Group 4: 1. Ireland - 13 pts +7 GD 2. Switzerland - 12 pts +9 GD 3. Israel - 11 pts +2 GD 4. France - 10 pts +4 GD 5. Cyprus - 4 pts -5 GD 6. Faroe Islands - 1 pt -17 GD September 4, 2004: Ireland 3 - 0 Cyprus Switzerland 6 - 0 Faroe Islands France 0 - 0 Israel September 8, 2004: Faroe Islands 0 - 2 France Switzerland 1 - 1 Ireland Israel 2 - 1 Cyprus October 9, 2004: France 0 - 0 Ireland Israel 2 - 2 Switzerland Cyprus 2 - 2 Faroe Islands October 13, 2004: Ireland 2 - 0 Faroe Islands Cyprus 0 - 2 France November 17, 2004: Cyprus 1 - 2 Israel March 26, 2005: Israel 1 - 1 Ireland France 0 - 0 Switzerland March 30, 2005: Switzerland 1 - 0 Cyprus Israel 1 - 1 France June 4, 2005: Faroe Islands 1 - 3 Switzerland Ireland 2 - 2 Israel June 8, 2005: Faroe Islands 0 - 2 Ireland August 17, 2005: Faroe Islands 0 - 3 Cyprus September 3, 2005: Switzerland - Israel France - Faroe Islands September 7, 2005: Faroe Islands - Israel Ireland - France Cyprus - Switzerland October 8, 2005: Switzerland - France Israel - Faroe Islands Cyprus - Ireland October 12, 2005: Ireland - Switzerland France - Cyprus
Israel has a big advantage having already held a Zidane-less France to two draws, whereas Switzerland and Ireland still have to face France with Zidane (granted, France will be on the road for these matches). If Israel can get a result in Switzerland on Sept 3., they are almost guaranteed 2nd and have a decent chance to win the group.
I think the leagues in europe will do it. Nore that is any club of the BuLi, or any club of the PL, nore any of the Spanish League, nore Italy. But I think it's the French league, the strongest in europe, they`ll make it. But the other try it, since years, even they don`t have the power, but they try. (Bur my sevrest ti is Luxembourg (Lützelburg) when they power up, oh oh.
I think it will be either Ireland and Switzerland or Ireland and France...I don't know how strong Israel is. The only player I know from their team is Benayoun (sp?) argh...it all depends on France...
If Israel gets a point in Switzerland, they close home-and-home with the Faroes and very easily could land second place or, in an outside chance, win the group on 18 points.
Israel will make it. With still two games remaining against the Faroes, get ready to see Yossi Benayoun zig-zagging his way past defenders in WC '06.
Ireland lucked out this year in that they hit a French team in transition. Watch out for Israel, though, they could steal the group.
france now that zidanes back as well as other old french people theyll win the group and will have a good run but ultimatly loose in like quaters or semis but anythings a better showing for them 2000
Israel has to beat the Swiss to have a reasonable chance. Or they can have tie and hope the other games are all 0-0(or similar close tie). The Swiss will knock the Israelis out with a home win. With 4 points against France and Ireland, they'll win the group. If they get two or three points against Ireland and France. They need they Ireland/France match to even their scores, and the Swiss will win by 2 points. France needs at least 4 points at Switzerland and Ireland. Six will win the group, four will require that the tieing team doesn't beat Israel or the other team. Ireland neads at least 4 points against France and Switzerland. Six will win the group, four will be up to the tie breakers with anyone else that wins a game between the top 4.
The advantage Switzerland and France have over everyone else int he group at this point is they have 4 matches left while the others have 3 matches left to get points.
Not to be a total jerk, but this isn't really UEFA, is it? And my vote goes to Israel, with France coming in second in the group.
really not funny. i hope that switzerland wins the group 4. i will watch the game switzerland vs. bern live in the stadium.