How well do you honestly expect the Republic to do in the upcoming Euros? Its a tough group thats for sure: Croatia, Italy, Spain. I watched Italy against N.Ireland and Estonia. I was not particularly impressed by them. Estonia nearly beat them and we could have with a bit of luck. However, I expect them to be much improved for the Euros. Italian teams always seem to raise their game for this sort of competition and also they have a score to settle with the ROI. Looks like the ROI will have to eleminate either Italy or Spain to secure automatic progress, though if theres a best third place option I expect the ROI to get it, so qualification for the next round would be a possibility. Given their players and recent record, If they were not in such a tough group I would expect ROI to reach the second round at least! I still fancy them for the second round and, if they click, possibly further. Doing it the "Greek way"(Erm, as in Greek victory some years ago), if you can excuse the pun, should not be beyond them!
posted on 25/5/12
Wont get past the group stages.
posted on 26/5/12
''though if theres a place for best third place''
What Euros are you watching?
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2016, he has a time machine.
posted on 26/5/12
I'd be pleasantly surprised and deliriously happy if we make it out of the group. Getting a good result in our opening game against Croatia is crucial because judging by how Russia tortured us twice (albeit Richard Dunne and Shay Given somehow led us to a draw in Moscow) in qualifying I can't see anyway other than a comfortable win for Spain in our second game.
posted on 30/5/12
I see quite a few of the pundits are identifying Croatia as the Republic's biggest threat. Must be a reasonable team as they pipped the French to win their group. I suppose they are assuming that Spain are already thru, so dont count. Not sure myself.
posted on 30/5/12
They pipped the french to win there group? They got through the playoffs like ourselves where they knocked Turkey out and were beaten in there group by 2004 champions Greece
posted on 30/5/12
Sorry. I stand corrected. Got confused. Who topped France's qualifying group?
posted on 30/5/12
They did France and second to them was Bosnia who we beat at the weekend
posted on 30/5/12
Wonder if Bosnia beat France at some point during their qualifying group matches. Maybe thats what I heard. Grasping for straws here!
posted on 31/5/12
France scored a equaliser quite late on in their final group game v Bosnia in Paris to pip them as group winners if I remember correctly. I think I'd backed France to win the game which is probably why I remember...........
posted on 31/5/12
Ah well, there you are then! Not completely away with the fairies just yet!