After tonights draw for the qualifying groups for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, what are your thought on Irelands prospects? I think we've got a tough enough group but it could be worse. This is my thoughts on our opponents.
Germany - One of the major powerhouses in European and World football and the team that will surely win the group. Quality in every department and they reached the final of the last Euro's and semi's of the last WC, being narrowly beaten by eventual winners Spain on both occasions. I think we'd do well to pick up anything away and I'd be happy enough with a draw at home.
Sweden - One of the those nations who on their day could beat the very best in Europe but not a team who you'd have any fear facing. They've got some decent players but I don't think they're any better than ourselves. There's a definite chance of at least 4 points against the Swedes but they are a side who are more than capable of beating Ireland.
Austria - I don't know a lot about the Austrians to be honest, I watched them against Germany in the Euro qualifiers a couple of months ago and they looked well organised but lacking in creativity. I think the Germans won 2-1 in the end in Vienna. They looked a poor side in Euro '08 and my last real memories of the Austrians are when they beat us 3-1 in Dublin and Vienna in the Euro '96 qualifiers. 4 points are a bare minmum requirement against Austria if we're to challenge for second spot, in all probality we'll need 6 to challenge Germany
Faroe Islands - I just knew we'd draw Brian Kerr's Blue & White army. By far the weakest of the fifth seeds and has to be a guaranteed 6 points. The only problem is Sweden & Germany will also rack up 6 points. It will be tougher for us and Brian Kerr will have his team fired up as he'd love to take points off his former employers and in Keane, Duff, Given and others, his former players. They have some good results of late beating Estonia and drawing with N. Ireland.
Kazakhstan - Unknown quantity. England beat them 5-1 & 2-0 in the last World Cup qualifying campaign. A very long trip to Almaty for this one. Once again 6 points are an absoulte must to have any chance of the top 2 places. St Pats recently knocked out a Kazakh team in the Europa League. I can't imagine to many fans making the trip over for this one, could be a hostile reception we'd receive also.
World Cup '14, Euro Group C
posted on 31/7/11
This is looking a bit ahead obviously, but still, like you said it could have been worse... We don't have a bad record against Germany recently, even when Stan was in charge, we narrowly lost 1-0 away and drew nil-all at home.
In a way I prefer a stern challenge like this because when the top2 seeded teams are relatively easy, we always seem to feck things up, like in the 2004 & 2006 qualifying campaigns where we kept losing to Switzerland and sloppily dropping points against Israel!!!
I can see a challenge like this bringing the best out in the players, like that unfancied side led by Mick McCarthy in 2000, which managed to negotiate it's way to the world cup despite having to get out of a group with Holland and Portugal.
posted on 31/7/11
You would get a medal for stating the obvious dude lol................
Germany european powerhouses lol..............
Sweden on thier day..............
Austria know nothing about them lol..............
Kazahstan unknow lol...............
You should apply to The Sun as a sports writer lol...................
posted on 31/7/11
To be fair he does say
'Faroe Islands - I just knew we'd draw Brian Kerr's Blue & White army'
So perhaps he could do the h/scopes in The Sun .
I see saturn has entered Uranus ,so it is likely the ROI will be drawn against the Faroes
posted on 31/7/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 31/7/11
^^fecking banned words
posted on 1/8/11
Looks like we'll be fighting it out with Sweden for 2nd. Still, it could've been a lot worse, imagine being stuck in a group with Spain & France?
posted on 1/8/11
Honestly think we can cause Germany a few problems though.
They're even worse than England when it comes to arrogance and complacency in the qualifying stages and if Stan could manages 2 draws against them, then anything is possible
posted on 2/8/11
The Faroes drew with Northern Ireland 1-1 and Ireland beat Northern Ireland 5-0 with a second string team so can't see them posing a problem.
Germany are vunerable and Sweden Ireland and zee Gemans will battle it out for top 2 spots.
posted on 2/8/11
Yes its a tough group. Aren't they always!!
But remember we did draw arguably the weakest of the 5th seeds sides in the Faroe Islands.
Overall, i'm happy with the draw
posted on 2/8/11
I’m not sure where anybody would get the idea that Germany are complacent or vulnerable. They haven’t lost a game in qualifying match since 2007 and only seem to be improving. In fact since they lost that match they’ve only dropped a total of 4 points in qualifiers! Apart from Spain I’d say they were the worst top seeds we could’ve drawn. Still, it’s a good challenge for the lads and the rest of the group isn’t the worst draw we could’ve had.