FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[clarshack]

It doesn't matter cos we ain't beating Denmark in the last game.

[Esmarelda]

Would the republic want to qualify?

Could there be another reason they entered the competition?

[shark]

Would the republic want to qualify?

Could there be another reason they entered the competition?

Would they want to qualify? for a tournament in which they would have 2 of their 3 group games in Dublin?
Yeah, I'd say so.

A playoff between Rep Ireland and N.Ireland is a distinct possibility.

[NAG1]

Lads ffs, Switzerland are at home to Georgia, not away. If they had to go to Tbilisi then you'd have an argument. You are correct but really, Switzerland will not drop points at home to Georgia with qualification resting on it.
Ireland beat Denmark and they'll be through.

Going on last night they will do well to see the ball against Denmark let alone beat them.

I don't think I have seen worse international players than a few that were on show last night in a very long time. Scary stuff.

[shark]

Slow morning, so here are the playoff possibilities. I've presumed that Ireland, N.Ireland, Serbia, and Kosovo all miss out on top two. Also that Sweden can hold off Romania (they only need to beat Faroes to do so).
The Wales/Hungary/Slovakia race for 2nd place is hard to call, but apart from those teams themselves, the outcome would only affect N.Ireland.

If Hungary get 2nd place:
Group A - Iceland, Wales, Slovakia, Ireland.
Group B - Bosnia, N.Ireland, Bulgaria, Israel.
Group C - Norway, Scotland, Serbia, Romania.
Group D - Belarus, N. Macedonia, Georgia, Kosovo

If Wales/Slovakia get 2nd place:
Group A - Iceland, Wales/Slovakia, Ireland, N.Ireland.
Group B - Bosnia, Bulgaria, Israel, Hungary.
Group C - Norway, Scotland, Serbia, Romania.
Group D - Belarus, N. Macedonia, Georgia, Kosovo

Semi Finals are 1st v 4th, and 2nd v 3rd. 1st and 2nd with home advantage.
Finals neutral venue

[AZOffaly]

The playoffs are a knockout competition as well? Jesus.

[shark]

The playoffs are a knockout competition as well? Jesus.

Yep.
N.Ireland would certainly rather be in Group B than Group A. I think they'd win Group B. You'd have to fancy Serbia and Kosovo for C and D, based on the above breakdown. Kosovo could still get second in their group yet though, putting Czechia in to the playoffs and pushing N.Ireland (and possibly Ireland too) in to Group B. If both went to Group B then they would play each other in Dublin in the semi. Bosnia don't move from 1st seed in B.

[magpie seanie]

I don't watch our national team a lot but saw the whole thing last night. Was pretty surprised by several aspects of it. Mostly the experienced players who were absolutely awful. Coleman, McClean, Hendrick - all lads I've seen perform very well in the past were seriously bad last night. They looked pretty clueless at times. Randolph, Duffy, Egan and Glenn Whelan were our best players. Stevens was ok. Most of the rest I'd rather not talk about. Felt sorry for Aaron Connolly. Absolutely no support from the players around him, moved round different positions and then taken off for a guy whose main successes have been in League 2 and the Northern Premier League Div1. He wasn't playing all that well but you could see there's a bit about him and he could nick a goal. The Swiss weren't all that comfortable when balls were thrown into the box....I'd have left him on.

Can't understand why Shane Long isn't in this squad. He won't get many goals but surely he's better than some of these journeymen who don't score goals either. What about Hourihane? I didn't hear he was injured?

[macdanger2]

Slow morning, so here are the playoff possibilities. I've presumed that Ireland, N.Ireland, Serbia, and Kosovo all miss out on top two. Also that Sweden can hold off Romania (they only need to beat Faroes to do so).
The Wales/Hungary/Slovakia race for 2nd place is hard to call, but apart from those teams themselves, the outcome would only affect N.Ireland.

If Hungary get 2nd place:
Group A - Iceland, Wales, Slovakia, Ireland.
Group B - Bosnia, N.Ireland, Bulgaria, Israel.
Group C - Norway, Scotland, Serbia, Romania.
Group D - Belarus, N. Macedonia, Georgia, Kosovo

If Wales/Slovakia get 2nd place:
Group A - Iceland, Wales/Slovakia, Ireland, N.Ireland.
Group B - Bosnia, Bulgaria, Israel, Hungary.
Group C - Norway, Scotland, Serbia, Romania.
Group D - Belarus, N. Macedonia, Georgia, Kosovo

Semi Finals are 1st v 4th, and 2nd v 3rd. 1st and 2nd with home advantage.
Finals neutral venue

Cheers shark, didn't realise all that

[NAG1]

I don't watch our national team a lot but saw the whole thing last night. Was pretty surprised by several aspects of it. Mostly the experienced players who were absolutely awful. Coleman, McClean, Hendrick - all lads I've seen perform very well in the past were seriously bad last night. They looked pretty clueless at times. Randolph, Duffy, Egan and Glenn Whelan were our best players. Stevens was ok. Most of the rest I'd rather not talk about. Felt sorry for Aaron Connolly. Absolutely no support from the players around him, moved round different positions and then taken off for a guy whose main successes have been in League 2 and the Northern Premier League Div1. He wasn't playing all that well but you could see there's a bit about him and he could nick a goal. The Swiss weren't all that comfortable when balls were thrown into the box....I'd have left him on.

Can't understand why Shane Long isn't in this squad. He won't get many goals but surely he's better than some of these journeymen who don't score goals either. What about Hourihane? I didn't hear he was injured?

Please tell me you are joking with this one MS?

[BennyCake]

Whelan played well, from what I seen.

I take back my earlier 35 year old Whelan comment.

[NAG1]

Whelan played well, from what I seen.

I take back my earlier 35 year old Whelan comment.

I must have watched a different game then lads, I thought he was pure dross.

[laoislad]

I thought Whelan was one of the better players last night also.

[Hound]

Whelan was, by a country mile, our best midfielder over the 2 games. Although 6.5/10 was enough to achieve that.

Seanie, Hourihane was very poor v Georgia, hence deservedly dropped. Albeit must have been a close call between himself and Hendrick.

[lurganblue]

I don't watch our national team a lot but saw the whole thing last night. Was pretty surprised by several aspects of it. Mostly the experienced players who were absolutely awful. Coleman, McClean, Hendrick - all lads I've seen perform very well in the past were seriously bad last night. They looked pretty clueless at times. Randolph, Duffy, Egan and Glenn Whelan were our best players. Stevens was ok. Most of the rest I'd rather not talk about. Felt sorry for Aaron Connolly. Absolutely no support from the players around him, moved round different positions and then taken off for a guy whose main successes have been in League 2 and the Northern Premier League Div1. He wasn't playing all that well but you could see there's a bit about him and he could nick a goal. The Swiss weren't all that comfortable when balls were thrown into the box....I'd have left him on.

Can't understand why Shane Long isn't in this squad. He won't get many goals but surely he's better than some of these journeymen who don't score goals either. What about Hourihane? I didn't hear he was injured?

No not injured. Pictures of him out doing a bit of a session on the pitch by himself after the game.  I'm sure he's ragin.  A player in decent form, quality on set pieces and an eye for a goal left sitting on the bench.