Ireland vs Switzerland, Euro 2020 qualifier, RTE2 & Sky Sports Main Event, 7:45pm

Mr.Nice Guy

Match Odds:

Ireland 11/4
Draw 2/1
Switzerland Evens

Massive game this evening for our qualification hopes as we take on group rivals Switzerland. We currently top the group, and are ahead of our opponents tonight by six points, but having played two games more than them.

The Swiss have been dealt a blow with talisman Xherdan Shaqiri opting not to join the squad, yet they still have plenty of quality in the likes of Seferovic, Embolo and Zakaria. Their defence is usually solid, although they did blow a 3-0 lead against the Danes in the last ten minutes of their last qualifier, which is encouraging from our point of view.

Our players have started the season in reasonably good form. Ideally a few would have had more minutes but the Sheffield United contingent have been a positive. We'll likely be relying on them for goals.

As far as how the game goes, I think it will be a tough contest. The Swiss tend to be strong mentally and they have good technical players, even without Shaqiri. With the likes of Xhaka and Zakaria, I'd expect them to control the midfield and dominate possession. We've seen many games like that where the opposition have most of the ball and we're reliant on set-pieces and catching them on the break. That's how I see the game going. I see the Swiss scoring, so it's a case of whether we can do likewise. I'll be positive and say we will. Maybe tonight's the night Robinson gets his first goal. I reckon this one ends 1-1.

How do you see the game going?

Zebra3

On paper it’s hard to see anything bar an away win.

Mr.Nice Guy

The Swiss team:

Sommer; Elvedi, Akanji, Schar; Mbabu, Zakaria, Xhaka, Rodriguez; Embolo, Freuler; Seferovic.

Strong spine to it.

artanevilla

Get in to these neutral ****s Ireland.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

artanevilla wrote: »

Get in to these neutral ****s Ireland.

Aren't we meant to be neutral as well?

artanevilla

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

Aren't we meant to be neutral as well?

Ssshhhh.

weldoninhio

Can see us losing by two or three. Of the Swiss are really evens I’m gonna lump a few quid on them.

The Good Ole Boys

Switzerland win the 1-2 this game.

DDC1990

Is the young fella James McLean's son or is James just looking after the fella well. Poor kid looks much younger than the rest of the mascots.

intellectual dosser

We must be one of the few remaining countries who do the full brass band with head of state greeting ahead of these football matches?

Time to get rid?

The Good Ole Boys

intellectual dosser wrote: »

We must be one of the few remaining countries who do the full brass band with head of state greeting ahead of these football matches?

Time to get rid?

Why?

intellectual dosser

The Good Ole Boys wrote: »

Why?

I wouldn’t be gung ho for getting rid of it, but asking the question. Is it a bit too much ceremony for a soccer international?

SEPT 23 1989

intellectual dosser wrote: »

We must be one of the few remaining countries who do the full brass band with head of state greeting ahead of these football matches?

Time to get rid?

Absolutely not

major bill

O’Shea does know he’s allowed talk a lil louder ? Ha

The Good Ole Boys

intellectual dosser wrote: »

I wouldn’t be gung ho for getting rid of it, but asking the question. Is it a bit too much ceremony for a soccer international?

I like it. Nothing wrong with a bit of pomp. Gives the president something to do as well as the band.

ERG89

Hamilton completely ignored that Gladbach - Spine pun by Beglin

whatawaster81

All over us so far and we're sitting in, this won't last for 90 minutes

Gizmo55

Beglin: You could almost say the spine of the team is Gladbach

Me: Please get rid of this eejit

tayto lover

Mc Clean already looking like a calf that was locked in for the winter and has just been let out. Running around bumping into everything.

SEPT 23 1989

A draw would be a miracle going by the first 10 minutes

artanevilla

intellectual dosser wrote: »

We must be one of the few remaining countries who do the full brass band with head of state greeting ahead of these football matches?

Time to get rid?

Why?

fullstop

One team passing the ball, one team hoofing the ball.

Mr.Nice Guy

Nice Ireland move.

major bill

That’s more like it

Agent Coulson

That wasn't a foul/

Is VAR in use in these games?

fyfe79

intellectual dosser wrote: »

We must be one of the few remaining countries who do the full brass band with head of state greeting ahead of these football matches?

Time to get rid?

The FAI will never get rid of it because it's the only thing on display at the Aviva which could in any way be considered entertainment.

whatawaster81

that was some ball from Hourihane out to Coleman

ctrl-alt-delete

Agent Coulson wrote: »

That wasn't a foul/

Is VAR in use in these games?

Nope, not in the qualifiers, only the finals.

mada999

Good play unlucky by McClean

Mr.Nice Guy

Stevens has had a nervy opening 15.

ctrl-alt-delete

Having to watch it on Sky, the sound is ahead of the picture and is doing my head in.

artanevilla

Very fussy ref.

Guffy

ctrl-alt-delete wrote: »

Having to watch it on Sky, the sound is ahead of the picture and is doing my head in.

Rte player

Zico !

Switz technically better as usual we are an agricultural outfit we need to get in on top of them if we score it'll be a set piece

SEPT 23 1989

That keeper needs a few balls hammered at him if we could get up that far

Zico !

Hanging on we are getting caught out all over the place mather of time we concede

Mr.Nice Guy

They're getting loads of joy between the lines.

munsterlegend

We can barely complete a pass. Technically we are shocking. Only a matter of time before they score.

Mantis Toboggan

Why is it SUI for the Swiss on the scoreboard? There's no U in the name.

whatawaster81

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

Why is it SUI for the Swiss on the scoreboard? There's no U in the name.

Suisse

smelly sock

Couple of things

Stevens is extremely poor. McGoldrick is a poor mans Shane Long.

DDC1990

Mantis Toboggan wrote:

Why is it SUI for the Swiss on the scoreboard? There's no U in the name.

Suisse

Also Stevens looks bad tonight. Really struggling with the basics. On a yellow as well. Big risk.

davyboy1975

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

Why is it SUI for the Swiss on the scoreboard? There's no U in the name.

There is in the french spelling which is the way its normally done for internationals

tayto lover

Awful first touches.

ctrl-alt-delete

Nothing more frustrating for me than playing a ball behind someone breaking forward, it happens way too much.

JohnnyFlash

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

Why is it SUI for the Swiss on the scoreboard? There's no U in the name.

Suisse is the French for Switzerland

pjohnson

Stevens has just ran out of play twice.

Agent Coulson

If McGoldrick had Long's pace and Long had McGoldrick's footballing brain we would have two of best forwards in the world.

ionadnapokot

munsterlegend wrote: »

We can barely complete a pass. Technically we are shocking. Only a matter of time before they score.

Hourihane is stringing a few together at least.
Baffled as always about Glenn!

whatawaster81

ctrl-alt-delete wrote: »

Nothing more frustrating for me than playing a ball behind someone breaking forward, it happens way too much.

Yeah that ball from Hendrick to Robinson was poor

JohnnyFlash

Mick McCarthy has a great carry on his voice.