10 days 'till the Slovakia game, surely we must be looking at 3 points v Slovakia (considering they just beat Andorra 1-0) and hopefully a point from the Russians? Russia also play Macedonia - 3 points there you'd imagine Slovakia also play Armenia - Might get a draw, probably 3 points there Hopefully the table will look like this; P-W-L-D-PTS Russia 8-5-1-2-17 Ireland 8-5-1-2-17 Slovakia 8-5-2-1-16
Ireland squad for the Slovakia and Russia games Shay Given (Aston Villa), Keiren Westwood (Sunderland), David Forde (Millwall), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Stephen Ward (Fulham), Stephen Ward (Wolves), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Kevin Kilbane (Derby), Sean St. Ledger (Leicester City), Darren O'Dea (Leeds Utd), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Darron Gibson (Manchester Utd), Keith Andrews (Ipswich), Keith Fahey (Birmingham), Andy Keogh (Leeds Utd), Damien Duff (Fulham), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Stephen Hunt (Wolves), Liam Lawrence (Portsmouth), Keith Treacy (Burnley), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Shane Long (WBA), Simon Cox (WBA).
Two tough matches. Slovakia were poor when we played them in Bratislava, but can be a solid side on their day (they are in fact ahead of us in FIFA rankings), and under Trapattoni, if anything, we have been poorer in Dublin than away from home. Teams just don't win in Moscow - I think a draw is the best we can hope for out there. Even then, Russia will still be ahead of us on head to head, we will be depending on them dropping points elsewhere. Beat the Slovaks, though, and it will be a titanic winner-take-all sort of match. I'm optimistic - 4 points would be great, but at the same time I can see us getting just one. Not surprised that McCarthy has been left out. He is in the U-21 squad. Anyone think he will actually turn up and play for them in Sligo?
Four points is for the birds. I want six. Make it seven. We deserve an extra point if we score more than ten goals in Moscow.
Gibson and Fahey out, other than that we are pretty much at full strength. Trap said McGeady is 100% fit, despite only playing 3 minutes of the Moscow derby this weekend. I expect: -------------Given------------- O'Shea, Dunne, St. Ledger, Kilbane McGeady, Andrews, Whelan, Duff ----------Keane, Doyle---------
The team has been announced Shay Given, John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger, Stephen Ward, Damien Duff, Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan, Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane and Shane Long. http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102028&catid=1&Itemid=8
Just watching the Russia game, they look suspect at the back, Macedonia should of had a penalty and possibly Russia keeper sent off, instead they Russia went down the other end and took the lead, the ref seems to be a bit baised toward the Russians, intimidated by the stadium maybe?.
Just watched the Russia game and if we get at them an attack them we should get some luck and some goals
Got a free ticket and wish I didnt. Woeful all over. The very basics these multi millionaires couldnt do. Not helped by the complete lack of atmosphere. In fairness the away support was superb. We're not done yet and we seem to play better away but....... KOH
Does O'shea play LB or CB for you guys? I see that he's out for the game and I'm curious as to who your RB will be and if he's any good.
O'Shea played right back the other night. In the Russia match it will be Stephen Kelly of Fulham. He's ok. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14775841.stm
Seems Andorra will finish bottom of the group so here's how the group looks now with the points deducted against Andorra PTS Russia --- 13 ROI --- 11 Slovakia -- 8 Us and Russia still have to play Andorra once, however it doesn't look to good for the Slovak's who have to play Russia, Armenia and Macedonia
Russia, whether the USSR, CIS or Russia, have only lost 3 competitive home games in its entire history, though one was to Slovakia early on in this group.
Kelly for O'Shea and O'Dea for St. Ledger at Centre Back - I don't think that they significantly weaken the team. In fact I'd say that Kelly is better then O'Shea going forward.
Suprised to see McCarthy is on the bench, I thought Trappatoni left him out of the squad...they'll need him, russia are dominating so far.
Dominating might not be strong enough of a description. A couple of fantastic saves by Given, goal line clearances, last ditch tackles, and pingings of the post. Hard to rationalize how it's still 0-0 but one moment of brilliance could still put Ireland in the drivers seat, as improbable as that seems given the evidence on display from the last 135 minutes of play.....
0-0 final. Very good result for Ireland. Given made himself big and saved what looked to be the game winner in stoppage time. It wasn't a thing of beauty but I'll take it.
Richard Dunne - unbelievable performance. Given, too. The draw is a great result... but if Russia and Slovakia draw in Bratislava (likely result I think), IRL/RUS/SVK win all their other matches, then we will finish third on head to head. Have a horrible feeling this is what is going to happen.
Emmmmm.……Armenia thumped Slovakia 4-0 in Bratislava; surely one of the oddest results in European football in these qualifiers.
Uh, yeah. Irish eyes indeed and the group tilted on its head again. Now if Slovakia pulls off the double over Russia in Bratislava (and its a "must win" for them to even achieve a playoff spot) it would put Ireland in the drivers seat for automatic qualification with wins @ Andora and home to Armenia. Shocking. Absolutley shocking group.