Internationals October (Euro Qualifiers)

Alex99

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The play-off cutoff for League B will be at either Ukraine, Iceland or Norway. Too many of the nations ahead of Ireland in the Nations League standings flopped in these regular qualifiers.

Yeah, looking at the groups, they need some massive favours in other groups.

Netherlands overtaking Greece is plausible, which moves them one spot closer, but then they're looking at both of:
  • Albania dropping out of the qualifying spots in Group E and being replaced by Poland. This requires Albania to lose to both Faroe Islands and Moldova in their final two games, so I'd effectively write this one off.
  • Romania dropping out of the qualifying spots in Group I and being replaced by Israel.
If my maths is correct, Slovakia have qualified after tonight, so it's a long shot, I just thought it was interesting that the Nations League play offs have thrown up a scenario that makes it beneficial for a team to lose.
 

Sianti

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Though I think it was a penalty, I am impressed with how the Greece - Netherlands ref is using the VAR: if he's not convinced that the video 100% disproves the call, he sticks to the call in play. As it should be used.
 

Snow

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Slovakia haven't qualified. 5 points ahead of Luxembourg who are not that unlikely to take 6 points from the remaining 2. Slovakia only need the point from either Bosnia or Iceland matches so very likely to finish 2nd.
 

Oranges038

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He signed for Lyngby in Denmark (Icelandic coach) and he's played 1 game.

He was never charged with anything so nothing got dropped.
I thought he had been charged. Suppose that since he's never been charged, he's free to continue his career and get something out of what's left of it.
 

KirkDuyt

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He played well. Good shot on him. Thought he lacked a bit of close control today though. But I've not seen him play much.
I just thought he looked promising at AZ last year, but had never thought he'd be a starter for Milan out of nowhere.
 

Pogue Mahone

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The play-off cutoff for League B will be at either Ukraine, Iceland or Norway. Too many of the nations ahead of Ireland in the Nations League standings flopped in these regular qualifiers.

Yeah, looking at the groups, they need some massive favours in other groups.

Netherlands overtaking Greece is plausible, which moves them one spot closer, but then they're looking at both of:
  • Albania dropping out of the qualifying spots in Group E and being replaced by Poland. This requires Albania to lose to both Faroe Islands and Moldova in their final two games, so I'd effectively write this one off.
  • Romania dropping out of the qualifying spots in Group I and being replaced by Israel.
If my maths is correct, Slovakia have qualified after tonight, so it's a long shot, I just thought it was interesting that the Nations League play offs have thrown up a scenario that makes it beneficial for a team to lose.
Even though it's incredibly unlikely, it's still in Ireland's best interest to lose that match. Which is fecking nuts. Thankfully, we've become experts at losing football matches. So I fancy our chances with this one.
 

Rapsel

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I just thought he looked promising at AZ last year, but had never thought he'd be a starter for Milan out of nowhere.
Job done without Frenkie and Gakpo and Simons clearly looking lost without Frenkie so the future could be bright.
 

Samid

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Yeah, looking at the groups, they need some massive favours in other groups.

Netherlands overtaking Greece is plausible, which moves them one spot closer, but then they're looking at both of:
  • Albania dropping out of the qualifying spots in Group E and being replaced by Poland. This requires Albania to lose to both Faroe Islands and Moldova in their final two games, so I'd effectively write this one off.
  • Romania dropping out of the qualifying spots in Group I and being replaced by Israel.
If my maths is correct, Slovakia have qualified after tonight, so it's a long shot, I just thought it was interesting that the Nations League play offs have thrown up a scenario that makes it beneficial for a team to lose.
Poland can't finish ahead of Albania (H2H). Poland might yet qualify but that would mean Czech missing out which won’t make any difference. So that group is irrelevant for Ireland (unless Moldova get a couple of unlikely wins and sneak through automatically, which isn't good for Ireland).

Ireland need one of these scenarios to happen:
- Serbia, Israel and Iceland to all automatically qualify. Serbia should be fine. Israel is 50/50. Iceland require a miracle though.
- Serbia, Israel, Ukraine, Finland and Slovenia to all automatically qualify. Serbia and Israel, same as above. Ukraine finishing ahead of Italy won't be a big shock. Both Finland and Slovenia qualifying over Denmark would require something truly remarkable.

Bosnia winning last night and Slovakia dropping points was your last realistic hope. Then Bosnia would've had it in their own hands and you "only" would've needed to rely on them, Serbia and Israel.

Even though it's incredibly unlikely, it's still in Ireland's best interest to lose that match. Which is fecking nuts. Thankfully, we've become experts at losing football matches. So I fancy our chances with this one.
That scenario was based on Holland losing to Greece. Result last night means it's a moot point. Holland have two games remaining and only need to match the points Greece pick up against France. Even Ireland smashed Gibraltar so the Dutch could probably do it blindfolded.

But I do agree it's a crazy loophole. We (Norway) are essentially getting shafted in these play-offs for beating Sweden twice in the Nations League. Since Russia were banned from League B all groups had their results against the bottom team nulled in the overall table. Our 6 points vs Sweden just vanished. Now if we had lost one of those games, they would've finished 3rd and Slovenia (who we picked up 1 point against) finishing last. We would've had 2 extra points and a guaranteed play-off right now if we had lost one of those matches. Ridiculous how we hadn't beaten Sweden in decades and when we do it twice in a week we still come out of it as losers ffs.

Worst part is the current cut-off is on Iceland, right above us. They didn't win a single game (were in Russia's group). They're basically getting rewarded for having one of the favorites in that group DQ'ed while the other groups are getting punished for beating the worst teams in their respective groups.

No idea how you fix all this within the current format though.
 

Samid

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Tonight I feel Serbian. Tonight I feel Northern Irish. Tonight I feel Finnish.
 

V.O.

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How is Stephan El Shaarawy still getting games for Italy in 2023?
 

IRELANDUNITED

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I see Maguire, Evans, Mctomminy, Rashford and Hojlund are all starting for their countries tonight. I wonder how many injuries we will pick up. Trent Alexander on the bench again for England and as usual Andy Robertson has called in sick for Scotland.
 

Oranges038

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Poland can't finish ahead of Albania (H2H). Poland might yet qualify but that would mean Czech missing out which won’t make any difference. So that group is irrelevant for Ireland (unless Moldova get a couple of unlikely wins and sneak through automatically, which isn't good for Ireland).

Ireland need one of these scenarios to happen:
- Serbia, Israel and Iceland to all automatically qualify. Serbia should be fine. Israel is 50/50. Iceland require a miracle though.
- Serbia, Israel, Ukraine, Finland and Slovenia to all automatically qualify. Serbia and Israel, same as above. Ukraine finishing ahead of Italy won't be a big shock. Both Finland and Slovenia qualifying over Denmark would require something truly remarkable.

Bosnia winning last night and Slovakia dropping points was your last realistic hope. Then Bosnia would've had it in their own hands and you "only" would've needed to rely on them, Serbia and Israel.



That scenario was based on Holland losing to Greece. Result last night means it's a moot point. Holland have two games remaining and only need to match the points Greece pick up against France. Even Ireland smashed Gibraltar so the Dutch could probably do it blindfolded.

But I do agree it's a crazy loophole. We (Norway) are essentially getting shafted in these play-offs for beating Sweden twice in the Nations League. Since Russia were banned from League B all groups had their results against the bottom team nulled in the overall table. Our 6 points vs Sweden just vanished. Now if we had lost one of those games, they would've finished 3rd and Slovenia (who we picked up 1 point against) finishing last. We would've had 2 extra points and a guaranteed play-off right now if we had lost one of those matches. Ridiculous how we hadn't beaten Sweden in decades and when we do it twice in a week we still come out of it as losers ffs.

Worst part is the current cut-off is on Iceland, right above us. They didn't win a single game (were in Russia's group). They're basically getting rewarded for having one of the favorites in that group DQ'ed while the other groups are getting punished for beating the worst teams in their respective groups.

No idea how you fix all this within the current format though.
Go back to the old qualification format, 16 teams go to the finals and scrap that nations league shite.

Problem solved.
 

Baxquux

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Maguire and Phillips. My word, Southgate is so middling: conservative almost to the point of cowardice in his style and approach; gets outmanaged in-game in almost every crunch game against a side with anything like similar level of talent; and, finally, puts little to no pressure on players to perform for their clubs once they're ensconced in his graces ( or to play in a half-reputable league; see Henderson). The only 'favourite' he's treated with anything like pragmatism is Mount.
 

united_99

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Completely forgot about Mount :lol:
Has he been called up by Southgate?
 

Ole'sgunnarwin

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If Zaha was messing around with Moyes' daughter, I can say for certain Maguire is not doing the same with Southgate's
 

Baxquux

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Completely forgot about Mount :lol:
Has he been called up by Southgate?
No. And he's been praised for being tough-minded, ignoring (in many instances) how much of an easy ride he's given Maguire for one. I know CB isn't our strongest position, but it sets a terrible example, if nothing else.
 

FootballHQ

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Have Italy stopped calling up Veratti since his Qatar move?

Such an average line up from them. Guess Tonali would've started but was expecting guys like Di Marco and Bastoni to be in as they were really good in Inter's CL final run.

I think Ukraine will finish above them in this group.
 

Amar__

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Philips is such an idiot, yet so lucky. Should have seen at least one red so far.
 

Zen

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The best thing about Phillips starting and being clearly off the pace is that his replacement will just be Henderson.... you couldn't script this shit. Ward-Prowse and Gallagher, what's the point lads?