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Greatest League in the World 2026 [LOI Thread]

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Comments

  • #10202
    artanevilla
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 12,673 Mod ✭✭✭✭artanevilla


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124555564#Comment_124555564

    Should get through so football wise, yes. Just logistics now is a bit of a pain but it'll work itself out.



  • #10203
    CSF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,364 ✭✭✭✭CSF


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124555578#Comment_124555578

    Handy enough from Malaga, 2 hour bus to La Linea which is where most Shels fans stayed and walked across the border to Gibraltar on matchday.


    Tickets gonna be the issue.



  • #10204
    Dogsdodogsstuff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭Dogsdodogsstuff


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124555738#Comment_124555738

    I actually stayed in Gibraltar itself. As you say, 2 hour bus from Malaga.



  • #10205
    dfx-
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,856 Mod ✭✭✭✭dfx-


    I was looking up the possible sides for Rovers in the draw earlier today and saw Vardar won the league in North Macedonia.

    Shkupi on the other hand who Rovers played a few years ago finished bottom losing 6-0 and 7-0 with 32 defeats from 33 games and a -115 GD.

    Not even LOI can compete with that scale of collapse.



  • #10206
    Barnaboy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,735 ✭✭✭Barnaboy


    12483.jpg

    As long as we avoid Partizan, we should make round 3.



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  • #10207
    artanevilla
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 12,673 Mod ✭✭✭✭artanevilla


    Let's beat Joseph's first. I remember TNS.

    I'd love to go to a match in Belgrade.



  • #10208
    CSF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,364 ✭✭✭✭CSF


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124557252#Comment_124557252

    It’s a favourable grouping but I’d expect Ballkani would be favourites against Bohs. Just not by anywhere near as much as some of the teams you could face.



  • #10209
    Patrick2010
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,895 ✭✭✭Patrick2010


    If Rovers get through they play in either Armenia or Latvia



  • #10210
    CSF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,364 ✭✭✭✭CSF


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124557310#Comment_124557310

    Those aren’t necessarily easy games but with Rovers record in Europe they’ll surely be optimistic about chances



  • #10211
    Patrick2010
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,895 ✭✭✭Patrick2010


    Won't be counting any chickens but better than playing the likes of Sparta Prague or Ferencvaros



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  • #10212
    Dogsdodogsstuff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭Dogsdodogsstuff


    Shels getting winners of Iinfield game I think



  • #10213
    kksaints
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,293 ✭✭✭kksaints


    That's a very good draw for Shels. Linfield who they beat twice last year or Nomme Kaiju who, while they brought us to Extratime last season, were no great shakes and were one of the most negative teams I saw in Richmond Park.



  • #10214
    CSF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,364 ✭✭✭✭CSF


    Think we got the most favourable draw of the 3 Irish teams in that draw yeah, but we’re no certainty to go through, and Bohs won’t be negative about their chances in Kosovo



  • #10215
    artanevilla
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 12,673 Mod ✭✭✭✭artanevilla


    Did an Irish club play Ballkani recently? They sound familiar.



  • #10216
    Ohmeha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭Ohmeha


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124557611#Comment_124557611

    Shamrock Rovers had Ballkani last season in Conference 3rd qualifying round losing 1st leg away 1-0 then Rovers beat them in the 2nd leg home 4-0



  • #10217
    srfc d16
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 380 ✭✭srfc d16


    Balkani were good and should definitely have beaten us by more than one in the first leg. We scored 3 goals in 10 minutes either side of half time that killed them but they are a good team



  • #10218
    Patrick2010
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,895 ✭✭✭Patrick2010


    Just watched the highlights of the home game against Balkani and we rode our luck at the start of the game. Rory Gaffney was really on his game that night, its a pity he hasn't featured this season. On his day he can be unplayable , dragging defenders all over the place.



  • #10219
    artanevilla
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 12,673 Mod ✭✭✭✭artanevilla


    I'm not counting chickens anyway, I once forewent a trip to Wales because I was going to Anderlecht in the next round.



  • #10220
    Ferris_Bueller
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,830 ✭✭✭Ferris_Bueller


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124557908#Comment_124557908

    I remember seeing this tweet from a Kosovan football page when they drew us in the Nations League!

    https://x.com/i/status/2022058427141550472

    Fairly good draws for all of our sides so far at least compared to who we could've drawn, although I'll never get too ahead of myself when it comes to Europe.

    Any word who Derry or Rovers would play if they were to lose their games?



  • #10221
    CSF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,364 ✭✭✭✭CSF


    I think what Rovers have in Europe that is bigger than their quality as a team is that European experience of managing 2 legged ties and playing in different weather/environments.


    We will have picked up a bit of that last year but still nowhere near Rovers. Tiernan Lynch will have it from Larne but the squad certainly won’t as a collective and Bohs will definitely be learning on the job and hoping it isn’t a problem.



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  • #10222
    NIMAN
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,352 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124558019#Comment_124558019

    This is our potential opponents

    1000045181.jpg


  • #10223
    Patrick2010
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,895 ✭✭✭Patrick2010


    Hope it doesn’t come to this for Rovers…

    https://twitter.com/footballkosovo/status/2067219782269550631?s=46


  • #10224
    CSF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,364 ✭✭✭✭CSF


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124558084#Comment_124558084

    We played Drita in league stage last year and were completely dominant until we got an idiotic red card that completely changed the game. Even at that we still should have got a result.



  • #10225
    CSF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,364 ✭✭✭✭CSF


    In

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124558063#Comment_124558063

    It was drawn and you’ll face Rijeka if you lose to Sofia.



  • #10226
    Ohmeha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭Ohmeha


    Summary below of the four LOI team draws for the first two UEFA qualifying rounds with potential paths

    UEFA Champions League

    First Qualifying Round:

    Floriana (MLT) vs Shamrock Rovers [1st leg July 7th/8th, 2nd leg July 14th/15th]

    If Shamrock Rovers lose in First Qualifying Round > UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round (Champions Path)

    Second Qualifying Round (Champions Path):

    If Shamrock Rovers advance from First Qualifying Round >

    Ararat-Armenia (ARM) or Riga FC (LAT) vs Shamrock Rovers [1st leg July 21st/22th, 2nd leg July 28th/29th]

    If Shamrock Rovers lose in Second Qualifying Round > UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round (Champions Path)

    UEFA Europa League

    First Qualifying Round:

    CSKA Sofia (BUL) vs Derry City [1st leg July 9th, 2nd leg July 16th]

    If Derry City lose in First Qualifying Round > UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round (Main Path)

    Second Qualifying Round:

    If Derry City advance from First Qualifying Round >

    Qarabağ (AZE) or Vestri (ISL) vs Derry City [1st leg July 23rd, 2nd leg July 30th]

    If Derry City lose in Second Qualifying Round > UEFA Conference League Third Qualifying Round (Main Path)

    UEFA Conference League

    First Qualifying Round:

    Bohemians vs St. Joseph's (GIB) [1st leg July 9th, 2nd leg July 16th]

    Second Qualifying Round (Champions Path):

    If Shamrock Rovers lose in UEFA Champions League First Qualifying Round >

    Shamrock Rovers vs Kauno Žalgiris (LIT) or Drita (KOS) [1st leg July 23rd, 2nd leg July 30th]

    Second Qualifying Round (Main Path):

    If Bohemians advance from First Qualifying Round >

    Bohemians vs Connah's Quay Nomads (WAL) or Ballkani (KOS) [*TBC* 1st leg July 23rd, 2nd leg July 30th]

    Shelbourne vs Nõmme Kalju (EST) or Linfield (NIR) [*TBC* 1st leg July 23rd, 2nd leg July 30th]

    If Derry City lose in UEFA Europa League First Qualifying Round >

    HNK Rijeka (CRO) vs Derry City [1st leg July 23rd, 2nd leg July 30th]



  • #10227
    artanevilla
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 12,673 Mod ✭✭✭✭artanevilla


    A load of Bohs and Rovers fans stuck in a metal tube with each other for 3 hours on the way to Kosovo.



  • #10228
    jonnreeks
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 789 ✭✭✭jonnreeks


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124467983#Comment_124467983

    Foot.ie is being resurrected with UH... .ie. Check it out now and sign up.



  • #10229
    JorgeL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 124 ✭✭JorgeL


    Just read that the 1st choice Ghana keeper came off at half time due to injury. He was replaced by the number 2 who plays in the Ghanaian local league.

    So Joey Anang wasn’t far form making a World Cup appearance. Would’ve been great but it’s also good to see a player that actually plays their football in sub Saharan Africa representing their national team.



  • #10230
    Dogsdodogsstuff
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,650 ✭✭✭Dogsdodogsstuff


    Jarvis has really struggled to find the form he had last time at shels, needs to be hooked in this game , just gives ball away.



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  • #10231
    ben.schlomo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,181 ✭✭✭✭ben.schlomo


    Relatively comfortable win for us, late penalty aside, in our temporary home tonight. I'm no longer surprised with how poor Derry can be. On another night we probably could have had two penalties as well. First home win since April, was badly needed.



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