measure, after that the performance in the cyprus game which was shocking, they were very very lucky to come away with three points.
Bruckner their 106 yr old manager is on the verge of quitting and confidence is at an all time low.
Jesus I wish we could play them now even the shambles that is ireland could flounder a victory over them and even with time the czechs have a hill to climb with koller underperforming and row z expert baros still first choice I think we have a chance come september
god I'm starting to believe again, who would have thunk it?

S.M.B.

If Ireland and the Czechs finish level on points, what system is used to determine who qualifies?

If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings.

Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question.

Am I right in saying this means it goes down to our record against the Czechs? Wasn't this the way it has been down for the past few tournaments?

This is great news if this is the case. Ireland would just have to beat the Czechs away (not easy I know) and take an equal number of points as them from all their remaining games.

bucks73

S.M.B. wrote:

Ireland would just have to beat the Czechs away (not easy I know) and take an equal number of points as them from all their remaining games.

Simple.

Nunu

For me it's as simple as beating the Czech Rep away. If we manage this I think we will qualify. Sounds simple doesn't it?....however, it's worth noting I have been following Ireland since 1988 and in that time I have never seen us win any of these away qualifiers against direct opponents for qualification.

Opposition during this almost 20 year spell, off the top of my head, included: England, France, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Croatia, Romania, Poland and Russia.

In all these games we only really took it to the opposition in one - England at Wembley in 1991. It's all about mentality. Ours is all wrong when we go away from home in a big game - we are always set up to get a draw, hoping that by some miracle we might actually steal a win. We can beat the Czechs a lot easier than we think. We just need to set up the team to go for a win and perform. Will we have the balls to do it?........history says no:(

S.M.B.

Qualification is out of our hands

Ah sure I didn't say it would be easy did I? It does mean that a comment like the one above is inaccurate though! The fact that qualification is still in our own hands is a bit of a miracle considering the disastrous start we had to the campaign.

TheJesusWarrant

Qualification is least of our concerns, the real issue is at the end of this we're going to be stuck with Staunton, who is enjoying a stay of execution following 3 scrappy wins (2 at home) against awful competition.

S.M.B.

TheJesusWarrant wrote:

Qualification is least of our concerns, the real issue is at the end of this we're going to be stuck with Staunton, who is enjoying a stay of execution following 3 scrappy wins (2 at home) against awful competition.

Ireland are the fourth seed team in this group and Staunton can't be blamed for that. Worse case scenario of not qualifying, finishing ahead of Slovakia and gaining a place in the third seed pool could be considered a success. The past few qualifiers we have lost out br dropping points against the likes of the French and the Swiss. It looks like we are going to be in the exact same situation as we were the last time. Beat our main rivals away from home and try grab a point or three from the top seeded team and we should qualify. If not then we don't deserve to qualify as we haven't in the past 16 years!

YeatsCounty

I don't see us qualifying. The 2 game tour of the former Czezhoslovakia will put an end to our hopes, I'm afraid. I really hope that I'm wrong though.

As for the future, it does look bright. It would be even brighter if we had an inspiring manager. After the game against Slovakia though, perhaps Stan is getting comfortable with the job (crazy thought, I know)? I mean, the majority of the second half against Slovakia was a lot like watching second half performances by Mick McCarthy's Ireland between 1996 and 1999. Remember Macedonia mark II and Croatia?

Pigman II

Pighead wrote:

The key post in our verbal battle was post number 23. You can't deny it Pigman II.

Once again "no chance" is in reference to qualification. The only "key point" I can take from your post #23 is that you have problems distingushing that a particular game can be won/lost/drawn in an undeserved matter or go against the formbook but that qualifying for a tournament goes to those who are worthy of it.

Pighead wrote:

And another thing! On the one hand you chide me for calling a halt to the discussion and in the very next breath you sneer at me continually digging up on this matter! Lose Lose situation for me there!

Not at all. You're the one calling time on the discussion. I'm the one laughing at your continual efforts to do so and presenting them back to you as what they are, an attempt to dig yourself out of a hole you have created for yourself.

Zebra3

Nunu wrote:

I have been following Ireland since 1988

Bandwagon jumper!!!!

You should have put down 1987.

shane86

YeatsCounty wrote:

As for the future, it does look bright. It would be even brighter if we had an inspiring manager. After the game against Slovakia though, perhaps Stan is getting comfortable with the job (crazy thought, I know)? I mean, the majority of the second half against Slovakia was a lot like watching second half performances by Mick McCarthy's Ireland between 1996 and 1999. Remember Macedonia mark II and Croatia?

Indeed. Stans post match interview was the first time in his career he actually sounded like he was a manager, he seemed to speak with more confidence. Who knows eh.