New thread as the last thread seems to be broken.
they were diving and trying to get our players booked the whole time, Szoboszlai with a particularly pathetic effort in the first half. And Orban is a scum bag, a bigot, a horrible creature.
Well I think we can all move on from the Kenny era anyway. If anyone ever tries to convince you again that we can’t compete and shouldn’t try to win matches, tell them to feck off. Electric few days.
We get 1 from pot 2 for the semi final. Would like to avoid the Scots and would take any from Wales, Czechia and Slovakia.
Rino Gatusso has got the wheels back on for Italy after a shakey start before he took over so one to avoid completely. I don't expect any of the Pot 1s to loose out to a pot 4 but if they do the Nordies probably the most likely.
If we're going to a World Cup I suspect it won't be the easy way and going to Italy, Turkey or Poland will end up being part of it but who knows in a one off game. The team has shown they now have a bit of mental steel about them. Wonderful to even be able to dream.
Would be amazing if we could grab a home semi final game. The atmosphere would be electric at it.
We can still be in pot 2 but we need 3 results to go out way.
We need Ukraine not to beat Iceland, Wales not to beat North Macedonia and Bosnia not to beat Austria.
If the above happens we have a home semi final.
I'm starting to think backs to the wall with no hope is better.
A handy draw at home might kill us.
We should get a big bump up in the rankings after those last two victories
Obviously too late for the draw but hopefully we keep pushing that way.
Europe should have more slots..totally unfair in my opinion when you see some of the dross qualifying for the WC
Be honest; the evening of the Yerevan farce. How many dared to even dream of the scenario that's unfolded over the last 4 evenings? What were they that night; at least third (if not fourth)? To have turned it around the way they have is truly remarkable.
….
long shot
That's how all modern FIFA presidents get the job. Bribe weaker confederations.
Probably, yeah. However, to get to the playoffs was all anyone could reasonably expect at the outset, so that's been achieved. Whatever happens from this point is bonus territory. Obviously, I want to see Ireland qualify for the finals, but the qualifying system is designed to get the big teams through.
I know what you mean. A middling team would be the best of both worlds. Enough to have Ireland “switched on” and against a team where there is a realistic chance of victory.
What happens if Scotland beat Denmark?
What's the story with HH's contract? Is there a clause that he automatically stays on should we reach the playoffs? Either way he's done more than enough to have a crack at another campaign.
I’d imagine all contracts would work on the basis that it’s for the entire campaign from first qualifying game to last tournament game. Be stupid otherwise.
Semi-correct, that's what happened with McCarthy and Kenny over Covid. It would have an end date though not final game.
McCarthy's was done on a time basis which is why thanks to Covid Kenny was in charge for what should have been McCarthy's playoffs.
That was unusual though in the sense Kenny was always lined up to be the next manager.
Well, if we have learned anything from Troy Parrott's success recently is that no more young lads are to be sent to England and Scotland from now on.
It's Holland all the way - Herenveen, Go Ahead Eagles, Twente and Volendaam.
No more scrapping around Preston and Oldham for our lads and a glorious future awaits!
Likeable team my arse.
Troy will be in action for AZ vs shels in tallaght on the 27th.
Edit - in alkmaar so no he won’t
+1 on this question - would Denmark go into pot 2?
Is it an open draw for the qualifiers?
pot 1 I imagine so I don’t think it would affect us but open to correction
A small few left on Boards will feel very very vindicated by their support of Go Ahead Ealgles over the last 20 years.
This is how I have it pegged at the moment based on current FIFA rankings. They're due to be updated on Wednesday (Hence the draw not being done until Thursday). We're likely to jump ahead of Albania. Teams in bold are qualified/de-facto qualified for the playoffs.
The 16 teams will be allocated into four of these brackets.
Read somewhere we need Ukraine not to win, Wales to not win and Bosnia not to win. Watching Ukraine v Iceland, Ukrainian keeper made one of the best saves ever. So are you saying I don’t need to watch this match?
Ukraine just scored, does that change your pots?
Ukraine winning one nil now.
Sorry, Ukraine should be in the third column. If they beat Iceland, they jump to second and knock out Iceland. Their higher fifa ranking will bump us down a spot which would put us into Pot 3. If we can jump Albania in the rankings we can afford for one of Wales/Ukraine/Bosnia to win.
If Bosnia win, they'll knock Austria back into second in their group who's ranking will in turn knock us down a spot.
