World cup draw

[geomuss]

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]

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]

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

[WelshBluebird]

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]

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.

[Manxstar]

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]

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]

LOL at Group 2

[geomuss]

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.

[Manxstar]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Manxstar]

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]

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