36 replies to this topic

[chelsea grin]

I think that Hazard will be dressed in white by Mourinho until the summer

[Spiller86]

ethicalstrategy, on 12 October 2011 - 01:04 PM, said:

Should have gone to specsavers!!

Nasri was definitely tripped.  Cast iron penalty.

Maybe it was just in the slow motion that I perceived he dived. Also could be my blinding hatred of him.

[BrazilBlue]

The Draw as just been Made. Here is how it looks.


Turkey V Croatia
Should be a very close game. Croatia have some great players but Turkey are a very difficult team to beat, especially at home where there fans create a hostile athmosphere and Croatia will have to play very well. Croatia show win her home game. I think Croatia will come through by a narrow margin.

Estonia V Ireland
Ireland will win this one over the two games. I predict they will play very defensively in the away leg, like they did against Russia. Estonia are the worst team in the draw and they won't be able to break down the Irish defense. Ireland could sneak the away goal. Ireland will win the home leg and go through

Montenegro V Czech Rep
This is the most even game of the draw. Very difficult to separate them. Maybe Montenegro have a slightly better team but It's too close to call for me. Whoever brings their 'A' game will win

Bosnia V Portugal
Portugal will be favorites but they haven't been playing well recently. If Portugal put on a good performance. They should win with players like Ronaldo and Nani in their team. However if they continue to play badly. Bosnia can pull of a surprise.They have good player also. But I'll go for Portugal.

[The Moos]

Is it just me or does Portugal almost never reach their potential? They have some really good players and should be better than they are.

Anyway, I will be keeping my fingers crossed for these to go through:

Turkey - I've liked Croatia since '98 when they had some really nice players, but since Hiddink is in charge of Turkey I will have to cheer for them.

Ireland - Nice team, but the main reason I hope they make it is because of that goal France scored against them.

Czech Rep. - Cech.

Bosnia - No offense to our portuguese players but I've never liked portugal and it would be nice if Bosnia got to play in EURO 2012.

[Spiller86]

Why is it that the teams I want to make the tournament are all pitted against each other?

Good news for Ireland though, that should ease the pain from the weekend.

As for the winners:

Turkey v Croatia is a crapshoot, both are inconsistent as all hell. Do  the first teams listed have the first leg of the tie?

Ireland

Czech v Montenegro is another tough one. Depends on the fitness of key men on both teams

Finally Portugal who if organised correctly over two legs should deal well enough with Pjanic, Dzeko, Misimovic and co. Of course if Riccy were there I'd say it was a lock, it's not that but they should qualify.

[BrazilBlue]

The Moos, on 13 October 2011 - 12:23 PM, said:

Is it just me or does Portugal almost never reach their potential? They have some really good players and should be better than they are.

Anyway, I will be keeping my fingers crossed for these to go through:

Turkey - I've liked Croatia since '98 when they had some really nice players, but since Hiddink is in charge of Turkey I will have to cheer for them.

Ireland - Nice team, but the main reason I hope they make it is because of that goal France scored against them.

Czech Rep. - Cech.
.

Bosnia - No offense to our portuguese players but I've never liked portugal and it would be nice if Bosnia got to play in EURO 2012.

It seem like every country in the world was watching Ireland V France in that game but aside from that injustice. It seems like everyone likes Ireland. I guess they are a likeable team because they are a small nation who take on the big nations with no fear. They give 100%. I guess everone likes to see an underdog prevail against the odds. Where as noboby likes the Frence. England are not popular either. Other nations enjoy seeing them loose.

[disillusion]

BrazilBlue, on 13 October 2011 - 12:07 PM, said:

Estonia V Ireland
Ireland will win this one over the two games. I predict they will play very defensively in the away leg, like they did against Russia. Estonia are the worst team in the draw and they won't be able to break down the Irish defense. Ireland could sneak the away goal. Ireland will win the home leg and go through
.

Ohh....How I´d love that to be wrong. I think we definately have a chance. We won against N Ireland 6-2 on aggregate and although Ireland in defo better they doesn´t look that convincing under Trapatoni. Of course they are the favourites but for Estonia it was the best draw available. Anyways I´m going to Dublin to support the Blues :)

[BrazilBlue]

disillusion, on 13 October 2011 - 10:26 PM, said:

Ohh....How I´d love that to be wrong. I think we definately have a chance. We won against N Ireland 6-2 on aggregate and although Ireland in defo better they doesn´t look that convincing under Trapatoni. Of course they are the favourites but for Estonia it was the best draw available. Anyways I´m going to Dublin to support the Blues :)

According to the ELO world ranking. Ireland are ranked 75 place above Northern Ireland. It is a completely different level of quality for Estonia to face, Estonia don't have a chance

[disillusion]

BrazilBlue, on 14 October 2011 - 01:25 AM, said:

According to the ELO world ranking. Ireland are ranked 75 place above Northern Ireland. It is a completely different level of quality for Estonia to face, Estonia don't have a chance

How about Serbia or Slovenia? We did beat them as well. You can´t get to the playoffs with just pure luck. But I´d like Irish think that it will be a walk in the park :)

Edited by disillusion, 16 October 2011 - 01:21 AM.

[BrazilBlue]

disillusion, on 16 October 2011 - 01:21 AM, said:

How about Serbia or Slovenia? We did beat them as well. You can´t get to the playoffs with just pure luck. But I´d like Irish think that it will be a walk in the park :)

I don't know what the Irish think. But I do know a thing our two about the International game. And Ireland hav a team that is more than capable of taking out Estonia. They have a great goalkeeper.Shay Given. They have a sold defense controled by a great player called Richard Dunne who defended the entire Russian team in Moscow. Estonia won't be a problem. They have a player call Aiden McGeady who I admier allot. He plays with a Brazilian style. Reminds me of a young Raí Souza. The great Sao Paulo player of the 90's. Damian Duff is a former Chelsea player who was unfairly treated here and was a victim of the Abramovic revolution. He is still a good premiership level player, They have several Premier league Strikers. Keane, Doyle, Long, Walters and Cox who are all good goal scorers. Another point is that No player on the Estonia team would make it on to the Ireland team. Even the Irish bench is strong. Stephen Hunt. Seamus Colman and James McCarthy are three more Premiership players who  can make an impact.

[disillusion]

BrazilBlue, on 16 October 2011 - 06:44 AM, said:

Another point is that No player on the Estonia team would make it on to the Ireland team.

Sure, but none of our players would make it to the Serbian side as well. Although I am pretty sure that Vassiljev would easily make it to the Irish team. The main strength of the Estonian team is that the players know eachother really well and play their hearts out for the NT. Coach Tarmo Rüütli knows every single player to the details and that´s why he almost always makes a correct sub in a good time. Sure, Ireland are the favourites but we definately have a chance against them as I think they are the easiest we could have got from the seeded pot :)

[ace]

Hope no one was expecting to see Turkey next summer.  Down 3-0 to Croatia at home, ouch.

[maddoo]

Looks like its all over bar the shouting in Talinn, Ireland 3 up and coasting. Something to look forward to for next summer.Estonia down to 9 men,doesnt say much for Norn Ireland.How on earth did Estonia make it this far.

[sals]

ireland 4 up, great result of them. Would love to see bosnia get up over portugal in the 2nd leg

[Spiller86]

Guus is now virtually available this means. Wonder will  he come here in some capacity.

[BrazilBlue]

Just as I predicted, All 4 results correct. Well done Ireland, Portugal, Croatia and Czech Rep. You all deserve to go through. Hard luck to Bosnia, Turkey and Montenegro. You put up a good fight but were outclassed in the end. Estonia deserve no praise at all, They were a disgrace to the competition. Didn't even try Ireland took pity on you in the end.

[Liam]

BrazilBlue, on 16 November 2011 - 06:01 PM, said:

Just as I predicted, All 4 results correct. Well done Ireland, Portugal, Croatia and Czech Rep. You all deserve to go through. Hard luck to Bosnia, Turkey and Montenegro. You put up a good fight but were outclassed in the end. Estonia deserve no praise at all, They were a disgrace to the competition. Didn't even try Ireland took pity on you in the end.

Little bit harsh there on Estonia I feel but otherwise your posts on this thread have been excellent.