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darkman2 · 02-06-2012, 13:39

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18299052

Ah Gareth Crooks - 2 out of 3 teams can qualify from Group C.

I really hope, I know, that this is the view of many outside Ireland and not just pundits - remember Bilic saying he feels sorry for Ireland? This must be music to the ears of Irish fans. I so hope the Irish management team actually plays some of this stuff to the players over there and uses it because there is alot of commentary out there. No better motivation for an Irish team.

As an Irish fan we know it's a really tough group for Ireland. We know we are unlikely to progress. But we also know we can progress. It is not impossible for us to get out of that group because we know what Ireland can do when they play well. And Ireland always raise their game at a tournament.

Thinking of the English in particular pissing on Ireland's chances - I was reading a column Alan Shearer wrote saying how good he thought it was that expectations were so low for England - then he goes on to say "with this attitude maybe we can win it"

So let's keep this thread for those trolling Ireland's chances. There is stuff out there that if Ireland do well should be gold after the tournament

ArmaniJeanss · 02-06-2012, 13:44

God no.
Pundits are perfectly entitled to predict who they think will qualify, and ipso facto to suggest that they don't think other teams will qualify.

Is it an Irish thing, I hate in the GAA when some gombeen is saying 'we showed up a few experts in the sunday papers out there today', 'everyone wrote us off' etc.

recylingbin · 02-06-2012, 13:47

There's no underestimation.
We'll play three games and go home.

England are in an easy group, but will still probably not make the second round. That's the reality of how poor they are right now.

JPA · 02-06-2012, 13:48

I wouldn't mind the likes of Del Bosque pitying us but Croatia are no great shakes.

EuropeanSon · 02-06-2012, 13:54

Ireland are, realistically, the weakest team in the group, and light years behind Spain and Italy. If those two teams play reasonably well, we couldn't qualify on our best day. Realistically, we have to play as well as we possibly could, AND hope that either Spain or Italy are significantly below par, AND hope that Croatia don't play as well as they possibly could.

It's possible, obviously, but seems exceptionally unlikely, and I don't think it's unreasonable for them to dismiss Ireland's chances, in the same way we'd probably (don't want to speak for you, but I know I would anyway) dismiss Denmark's chances of getting out of group B.

homerjay2005 · 02-06-2012, 13:55

the italians are there to be beaten, no doubt about that. my fear is the croatia game, we need a result there, even a draw would be a good start and take it from there then so in essence our entire tournament hangs on that first game.

esentially we have the second most difficult group but we wont be any walkovers either.

monkey9 · 02-06-2012, 13:56

We'll lose to Croatia and Spain and draw with Italy!

homerjay2005 · 02-06-2012, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by EuropeanSon

Ireland are, realistically, the weakest team in the group, and light years behind Spain and Italy.

italy have beaten us once since 1990. since then, we have drawn with them 1-1 and 2-2 being the better side in both games and beating them 1-0 and 2-0. they beat us in a friendly 2-1 in 2005 in lansdowne.

id like to think we can beat them.

J. Marston · 02-06-2012, 13:58

Italy haven't beaten us in something 5 games, is that right? And Croatia are nothing special, Spain will spank us. I'm expecting us to go home after the group stages but it's possible that we could squeak through with two good results against Italy and Croatia, we'd need other results to go in our favour though.

A_Sober_Paddy · 02-06-2012, 13:59

I think we are the 4th best team in our group, but on our day we are hard to beat...

Our last games against
Croatia: we drew 0-0
Italy: we won 2-1
Spain: don't know,was it the 2002 world cup?

Spain, may just struggle against our parking the bus and trying to steal a goal...the swiss beat them 1-0 last world go doing just that...

Now do I expect us to get out of the group no, but do I think we can if we keep our discipline of course we have a chance of getting out of the group, we have a chance of taking points off anyone the way we play

rarnes1 · 02-06-2012, 14:00

Ireland 9/2 to qualify from group

darkman2 · 02-06-2012, 14:06

Croatia are beatable for Ireland - no question. But as you say they need to be below par and we need to be full strength. And we need to take our chances.

Spain were beaten by a Switzerland team in the last world cup playing the football Ireland are going to play i.e lump it as far away from our box as possible and hope to get on scraps. Like us they had an invisible midfield aswell but they managed to win by a goal.

Italy has made Ireland a bit of a bogey team in recent years. I don't think the Irish players will be in awe of Italy tbh. Best possibility for an Irish win in the group is against Italy IMHO.

I honestly think Ireland can get out of the group. The other teams are going to take points off each other aswell. It's a very interesting group. The important thing is all 3 opponents play open expansive football. We can't and that's our trump card really. Frustrate them and try nick a few goals in the group and we will qualify.

It just grates me because the interpretation is not only Ireland don't have a chance but also that we shouldn't really be there. Ireland went through alot of sweat and blood to get there. They are there on merit. It's made out like we are gatecrashing their party alot of the time.

I look forward to the so called upsets.

darkman2 · 02-06-2012, 14:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by A_Sober_Paddy

I think we are the 4th best team in our group, but on our day we are hard to beat...

Our last games against

Italy: we won 2-0

Fixed. And man for man we are the 4th best team in the group. I agree with that.

Zebra3 · 02-06-2012, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkey9

We'll lose to Croatia and Spain and draw with Italy!

My expectation too.

I don't expect Ireland to get hammered in either of the first two games, but they'll lose them. I expect Italy to be out by the final game too and not really give a damn about it, whereas Ireland will be killing themselves to try and salvage something.

darkman2 · 02-06-2012, 14:15

I think we will beat Croatia and Italy. Lose to Spain. That's my honest expectation only on the way Ireland play. Ireland have plenty of attacking options and they defend exceptionally well (but not well enough for Spain IMO). No reason to suggest Ireland can't beat both Croatia and Italy. It will be tough. Might be a bit sneaky. But they can win those two games.

I don't get why so many seem so scared of Croatia and Italy. Spain I get. But Croatia and Italy are nothing special either like.

02-06-2012, 13:39	#1
darkman2 Banned Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 8,480 Adverts \| Friends	Loving the under estimation of Ireland's chances http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18299052 Ah Gareth Crooks - 2 out of 3 teams can qualify from Group C. I really hope, I know, that this is the view of many outside Ireland and not just pundits - remember Bilic saying he feels sorry for Ireland? This must be music to the ears of Irish fans. I so hope the Irish management team actually plays some of this stuff to the players over there and uses it because there is alot of commentary out there. No better motivation for an Irish team. As an Irish fan we know it's a really tough group for Ireland. We know we are unlikely to progress. But we also know we can progress. It is not impossible for us to get out of that group because we know what Ireland can do when they play well. And Ireland always raise their game at a tournament. Thinking of the English in particular pissing on Ireland's chances - I was reading a column Alan Shearer wrote saying how good he thought it was that expectations were so low for England - then he goes on to say "with this attitude maybe we can win it" So let's keep this thread for those trolling Ireland's chances. There is stuff out there that if Ireland do well should be gold after the tournament

02-06-2012, 14:15	#15
darkman2 Banned Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 8,480 Adverts \| Friends	I think we will beat Croatia and Italy. Lose to Spain. That's my honest expectation only on the way Ireland play. Ireland have plenty of attacking options and they defend exceptionally well (but not well enough for Spain IMO). No reason to suggest Ireland can't beat both Croatia and Italy. It will be tough. Might be a bit sneaky. But they can win those two games. I don't get why so many seem so scared of Croatia and Italy. Spain I get. But Croatia and Italy are nothing special either like. Last edited by darkman2; 02-06-2012 at 14:18.

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02-06-2012, 13:44	#2
ArmaniJeanss Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Looking for an important part of my brain somewher Posts: 6,550 Adverts \| Friends	God no. Pundits are perfectly entitled to predict who they think will qualify, and ipso facto to suggest that they don't think other teams will qualify. Is it an Irish thing, I hate in the GAA when some gombeen is saying 'we showed up a few experts in the sunday papers out there today', 'everyone wrote us off' etc.

02-06-2012, 13:47	#3
recylingbin Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 2,248 Adverts \| Friends	There's no underestimation. We'll play three games and go home. England are in an easy group, but will still probably not make the second round. That's the reality of how poor they are right now.

02-06-2012, 13:48	#4
JPA Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 9,055 Adverts \| Friends	I wouldn't mind the likes of Del Bosque pitying us but Croatia are no great shakes.

02-06-2012, 13:54	#5
EuropeanSon Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,555 Adverts \| Friends	Ireland are, realistically, the weakest team in the group, and light years behind Spain and Italy. If those two teams play reasonably well, we couldn't qualify on our best day. Realistically, we have to play as well as we possibly could, AND hope that either Spain or Italy are significantly below par, AND hope that Croatia don't play as well as they possibly could. It's possible, obviously, but seems exceptionally unlikely, and I don't think it's unreasonable for them to dismiss Ireland's chances, in the same way we'd probably (don't want to speak for you, but I know I would anyway) dismiss Denmark's chances of getting out of group B.

02-06-2012, 13:55	#6
homerjay2005 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kerry/Dublin. Posts: 21,734 Adverts \| Friends	the italians are there to be beaten, no doubt about that. my fear is the croatia game, we need a result there, even a draw would be a good start and take it from there then so in essence our entire tournament hangs on that first game. esentially we have the second most difficult group but we wont be any walkovers either.

02-06-2012, 13:56	#7
monkey9 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: The Camac Posts: 11,005 Adverts \| Friends	We'll lose to Croatia and Spain and draw with Italy!

02-06-2012, 13:58	#9
J. Marston Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: County Cork. Posts: 4,572 Adverts \| Friends	Italy haven't beaten us in something 5 games, is that right? And Croatia are nothing special, Spain will spank us. I'm expecting us to go home after the group stages but it's possible that we could squeak through with two good results against Italy and Croatia, we'd need other results to go in our favour though.

02-06-2012, 13:59	#10
A_Sober_Paddy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Limerick, Ireland Posts: 1,425 Adverts \| Friends	I think we are the 4th best team in our group, but on our day we are hard to beat... Our last games against Croatia: we drew 0-0 Italy: we won 2-1 Spain: don't know,was it the 2002 world cup? Spain, may just struggle against our parking the bus and trying to steal a goal...the swiss beat them 1-0 last world go doing just that... Now do I expect us to get out of the group no, but do I think we can if we keep our discipline of course we have a chance of getting out of the group, we have a chance of taking points off anyone the way we play

02-06-2012, 14:00	#11
rarnes1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 19,053 Adverts \| Friends	Ireland 9/2 to qualify from group

02-06-2012, 14:06	#12
darkman2 Banned Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 8,480 Adverts \| Friends	Croatia are beatable for Ireland - no question. But as you say they need to be below par and we need to be full strength. And we need to take our chances. Spain were beaten by a Switzerland team in the last world cup playing the football Ireland are going to play i.e lump it as far away from our box as possible and hope to get on scraps. Like us they had an invisible midfield aswell but they managed to win by a goal. Italy has made Ireland a bit of a bogey team in recent years. I don't think the Irish players will be in awe of Italy tbh. Best possibility for an Irish win in the group is against Italy IMHO. I honestly think Ireland can get out of the group. The other teams are going to take points off each other aswell. It's a very interesting group. The important thing is all 3 opponents play open expansive football. We can't and that's our trump card really. Frustrate them and try nick a few goals in the group and we will qualify. It just grates me because the interpretation is not only Ireland don't have a chance but also that we shouldn't really be there. Ireland went through alot of sweat and blood to get there. They are there on merit. It's made out like we are gatecrashing their party alot of the time. I look forward to the so called upsets.