World Cup 2018 Qualifers

[J..]

This is tough. Two countries I feel connected to. I do like Ireland but... Come on Denmark.

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No major surprises in the lineups. Cornelius in the lineup instead of Poulsen makes sense as this match will be all about stamina and physique.

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Ireland seems happy without the ball. All 11 players on their own half. Eriksen covered by multiple Irish players all the time. As said, no surprises. Let's see what Sisto can do on the left wing with his speed and excellent technique.

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Damn so close. A great longball from Kjær to Stryger...

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Ball possession : DEN 67 - IRE 33...

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Fuuuuuck. Sisto. Should have been a goal.

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Attempts: DEN 6 - 0 IRE

 

[firmino]

how come you have an irish jersey?

 

[J..]

Second half now. I think we will see Bendtner soon.

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how come you have an irish jersey?

Mainly because I have had a soft spot for the Irish NT both in football and rugby for quite some time. Then add the culture and the history of the island with its ups and many downs. It deserves respect.

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Bendtner in. Receives a lot of praise from the stands.

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15 mins left.

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Another two great chances with 3 mins left. Ireland must be happy with this result.

 

[Harpsabu]

Irelamd finished the last 15 stronger i thought. Denmark had two big chances first half. 0-0 is a dangerous result. Would have loved an away goal. Think its 50/50 still

 

[J..]

50/50!!? Seems unrealistic when considering the lack of football abilities shown in the match by the Irish players. Defending with 10 players in the whole match is something even a school football team can do. It is a completely different story when you have to be much more in possession which has been difficult for Ireland in this qualification. That's why the home statistic aren't that good compared to the away results that have been achieved.

It saddens me to see an Irish team play this way against Denmark. It's just Denmark ffs and not Germany, Italy, Brazil ect. Watching your own NT playing a match with less than 35 % in ball possession against a small NT like Denmark can't be that satisfying.

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Damien Duff is spot on:


Kevin Palmer
Kevin Palmer
November 11 2017 10:33 PM
Damien Duff offered up a brutal critique of Ireland’s tactics and lack of composure on the ball as they played out a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their World Cup play-off against Denmark in Copenhagen.

Duff played in the last Irish team to compete in a World Cup back in 2002 and while he gave credit to Martin O’Neill’s team for their spirit against an equally unimpressive Danish side, the former Chelsea man was clearly exasperated by the lack of ambition shown by Ireland in the attacking third.
“Without the ball, yeah brilliant we defend well, show spirit and desire, but you expect that from Irish players. You expect that from Irish people, with the man in the street,” declared RTE pundit Duff.

“With the ball….Jim Beglin said it was ugly and it wasn’t even that pretty. It was awful stuff. We must be able to do better than that. Harry Arter plays in a football team (at Bournemouth), Callum O’Dowda is a player, James McClean as well.
“Being in that team, you must feel demoralised at times. The ball is just bypassing you. I know that’s the game plan, but without the ball it was awful.”

Duff went on to predict a difficult night ahead in the second leg at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, as he suggested Ireland may have missed their best chance to progress to Russia 2018 by failing to snare an away goal in Copenhagen.

“The Denmark manager was speaking before the game that he would be happy with 0-0 and we will be kicking ourselves that we didn’t score,” he added. “The disappointing thing is that we didn’t go toe-to-toe with them, we never took the game to them.
“Our form at the Aviva Stadium, there is no reason to think we will go through or take the game to them, but we have to score.

“If we go 1-0 up in the opening 20 minutes, we will sit back for 70 minutes, fact. We have done that since I was playing. You think back to the results in the group. Serbia lost, Austria 1-1, Wales 0-0…I don’t think we are going to dominate on Tuesday.”

 

[crzdcolombian]

my family is all freaking out about the italian NT not making it.... how does Ventura still have the FKING job?

 

[Ronaldo]

It would be funny if they don't make it

 

[JJM]

The Irish should proclaim their GK a national hero regardless if they make the WC or not...one save was alien like

 

[firmino]

my family is all freaking out about the italian NT not making it.... how does Ventura still have the FKING job?

we are all freaking out, even people like me who have mixed feelings towards the NT (mostly because of buffon, i hate that disgusting shitty juventino).

 

[Harpsabu]

It wouldn't matter who ireland plays this is the tactics. We dont have the players capable of playing good football. Plus, seamus coleman and mccarthy are savage losses. Away from home this was always always the way we were playing in a world cup qualifier. Did you honestly think they were going to try and beat a better team at their home ground in such an important game. No way. Keep it tight, try sneak an away goal and bring it back home with the game in the balance.

 

[firmino]

according to multiple sources, for italy it will still be 3-5-2 with jorginho in for verratti and gabbiadini in belotti's place, also florenzi for de rossi. same lineup for the rest.
i can't tell how accurate those reports are but that's what many journalists have been saying

 

[ADRossi]

god, I can't wait for Ventura to get fired

 

[thatdude]

according to multiple sources, for italy it will still be 3-5-2 with jorginho in for verratti and gabbiadini in belotti's place, also florenzi for de rossi. same lineup for the rest.
i can't tell how accurate those reports are but that's what many journalists have been saying

So really it will be Florenzi - Jorginho - Parolo with Jorginho playing a deeper role like he does at Napoli.

 

[M.Adnan]

Just checked Ventura's CV and found out that his best trophy ever won was Serie C1 with Lecce back in 1995. Are they fucking serious?

 

[Bergkamp]

So really it will be Florenzi - Jorginho - Parolo with Jorginho playing a deeper role like he does at Napoli.

Ventura's 3-5-2 against Sweden tomorrow: Buffon - Barzagli Bonucci Chiellini - Candreva Florenzi Jorginho Parolo Darmian - Gabbiadini Immobile.

from http://it.eurosport.com/calcio/qual...a-rivoluziona-l-italia_sto6408144/story.shtml

 

[JJM]

guess I will be rooting "za brate Hrvate i Srbe" in the upcoming WC #BalkanPower

 

[Candreva Crosses]

Just checked Ventura's CV and found out that his best trophy ever won was Serie C1 with Lecce back in 1995. Are they fucking serious?

HAHAHAHAHAHA WTF LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL Maaaan how the fuck could they lose how the fuck could anybody let this happend? HOW in gods name could anybody even lose with a fucking team like italian vs nobodies its fuuucked up. you must really want to lose to be able to fucking lose ike that.

 

[RichDAS]

So wait, you're telling me after all those shitty World Cup qualifiers matches in between club season matches and Champions League matches were all basically for nothing!?

 

[firmino]

So wait, you're telling me after all those shitty World Cup qualifiers matches in between club season matches and Champions League matches were all basically for nothing!?

pretty much, yes.

 

[J..]

The way Ireland plays right now is the total opposite of what it was in the first match. A pleasure to watch. And what a great support as always from the stands.