UEFA Nations League/Euro 2020 Qualification

#914

We are nearly guaranteed a play off through the Nations League route even if we finish bottom of our regular qualification group. The two are totally independent. However we have to win a play off semi and a final to make it through the Nations League play off route. Both matches would be one leg only and the final would definitely be an away match and semi more than likely as well. Can’t see us winning the play off route if we tank in the regular qualification group.

Also anyone expecting an improvement in the football and patterns of play under Mick McCarthy could be in for some shock. Mick and most of his cheerleaders in the media are harking back to the 2002 World Cup qualifiers and finals. What about last season with Ipswich? No doubt he did a good job in terms of staying in the championship with the resources he was given financially. However the players were limited so he adopted a very defensive style and they really struggled to score goals or create chances. Sound familiar? I think the bad run maxed out at failing to score in 17 out of 20 matches. Even Martin O’Neills’s poor run wasn’t that bad!

#915

Being honest really think this thread should be called the Euro 2020 disqualification thread as you have to be really muck and extremely unlucky not to qualify. We probably are really muck, but let’s hope at least we get a little luck

#916

:grin:

#917

With a little luck we won’t qualify!

#918

The way things are we’ll need a lot of luck not to qualify.

#919

It’s the Hotel California of European Football…
You can get knocked out at any time you like…

#920

It’s like Brexit … you can’t get out of it.

#921

Believe or not there will be 31 european international football teams that will not be at Euro 2020

#922

500 tickets allocated to the FAI for Gibraltar away. They’re hopeful they might get more.

#923

Wonder what the Dear Leader did to secure that many which is about 20% of the capacity of the stadium

#924

There will be loads from Asia and Africa missing too

#925

Chris de Burgh is going to arrange transport for them…on his Spanish train.

#926

Well of course. They’re not eligible :wink:

#927

Kazakhstan and Israel

#928

Michael Robinson diagnosed with incurable advanced melanoma.(Skin Cancer)

Poor fùcker. 60 is no age nowadays

#929

According to Emmett Malone of the Irish Times Declan Rice will state over the weekend he s committed to playing for Ireland. We need all the help we can get.

#930

That is true but it’s a ridiculous situation . How will it be perceived in the dressing room .

#931

Players are pragmatic. I m not mad about it but once he plays and plays well we will be all friends again.

#932

If he does a uturn , I’d love to hear what Mayo “Killer” Kilbane has to say about it . Went through him for a short cut , and I personally would have agreed with him at the time.

#933

Rice put himself either through influence or self doubt in a difficult position. I do think it shouldn’t be forgotten that he is quite young though and for a premier league regular he earns a relative pittance. He would be a coup for McCarthy and id like to see him commit.