FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[From the Bunker]

We got Estonia in the playoffs four years ago, so we are due to get a hard draw this time.

That's like saying we got a bad summer this year, so we'll get a good one next year!

[BennyCake]

Denmark, Hungary, and probably Croatia, Ukraine, Turkey/Holland, Israel/Bosnia, Sweden.

[clarshack]

Would beat hungary and Israel probably, Denmark or Turkey would be 50/50. Would never beat the likes of Holland/Croatia/Ukraine...

[SHEEDY]

Too many players well below par tonight. Whelan, brady, o'shea and mcclean were very poor. Poland weren't great but we had nothing going forward.

[rodney trotter]

They weren't great defensively but far more potent going forward, Not a surprise when they have players playing for Bayern Munich, Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund

[Syferus]

Denmark, Hungary, and probably Croatia, Ukraine, Turkey/Holland, Israel/Bosnia, Sweden.

If we are seeded, and there's every chance we will be, only Turkey of the potentially unseeded teams should strike us with any fear.

[T Fearon]

Dunphy Giles and Brady talking absolute bollix tonight.You'd think Houlahan was a mix of Neymsr,Messi and Rinaldo

[An Watcher]

Seeding seems to be very close.  By my reckoning only Slovenia,  Turkey and Norway are below us in the rankings thus leaving us as 2nd seeds. Although if turkey win their final game they will finish above us too! Our only hope is for turkey to draw their final game and qualify on head to head over Holland then for Cyprus to beat bosnia at home and pip them to third.  Think this is correct based on the following http://m.footballseeding.com/national-ranking-uefa/

[Captain Obvious]

http://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/irelands-hopes-of-being-seeded-for-the-play-offs-rest-in-luxembourg-and-cyprus-hands/43769

[screenexile]

Dunphy Giles and Brady talking absolute bollix tonight.You'd think Houlahan was a mix of Neymsr,Messi and Rinaldo

Jesus its not often I agree with Tony but you've hit the nail on the head. Lads in the studio think we should be f**king Germany or Spain and play at the top level all the time. Our team is better as a whole than the sum of our parts which O'Neill and Keane should get credit for.

Instead we have f**king dinosaurs questioning selections/tactics of a team who have achieved the most we could have contemplated when we set up on this journey. Dunphy's a ****!

[rodney trotter]

A world class player makes a serious difference to an average enough team in international football. Zlatan with Sweden, Alaba with Austria, Bale with Wales, Arda Turan with Turkey. Lewandowski with Poland. A few other decent players  in  those teams too. but they are genuine world class.

[blewuporstuffed]

Stamp racism out of football, how about stamping diving out. That was embarrassing

100%,  puts you off bigtime

The diving from lewandoski was pathetic tonight,and a very poor referee to buy that every time.
A really poor Ireland performance though, really found lacking when they have to throw everything at a game and actually create something.
McGeady must be the most frustrating player I have ever seen in an Ireland jersey

[ballinaman]

No shape in midfield compared to Thursday night. McCarthy and Whelan together is bad news. McClean seems to close his eyes and just hopes it'll open up for him when he starts dribbling.

Walters will be a serious loss for the 1st leg of the play off.

[imtommygunn]

I thought McGeady did ok, all things considered, when he came on. Only guy who looked like he could beat a man. He is about as frustrating a footballer as you will ever see though.

Brady had a nightmare last night. Gave the ball away so many times. I know O'Neill etc have done the tactics to get them where they are etc but I really thought they were poor last night. The midfield worked so well on Thursday night I really don't know why they brought Glen Whelan in. It was a bit harsh on the right back but you can see why they changed it as Coleman the best player - though he clearly wasn't fit. McClean and Long are much better subs. McClean looked limited and predictable. He will go at players all night long and this is a better approach for tired legs.

Qualifiers will be tough especially without Walters and O'Shea for the first legs.

[Billys Boots]

I think Martin O'Neill is too fond of the 20-min game - frustrate and harry and physical for 70 mins, then bring on some subs, change the shape a bit and go at them for the last 20.  So teams will go at us early and try to build something to protect late.  Poland are no better than us but they have Lewandowski, who is superb, and they know how to use him.  And we could have stolen it had the header fallen to anyone but Keogh.  All kind of predictable, really. 

The panel on RTE really are poor, nothing to offer except criticism of the manager (irrespective of the game, result, score) - I can listen to Brady who at least knows something about football, but Gilesy should be retired, and Dunphy is pathetic.