ROIs playoff for 2010 World Cup.. teams to avoid?

thomond2006

Fair play to the players and management, we might not be pleasing to watch but we've given ourselves a great chance of qualifying for our first major championships in 8 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_-_UEFA_Second_Round

I haven't seen the other countries play, so who are the countries that we could draw and which of these should be avoided?

After Euro 2008, I'm guessing Russia would be a tough opponent?

1967

Dont think Greece would be the worst draw in the world

DSB

My preference would be Greece followed by Russia, Portugal and then I would least desire France.

Diabhal Beag

Russia and France. Portugal have been in poor form and we could beat Greece

thomond2006

Would love if we beat Portugal and stuck it to Ronaldo!

We'd have fans from all over the world.

briany

The consensus seems to be that Russia is the one to avoid. I'd like to add France and Portugal to that list although I'm sure that Ireland could put it up to them but really it would be Ireland's best result in 20 years at least, possibly their greatest result ever to get a win over them over 2 legs.

Eire-Dearg

What about Slovenia/Slovakia?

Johnny86

The french are bit of a shambles in truth, a coach who all the players hate and should have got the sack after the euros so id prefer them ahead of portugal or russia...i really couldnt see ireland going to russia and getting a result. The Greeks certainly the ones to hope for

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

Fair play to the players and management, we might not be pleasing to watch but we've given ourselves a great chance of qualifying for our first major championships in 8 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_-_UEFA_Second_Round

I haven't seen the other countries play, so who are the countries that we could draw and which of these should be avoided?

After Euro 2008, I'm guessing Russia would be a tough opponent?

Greece please

Eire-Dearg wrote: »

What about Slovenia/Slovakia?

They will be in our pot so we can't meet them

Zonda999

Russia don't actually strike me as being all that great but the prospect of going to Moscow in the depth's of winter is not appealing for any team. My preference;

Greece
France
Portugal
Russia

I genuinely fancy our chances against France, assuming they dont suddenly come good. Not so sure about Portugal. They could rip us to shreds, its hard to know. France and Portugal are certainly not as good as Italy though and we stood up well to them at home. Questions questions..

NaiveMelodies

Is not their any legal argument to made for Fifa changing the playoffs to seedings?
I mean surely the Fai stand to make cash from the World Cup and by doing so Fifa are favouring the bigger teams?

Mr Alan

well Stevo, the last world cup play off draw was seeded, so unless the FAI have proof FIFA weren't planning on this one being the same, in reality FIFA aint doing anything wrong

jimmyboy

Russia is by far the worst team we could get.
Play some brilliant football, unreal home record (bar last night) and no matter how good our fans are I couldn't see many traveling.
France would be the best for the traveling support but would definitely want Greece.
Definitely beatable.

Zonda999

only1stevo wrote: »

Is not their any legal argument to made for Fifa changing the playoffs to seedings?
I mean surely the Fai stand to make cash from the World Cup and by doing so Fifa are favouring the bigger teams?

Fair enough, but actually in the short term, the FAI stand to make a bit of cash if they were to be drawn against a big team like France in the play-offs

Zonda999

Zonda999 wrote: »

Russia don't actually strike me as being all that great but the prospect of going to Moscow in the depth's of winter is not appealing for any team. My preference;

Greece
France
Portugal
Russia

I genuinely fancy our chances against France, assuming they dont suddenly come good. Not so sure about Portugal. They could rip us to shreds, its hard to know. France and Phttp://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=62492440ortugal are certainly not as good as Italy though and we stood up well to them at home. Questions questions..

Afaik, Russia play their home games on a plastic pitch so that's a massive advantage to them.

They are the worst possible draw for a host of reasons.

Johnny86

Do the top seeds get a home game for the 2nd leg too so?

also i heard before that the playoffs could clash with the autumn internationals in croker? anyone hear that?

gosplan

IMO we want to avoid quick pass and move teams as they'd destroy us. For me this means Russia are the team to avoid.

A slugfest with Greece or a disjointed France would be winnable.

Really can't comment on Portugal. Haven't seen them play in ages.

SlickRic

russia, portugal, france, greece.

in order of avoidance level.

russia; just no.

1) the pitch
2) Arshavin
3) the Hiddink Factor
4) Arshavin

portugal; almost as much no.

1) you just know Ronaldo will screw us over.
2) they have an attacking threat that may well overrun our defensive approach.
3) i wouldn't want to see Ronaldo's smirk at the end at our expense.
4) although i would like to see his tears if we won.

france; wouldn't bother me.

1) Domenech is pants.
2) The players don't seem to be playing for him, each other, or the country
3) the only problem is, qualification rests on this. great players have a habit of pulling out performances when needed, and they have some big, big players.

greece; yes please.

1) they're blatantly the weakest.
2) i think in terms of style of game, it would be a war of attrition, which i think we could beat a lot of teams at.

that about sums it up for me.

Zonda999

rarnes1 wrote: »

Afaik, Russia play their home games on a plastic pitch so that's a massive advantage to them.

They are the worst possible draw for a host of reasons.

Jeez, thats another reason then, we really dont want them. By nearly all accounts too, they are the best footballing team of the 4 seeds

Jam-Fly

So it's looking like the two pools look like this:

Russia (6)
France (10)
Greece (12) (or Switzerland or Israel or Latvia)
Portugal (17)


and

Ukraine (25)
Ireland (38)
Bosnia + Herzogovina (46)
Slovenia (54)


Russia and France are guarenteed to finish 2nd so they will def be possible opponents for Ireland. Portugal have to beat Malta to guarentee 2nd place, so they will most likely be possible opponents.
If Greece beat Luxembourg on Wednesday they will have 20 points, while Switzerland (20 points atm) and Israel (15 points) play on Wedsnesday also. If the Swiss lose and Greece win, it will be Switzerland in the play offs. In the unlikely event that Greece lose and Switzerland lose to Israel, it will be Israel in the play offs. If Switzerland win and Greece lose, and Latvia win by a big margin over Maldova (they're +2 and Greece are +9 in goal dif) Latvia could also possible be in the play offs.


So anyway, out of Russia, France, Portugal and Greece/Switzerland (it's unlikely for Latvia or Israel to qualify), I think Greece/Switzerland definitely have to be the most preffered teams to play. We actually have a better quality team than Greece imo and usually bad management would lose it for us, but the fact that we now have Trapattonni gives me confidence that we'd beat Greece over 2 legs (same goes for Switzerland).

Next I think I would fancy us against Portugal. Portugal have had a terrible home record and I feel like we could get win or draw in Lisbon and then do what needs to be done in Croker.

Russia would be a very interesting game. Akinfeev vs Given, Arshavin vs Keane and ultimately Hiddink vs Trap. I think Russia are slightly better than us in most departments (slightly better overall team, slightly better coach, slightly better home advantage) but it still not be a walkover by any means. It would be a very close tie, but I think Russia would def be favourites.

Also, it's worth mentioning that I think Portugal have more quality in their side, but I'd still rather face them than Russia.

I think France would be the toughest side to face. The lost 3-1 away to Austria, but other than that, they've had fairly reasonable results (home and away draws to Romania, away draw to Serbia, and the rest wins). Although it is not their strongest squad ever, they certainly have better players at their disposal than Ireland do. In a once off match, France would have to be clear favourites to do it against Ireland.


So all in all, I suppose there's a reasonable chance we'll qualify. On the surface, I like to think that I am still remaining confident we'll qualify. However, being an Ireland fan, subconciously I'm sure I'm getting prepared to be disappointed and getting ready for another summer not watching my country take part in a World Cup.

Zonda999

Johnny86 wrote: »

Do the top seeds get a home game for the 2nd leg too so?

also i heard before that the playoffs could clash with the autumn internationals in croker? anyone hear that?

No, apparently thats to be done by a draw too

From wikipedia:

A separate draw will be conducted to decide who will host the second leg

I'm guessing Platini will pull a few strings and France will be at home for their second leg.

NaiveMelodies

Mr Alan wrote: »

well Stevo, the last world cup play off draw was seeded, so unless the FAI have proof FIFA weren't planning on this one being the same, in reality FIFA aint doing anything wrong

Fcuk didnt know that.

Why they bother announce it would be seeded a few weeks ago?

Cake Man

Iran again? :rolleyes:

Greece definitely, would have a decent chance against them. It's depressing that all the good results we got in the group may count for nothing.
Would be nice too if we got home advantage for the second leg.

Have a feeling we'll get Portugal for some reason.

SlickRic

Cake Man wrote: »

Have a feeling we'll get Portugal for some reason.

have we any glamour model's handy to put Ronaldo off the night before the game?

assignment: 'Do A Paris.'

NaiveMelodies

Zonda999 wrote: »

Fair enough, but actually in the short term, the FAI stand to make a bit of cash if they were to be drawn against a big team like France in the play-offs

think your wrong there, id say they'd fill Croker whoever we were playin if it was a playoff, no?

only1stevo

only1stevo wrote: »

Fcuk didnt know that.

Why they bother announce it would be seeded a few weeks ago?

It's FIFA. They basically do what the fcuk they want !

JerryHandbag

The more I think about it, I wouldnt mind getting France actually....went over there and got a 0-0 in last WC so why not again, I dont think they're any better now than they were then.

But its beating the big teams at home that we need to address. I know its been said many times but it hasnt happened competitively since Holland in 2001, (and that in itself was a bit of a freak, the Dutch shoulda been 4 up before MacAteer ever scored!!)

I suppose theres always a couple of score draws and squeezing through on penos, but I dont think my nerves could take that :eek:

Jam-Fly

only1stevo wrote: »

think your wrong there, id say they'd fill Croker whoever we were playin if it was a playoff, no?

lol, yeah definitely. It doesn't matter who we're playing, if the game decides whether or not we go to a World Cup, people will show up if we're playing Limerick U-16 Camogie team!

Mikeyt086

I want France.

0-0 in Paris 1st leg.
1-0 in Croker.

Order the Vuvuzela's on ebay.

manutd

Greece would be it for me.

chopperbyrne

Russia would hammer us and so would Portugal more than likely.

As long as we avoid those two I'll be happy.

manutd

chopperbyrne wrote: »

Russia would hammer us and so would Portugal more than likely.

As long as we avoid those two I'll be happy.

Portugal may be without Ronaldo for the first play-off after injury.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12098_5622938,00.html

Quint

There's a seperate draw to see who plays home first. Greece would be the team go get alright. Hopefully the second leg is at croker

kenco

Really doesnt matter who we get as long as we have the second leg at home! In our last few play off losses (apart from Iran) we have been at home first and not done the business. Heres hoping!

noodler

Mr Alan wrote: »

well Stevo, the last world cup play off draw was seeded, so unless the FAI have proof FIFA weren't planning on this one being the same, in reality FIFA aint doing anything wrong

Why, in your opinion, did they wait to see how the group's were panning out before making the announcement?

Do you not think it should be unambigously stated before a ball is kicked?

leninbenjamin

on paper it should be France and Portugal, but frankly they've been playing so sh*t i don't think it makes a difference. They should tear us to pieces, but their coaches have been so incompetent of late I wouldn't mind drawing them to see how we get on. I certainly think Trapps system would do very well against them, although you would imagine the class of Ronaldo/Ribery to put them through over us.

Russia are obviously the one to avoid. Historically, we do not do well in Eastern Europe and it's the same of this team. I actually think it would be the most interesting tie though. Two top managers with very strict systems and ideas about football, a fairly even matched team (although Russia have a fair bit more class througout that would make them edge it).

Greece... I'm actually not sure. Their system may not necessarily suit us, we're geared more towards playing against teams better than us and containing them than overcoming a hard pressing defensive team like Greece. I'd hope our class on the wings would do a lot of damage against them, but they just play so compact I'm not sure we'd have much joy. Secondly, an away trip to Athens wouldn't be much more appealing than Moscow!

PHB

I think we can take heart in the fact that we are the team to avoid in the second group.

I'd prefer Greece above all else obviously.

After that, I'd prefer France to Portugal without a doubt. Why? I think our defence would really struggle against pace, indeed it has in the past, and Portugal are just bloody fast. That said, they have no strikers, so their system can get stuck sometimes, but Ronaldo would just win the game on his own, so they are to be avoided.

I'd definately prefer Russia to both France and Portugal. I don't see how you couldn't. France have got flatly better players and in the playoffs, that's what I think really matters.

soma

sugarman wrote: »

Hundreds would flock to France for the away game though, thats the only plus and we did draw with em away last time but lost at home.(

Significantly more than just hundreds, thousands upon thousands travelled to Paris for the last game - Both O2 and vodafone's roaming capability crashed while we were in Paris due to the numbers of Irish :-)

Thanx 4 The Fish

soma wrote: »

Significantly more than just hundreds, thousands upon thousands travelled to Paris for the last game - Both O2 and vodafone's roaming capability crashed while we were in Paris due to the numbers of Irish :-)

I was there for that. Was great being allowed to drink beer at the ground too.

Would not mind another trip over TBH, they do not look any great shakes and is a fair easy trip. Would prefer Greece or Switzerland and as a lot have said would like to play the second leg at home.

briany

Hmmmmmmm. I've never been to an Irish game and I've never been to Paris. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Lord Trollington

i would love to get the Swiss, i would love it.

briany

whycliff wrote: »

i would love to get the Swiss, i would love it.

Noooooooooooooooo not the bloody Swiss again!:mad:

m@cc@

PHB wrote: »

I think we can take heart in the fact that we are the team to avoid in the second group.

Don't know about that. I'd have said the Ukraine would be the ones to avoid.

~Rebel~

they're ranked lower then france, greece, russia, switzerland and portugal so we cant face them.

<edit> post above mine mentioned the czechs has been removed...im not crazy, i swear!

<Edit Again> having said that the Czechs might actually be one to hope for, if they get in, by the time the new rankings come out they might have moved ahead of Portugal. next rankings come out this month sometime.

A Primal Nut

Switzerland only need a draw at home to Isreal to qualify. Greece are our only hope...realistically.
Not sure Russia are as good as everyone says...they lost twice to an average German. We wouldn't have much chance against them.

Even to beat Greece we can't depend on set pieces we need to score from open play against a good team for once.

And I wonder if we will ever beat a good team away from home in a competitive fixture.

briany

True that about the away fixture. I can't remember Ireland ever winning a meaningful fixture against good opposition unless you count Cyprus as good. I've seen them come close though but they always bottle it, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Israel, and Switzerland are the examples I can think of offhand. It's so so Important we get the away fixture first as I honestly could see us getting an away goal against any of those sides. The seeding is still as unfair as ever or should I say the decision to seed so late in the day. I hope that all the seeded teams get beaten because while I enjoy the spectacle of two big teams playing each other in a big competition, to me the magic of a big competition like the World Cup is seeing a team to whom nobody gives a chance putting it up to a giant of the game. That's always such a pleasure to see.

APM

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

I want France.

0-0 in Paris 1st leg.
1-0 in Croker.

Order the Vuvuzela's on ebay.

I totally disagree that we'd beat France over two legs. Keeping a clean sheet 1-0 in Croker is highly unlikely given our previous for keeping leads in this competition

The_B_Man

is the draw before or after the new FIFA rankings get published?

orourkeda

The_B_Man wrote: »

is the draw before or after the new FIFA rankings get published?

Next Monday

Soby

Do Greece still have that like 90 year old guy in goal?

The_B_Man

so the FIFA rankings are out on Friday, and the draw is monday....according to google.