Qualifying group stages draw taking place this morning.
24 team tournament so a big chance for Ireland to qualify.
Just seen on Sky that France will actually take part in a qualifying group but points won or lost against them won't count. Basically they will just be glorified friendlies but still part of the qualifying group...strange :o
Hope we get England and the Nordies.
Quote from: laoislad on February 23, 2014, 10:17:23 AM
Hope we get England and the Nordies.
+1.
Greece and Bosnia wouldn't be the worst in terms of possibility of taking points and trip wouldn't be bad either :P
Avoid - Spain, Germany from pot 1 please. Serbia and Turkey from pot 3 also.
Scotland from pot 4 would be a savage trip, would be tricky enough though. They are improving.
Slow going.
Dasayev has kept his hair colour well :D
Nightmare group :(
At least we will finally find out who is better - MON or WGS!
Quote from: clarshack on February 23, 2014, 12:03:58 PM
Nightmare group :(
Could have been worse, could have been better. Typical Ireland group...the away trips will be quality.
How many from the group go through?
Quote from: EC Unique on February 23, 2014, 12:11:00 PM
How many from the group go through?
Winner, runner-up, best 3rd placed team and then playoffs for another 4 places.
England got it handy.
Holy God that is some group,very tough on the field and very good for an away day session :)
Quote from: beer baron on February 23, 2014, 12:15:43 PM
Holy God that is some group,very tough on the field and very good for an away day session :)
The Group of Drink it's been dubbed on twitter
It's not the best but it's not the toughest group.
It's between Ireland Poland and Scotland for 2nd place you would think.
There was worse groups but still tough, rest of the groups http://t.co/hyAunxLpC3
Which ones are the tougher groups?
Quote from: Tony Baloney on February 23, 2014, 12:13:56 PM
Quote from: EC Unique on February 23, 2014, 12:11:00 PM
How many from the group go through?
Winner, runner-up, best 3rd placed team and then playoffs for another 4 places.
England got it handy.
Not a bad group for your guys either Tony.
Greece
Hungary
Romania
Finland
Nordies
Faroe Islands.
If you don't recognise Gibraltar as an actual country, does their matches still exist?
Quote from: clarshack on February 23, 2014, 12:27:31 PM
Which ones are the tougher groups?
Did you only look at the Ireland group? Group A is as tough and group D,with Portugal, Albania,Armenia,Serbia & Denmark - France not included.
Why is Israel involved? It's not an actual country, nor is it in Europe, and they should be boycotted as South Africa was a few years ago.
McCarthy and McGeady should get a nice welcome in Scotland....
Not sure it could have been much worse. Group I with France, Portugal, Denmark and Serbia is probably the toughest but the Germans were the worst of the first seeds to draw. England always seem to get it handy in qualifying, even allowing for the fact that they're always a top seed.
Germany top guaranteed. Third place and Ireland get a play off spot. Poland are no big shakes, so Ireland can finish second. But if they can't finish third ahead of Scotland, Georgia and the disputed territory of Southern Spain, there's something seriously wrong.
When are the fixtures released?
Would be good to get back to Poznan.
Away to Georgia in first game https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/437610502714556416
Sun Sep 7 Georgia [A], Sat Oct 11 Gibraltar [H], Tue Oct 14: Germany [A], Fri Nov 14: Scotland [A], [2015] Sun March 29: Poland [H]
[2015] Sat June 13: Scotland [H], Fri Sep 4 Gilbraltar [A], Monday Sep 7 Georgia [H], Thurs Oct 8: Germany [H], Sun Oct 11: Poland [A]
Quote from: BennyCake on February 23, 2014, 12:37:45 PM
Why is Israel involved? It's not an actual country, nor is it in Europe, and they should be boycotted as South Africa was a few years ago.
Maybe for WC 2018
It's a bit early for BDS to percolate through to sport I think
QuoteJust seen on Sky that France will actually take part in a qualifying group but points won or lost against them won't count. Basically they will just be glorified friendlies but still part of the qualifying group...strange :o
This has been in the mix for the past 4 years or so for WC and Euro qualifying. Host countries regularly complained they were at a disadvantage in the finals having had no competitive games for almost 2 years.
Quote from: laoislad on February 23, 2014, 12:28:48 PM
Not a bad group for your guys either Tony.
Greece
Hungary
Romania
Finland
Nordies
Faroe Islands.
Piece of piss, France here we come...home and away draws with the Faroe's to follow so :'(
Quote from: rodney trotter on February 23, 2014, 03:38:01 PM
Away to Georgia in first game https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/437610502714556416
Sun Sep 7 Georgia [A], Sat Oct 11 Gibraltar [H], Tue Oct 14: Germany [A], Fri Nov 14: Scotland [A], [2015] Sun March 29: Poland [H]
[2015] Sat June 13: Scotland [H], Fri Sep 4 Gilbraltar [A], Monday Sep 7 Georgia [H], Thurs Oct 8: Germany [H], Sun Oct 11: Poland [A]
Georgia v Ireland on All Ireland Sunday.
Gibraltar will be targeting us for 4 points I'd say. How many of our lads would get a game for them?
Quote from: mouview on February 23, 2014, 05:14:28 PM
Gibraltar will be targeting us for 4 points I'd say. How many of our lads would get a game for them?
Doesn't/didn't Danny Higginbotham play for them?
Anybody any experience of travelling to difficult to get to away games, I like the idea of the Georgia match. Do you have to be a member of a supporters club?
Quote from: Sandino on February 23, 2014, 10:38:12 PM
Anybody any experience of travelling to difficult to get to away games, I like the idea of the Georgia match. Do you have to be a member of a supporters club?
I'll be going to this one.
The flights are horrible at the minute, best is about 350 to 400 return going via Turkey or Riga from London. Going to wait what the Abbey Travel package will be like, it'll be more expensive but flight times might be a bit better.
RE: Tickets, you have a better chance always when being a season ticket holder and having built up points from going to previous away games. Don't think you will have much trouble for the Georgia match. Sign up here
http://away.fai.ie/
I assume that if I want to go to the home games with the 10yr old best best is to buy a 2014/2015 season ticket. Senior and junior.
When will these be available? I am a bit unsure of the dark workings of the FAI.
Looking forward to the joust agin the auld enemy Gibraltar.
Quote from: ballinaman on February 24, 2014, 09:07:02 AM
Quote from: Sandino on February 23, 2014, 10:38:12 PM
Anybody any experience of travelling to difficult to get to away games, I like the idea of the Georgia match. Do you have to be a member of a supporters club?
I'll be going to this one.
The flights are horrible at the minute, best is about 350 to 400 return going via Turkey or Riga from London. Going to wait what the Abbey Travel package will be like, it'll be more expensive but flight times might be a bit better.
RE: Tickets, you have a better chance always when being a season ticket holder and having built up points from going to previous away games. Don't think you will have much trouble for the Georgia match. Sign up here
http://away.fai.ie/
Thanks, I was even unaware of the Abbey Travel option, it may be worth the extra cost to reduce the hassle. I think I will check out the ticket options as well. Thanks again for that!
Quote from: Shamrock Shore on February 24, 2014, 10:22:30 AM
I assume that if I want to go to the home games with the 10yr old best best is to buy a 2014/2015 season ticket. Senior and junior.
When will these be available? I am a bit unsure of the dark workings of the FAI.
Looking forward to the joust agin the auld enemy Gibraltar.
2014/2015 season tickets will be available after the Turkey friendly in June I think. Definitely best value and get to pick you seat which you will have for all the games, Germany,Scotland,Poland will all be sell outs I reckon.
Yep, Sandino.
Just register with Abbey and they will email you with the package option when they have them. I normally DIY it but flight times are horrific this time round. Really want to get to Tblisi, looks a mad spot.
Scotland away looking like its going to be played in Parkhead, be some atmosphere http://t.co/oxfusagZK4
Took matters into my own hand and emailed the boys and girls in the FAI.
2014/2015 season tickets will be available at the end of March 2014.
I was surprised at how quick they responded tbh.
Booked. 343 euros and have to get flights to London yet. Pints are 81 cent in Tbilisi though 8)
Departure
12:55 Fri, 5 Sep London - Stansted (STN) Pegasus Airlines Pegasus Airlines
Arrival
18:35 Fri, 5 Sep Istanbul - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) Aircraft type - 738 Class - Economy
Connection - Change plane Check with airline for boarding time and gate!
Transfer duration: 5 hours 05 minutes
Departure
23:40 Fri, 5 Sep Istanbul - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) Pegasus Airlines Pegasus Airlines
Arrival
02:50 Sat, 6 Sep Tbilisi - Novo Alexeyevka (TBS) Aircraft type - 738 Class - Economy
Return
Duration:
7 hours 25 minutes
Departure
05:45 Mon, 8 Sep Tbilisi - Novo Alexeyevka (TBS) Air Baltic Air Baltic
Arrival
08:20 Mon, 8 Sep Riga - Riga (RIX) Aircraft type - 73C Class - Economy
Connection - Change plane Check with airline for boarding time and gate!
Transfer duration: 1 hour 00 minutes
Departure
09:20 Mon, 8 Sep Riga - Riga (RIX) Air Baltic Air Baltic
Arrival
10:10 Mon, 8 Sep London - Gatwick (LGW)
Terminal S Aircraft type - 73C Class - Economy