4th Seeds in Euro 2008 Draw

[Out da Lough Like]

We've been seeded 4th by UEFA for the draw. So what countries are we likely to get tomorrow week?


And what countries would we like to get?


I for one would like England and Portugal. Two alleged high seeds but I think we could beat both of them. They are both top seeds though, so we will get one or the other.


Maybe Greece as well, and of course Switzerland and Israel. We owe the Swiss and I'd love to see us hammer them in Croke Park.

[jungle]

Switzerland qualify as hosts, so we can't get them.

The weakest possible group looks like

Greece
Croatia
Slovakia
Ireland
Albania
Cyprus
Liechtenstein


The strongest (with us in it - Belgium might be tougher from pool 4)

France
Italy
Ukraine
Ireland
Hungary
Belarus
Kazakhstan

[Captain Planet]

thank god we have stan and bobby!

[General Michael Collins]

We've been seeded 4th by UEFA for the draw. So what countries are we likely to get tomorrow week?


And what countries would we like to get?


I for one would like England and Portugal. Two alleged high seeds but I think we could beat both of them. They are both top seeds though, so we will get one or the other.


Maybe Greece as well, and of course Switzerland and Israel. We owe the Swiss and I'd love to see us hammer them in Croke Park.
Probably better if we avoid England.Nothing to do with actually being good enough to beat them.On there last visit to lansdowne they wrecked the stadium.I can imagine what damage they d cause at croke park if like in the last game, we took the lead against them!!

[Captain Planet]

Probably better if we avoid England.Nothing to do with actually being good enough to beat them.On there last visit to lansdowne they wrecked the stadium.I can imagine what damage they d cause at croke park if like in the last game, we took the lead against them!!
We'll just sacrifice bobby robson on the pitch to the GAA gods. they wont be long fixing those seats.

[Lamps]

i dunno about you lot, but i can't wait. i have a sense of optimism that i never had with kerr at helm. croker will be a huge boost to the team for the big games.
4th seeds asys it all about kerrs legacy.

[afeencalleddan]

4th seeds asys it all about kerrs legacy.

I wasn't a Kerr fan but that's not a fair statement. The seedings are decided mainly on perfomance in previous Euro championships. The last time Ireland qualified was 1988.

[Coin]

I dunno about you lot, but at the moment I have a sense of dread about the whole thing. Any time I look at the list of players all I can do is shake my head. Then I start thinking, well, if X plays well, and we get something out of Y, the keeper and back four might be ok, and you never know, Z might pan out after all and, and, and. And then I realise that I'm only kidding myself. Unless we find a holding midfielder we won't be able to control games for spells and it doesn't matter what forwards or wingers we have, we won't have enough possesion to create enough chances. Although it'll be nice to show off headquarters and maybe 11 guys hustling hard can do enough to control some possession (See, talking myself into it again).

I don't think the draw matters too much. We've always seemed to do ok when we got drawn against handy teams (Holland, Portugal, France, Yugoslavia), or at least not do any worse than we do against the second tier (Russia, Switzerland, Croatia). It may be that it will come down to whether Mr. Staunton can locate some semblance of testicular fortitude in the talent deprived panel he'll be taking on.

[dancefreak2003]

If he could get Nolan and a few other to declare for Ireland it would be a big boost to the qualification effort.

[Rebel Yell]

Sure, he needs a bit of luck with the draw, but with the Croker factor, and sir bobby to guide him, i am fairly optimistic....also, with 2 sides qualifying automatically from each Euro group, we have a chance.....

We are seen a team to avoid by most sides, as in, they would not fancy coming to Dublin where we have a great record!!! Also, we only lost one game in the last qualifying, to France. Most sides will look at us a team who they will lose points to, so will want to avoid us !!!!

[Out da Lough Like]

What about Liam Miller in the middle of the park, did ye see him for Leeds against Wigan the other night?


Maybe he was overawed by the whole Old Trafford experience.

[Fat Tom]

If he could get Nolan and a few other to declare for Ireland it would be a big boost to the qualification effort.

Well apparentely we have Liam Lawrence lads so pack yer bags we're on our way.

[storysham]

As duffer pointed out during the week, many opposition players didnt like playing in landsdowne, it was a bit of a fortress, and a complete shithole, but it was our shithole.
It'll be a bonus for any team to play in croke park, such a fine arena, one of the best in europe.
And ill bet the 80000 irish fans will be louder than any Gaa match.

[raZor]

nolan would be decent alright, maybe it's miller's time to step up though.
Center of midfield is our weak point, the soonerwe gt new players blooded the better.

Did Breen retire? If not, why not?

[Del]

Has anyone seen Miller play since he's been with Leeds?

[Fat Tom]

Yeah twice did really well.
Think he is above that level but not good enough for United.
He'd be an excellent acquisition for a mid table premier league club

[Out da Lough Like]

I hope we don't get Belarus.

[STEVIEG]

wales, cyprus and San Marino so far not bad

[Coin]

Germany and the Czech Republic. Maybe we could knock the Germans off if we're lucky.

[Out da Lough Like]

My prediction as to the final standings:

The Czech Republic
Germany
Wales
Ireland
Slovakia
Cyprus
San Marino

South Africa here we come.


:(

[Fat Tom]

I'd fancy us to finish ahead of Wales and Slovaks maybe.
If we come 4th its a disaster.
Even with not so great players we still should be finishing ahead of these teams and Germany aren't in great shapes, neither are Czechs with player ages - at same time better than Ireland but we always do better in there circumstances.

Still can't see us getting through though.

[Funkster]

There's great opportunites with our group.With a little guidance (not like kerr) we might make a impact. Had my reservations bout stan first but I must say his first interview was impressive. If he got f'all else least he got some attitude.

It could have been alot worse.We got a good chance.Firstly we gotta sit through the 'If' World Cup. Bring On Sept.

hOORAY!

[Fat Tom]

Had my reservations bout stan first but I must say his first interview was impressive

Really!
I think he comes across as a bigger plank than Pat Kenny.
He is motionless and can't even give a straight answer to any question.
He also seems to have this big fucking grin like he is taking the piss outta all of us by being given this job.

[Funkster]

Whats the better alternative Tom? Please don't mention Venables and like , coz their just a bunch of Uncle Toms good for nothing. Apart from the grin , maybe he might be ok.

[Fat Tom]

At least Venables has a better track record than an Assistant Manager at a lower league 1 team FFS.

O'Leary?
Hiddink?
Keane?
Troussier?
Graham?

FFS - John Aldridge has a far better track record.
I'd feel more comfortable with Paul MacGrath in charge.

It was a cop out appointment, but I hope he does well.

[Funkster]

Good alternatives but presently don't think any of them showed much interested.

Look , we just gotta go with what we have now!

We live and hope...

[Fat Tom]

I know and I hope he does well.
I'm just shocked someone found him impressive!