World cup draw

geomuss · 25-11-2007, 4:22 PM

Group 1 Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Albania, Malta

Group 2 Greece, Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, Latvia, Luxembourg

Group 3 Czech Republic, Poland, NORTHERN IRELAND, Slovakia, Slovenia, San Marino

Group 4 Germany, Russia, Finland, WALES, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein

Group 5 Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia, Estonia

Group 6 Croatia, ENGLAND, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Andorra

Group 7 France, Romania, Serbia, Lithuania, Austria, Faroe Islands

Group 8 Italy, Bulgaria, Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia, Montenegro

Group 9 Holland, SCOTLAND, Norway, FYR Macedonia, Iceland

Well as a Scot im delighted, booking my flight now!!!

but look at Englands group!!!

domtheone · 25-11-2007, 4:25 PM

Yup. Just been watching it.

Initial reactions. England have a chance, probably in the playoffs.

N.Ireland - Difficult I'd say but again, playoff possibilities.

Ditto with Rep of Ireland

Ditto with Scotland

Wales - OH Dear.

Of the 5 home countires, i'll say 2 will make it to SA

CFC1 · 25-11-2007, 4:27 PM

England couldn't have hoped for better, in wishing to top the group ... and some payback to Croatia!

WelshBluebird · 25-11-2007, 4:28 PM

A bit of a coincidence if you ask me.
Wales get Germany in our group (we had them in the euro qualifiers), and England get Croatia (who stopped you from qualifying to the Euro champs).

As for wales - we have no chance. Germany will win the group, with russia and finland fighting for 2nd and 3rd, with wales coming 4th.

loz · 25-11-2007, 4:32 PM

Well England have to be in the easiest group there.

The opportunity for revenge over Croatia, the only real threat in the group.

But, given Euro 2008 qualification, nothing can be certain for England.

But with the right management, and the pool of talent they do have, if only they can play as a team and give their all, then they ought to finish top of the group.

Scotland have to be in with a shout, if they can maintain current form.

McFaber · 25-11-2007, 4:44 PM

I feel England won't be taking Croatia games lightly in the future...

However, I bet Croatia certainly weren't hoping for another England qualification encounter...should be interesting..

**Kieron** · 25-11-2007, 5:01 PM

England and the Republic should make it unscathed in first or second place.

Scotland's issue for second place is Norway. Hope the Jocks make it to be honest, especially after the good work in the Euro's.

Norn might just skim it - depending on Poland.

Wales are going to need a miracle unfortunately.

Del Boy Smiffy · 25-11-2007, 5:56 PM

LOL at Group 2

geomuss · 25-11-2007, 6:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kieron

England and the Republic should make it unscathed in first or second place.

You have got to be having a laugh!

only the top team qualifys automatically, while the second placed goes into an 8 way play off.

McFaber · 25-11-2007, 7:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geomuss

You have got to be having a laugh!

only the top team qualifys automatically, while the second placed goes into an 8 way play off.

Give me good reason why England can't qualify out of their group...

This week's farce is now history...let's be a little more optimistic here shall we..

domtheone · 25-11-2007, 7:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andysb

Give me good reason why England can't qualify out of their group...

This week's farce is now history...let's be a little more optimistic here shall we..

Think we should wait to see who the next manager is before we get that carried away

JohnG · 25-11-2007, 7:23 PM

I see England's group as an easy one compared to what we could have been faced with. With good players and a manager who knows what he's doing we should win the group. But the danger is that we might end up doing what we did in this 2008 qualification where we ended up on the same points as Israel which in my view is totally unacceptable.
The only thing we need to do is win our games, draw in Croatia and then beat Croatia at home

andytabor · 25-11-2007, 7:46 PM

if we maintain our form as it is just now we'll certainly qualify ahead of norway and we should give holland a very good run for their money. good draw for scotland and for england also, ukraine a risk but they were very ordinary when we beat them 3-1 at hampden

McFaber · 25-11-2007, 7:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by domtheone

Think we should wait to see who the next manager is before we get that carried away

Ha Ha, an overly used expression by the optomist...

KevD · 25-11-2007, 9:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Del Boy Smiffy

LOL at Group 2

A joke thats a group, would have given up Frank Lampard to get into that group

CFC1 · 25-11-2007, 9:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevD

A joke thats a group, would have given up Frank Lampard to get into that group

Now, that's not very nice

... It's a new dawn and all that... I've just got a gut feeling that Frank will be back to his old superlative, matchwinning best, now that he is no longer encumbered by McClaren's negativity! ... Dammit... they should even give Frankie the vice-captaincy!

Runs for cover!

KevD · 25-11-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFC1

It's a new dawn and all that...

Runs for cover!

Indeed out with the old and the slow

,

all joking of course, if Frank can get back to World Cup 06 qualifying form then England will top the group

anna the dub · 25-11-2007, 10:22 PM

As an Irish person, I am very disappointed with the draw. Not looking forward to facing Italy, and Bulgaria will be very tricky too, not too keen on facing Georgia either. Italy will win the group, probably Bulgaria 2nd, best we can hope for is 3rd. And that will be yet another tournament, another exit.

CFC1 · 26-11-2007, 9:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anna the dub

As an Irish person, I am very disappointed with the draw. Not looking forward to facing Italy, and Bulgaria will be very tricky too, not too keen on facing Georgia either. Italy will win the group, probably Bulgaria 2nd, best we can hope for is 3rd. And that will be yet another tournament, another exit.

Don't be so downbeat... you are also facing the prospect of a new dawn ... for all you know, Jose Mourinho could be your manager for the WC campaign!

... Alright, maybe not Jose... well, Joe Kinnear (whatever happened to him?). Seriously though, with a bit of Bonny Scotland's fighting spirit and Damien Duff fit again for the duration, You may just get that 2nd place ahead of Bulgaria ... keep the faith....

overkill · 26-11-2007, 4:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andysb

Give me good reason why England can't qualify out of their group...

This week's farce is now history...let's be a little more optimistic here shall we..

Cos' they're crap?

Before we start getting into the usual 'it'll be easy' nonsense

, both Croatia and the Ukraine are no slouches, so once again it'll be down to whether England can put away the small teams, and quite frankly, their track record isn't exactly 'hot' on that score.

They should qualify, but that's hardly set in stone anymore is it? If it ever was.

As for the RoI I doubt very much they'll be too thrilled with that group as they have to get past Italy, Bulgaria and Georgia. The latter of course, the team that really ended Scotlands hopes.

Scotland should qualify, probably in the play off.

Wales and NI, ouch!

mason · 26-11-2007, 4:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overkill

They should qualify, but that's hardly set in stone anymore is it? If it ever was.

16-1 to win the comp........ whats the general view on that??

neilios · 26-11-2007, 5:04 PM

I think we will win all the home games ,but struggle away again ,its an horrible draw both for the team and the fans ,don't fancy going away to any of them games .:eek.

Lol 16-1 to win the tourney hehe ,i don't think we have a prayer to be honest,i've been watching england for a long time now and we are in a right mess,technically we are poor but the players just seeem not to have any fight in them which they will need at some of them away games.

overkill · 26-11-2007, 5:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilios

I think we will win all the home games ,but struggle away again ,its an horrible draw both for the team and the fans ,don't fancy going away to any of them games .:eek.

Lol 16-1 to win the tourney hehe ,i don't think we have a prayer to be honest,i've been watching england for a long time now and we are in a right mess,technically we are poor but the players just seeem not to have any fight in them which they will need at some of them away games.

Well, that just about sums it up tbh!

16-1!?

Make that 100-1!

domtheone · 26-11-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mason

16-1 to win the comp........ whats the general view on that??

Poor Odds.

Probably get better odds at some stage during qualification