Road to South Africa World Cup 2010 - Page 6 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

The Special One · 09-08-2009, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/ne...alian+showdown

Robbie Keane has sent a warning shot across the bows of world champions Italy ahead of their crucial meeting with Republic of Ireland in Dublin on 10 October 2009.

Away wins for the Italians and the Irish on Saturday keep Marcello Lippi's charges a point clear at the top of Group 8 heading into 9 September's clash with third-placed Bulgaria in Turin.

Keane's late strike in Nicosia finally saw off Cyprus, while the Italians won 2-0 in Georgia to set up a showdown at Croke Park when a major blow could be struck either way in the race for qualification for South Africa.

Irish eyes will be fully focused on Turin on Wednesday evening - Trapattoni's men play a friendly against South Africa in Limerick 24 hours earlier - and opinion may be divided on the best result.

Victory for Italy would make winning the group intensely difficult for Ireland, but would virtually guarantee them the runners-up spot. A Bulgaria win would blow the race wide open, although that would drag Dimitar Berbatov and company back into striking distance.

This is incorrect. A draw is the best result for Ireland. An Italy win doesn't help as they have two home matches left: Italy and Montenegro. Bulgaria, if they were to lose to Italy, would have two matches left against Georgia and Cyprus. Were they to win both, as you would expect, they'd finish on 17 points, meaning that Ireland would need to get at least two points out of the two matches against Italy and Montenegro. I'll take a stab and say they only get one. It would go to goal difference at that point.

Only eight of the nine runners up qualify for the playoff, so seventeen points might not cut it.

Bagor · 09-08-2009, 05:20 PM

^Watched that game troutman.

Ireland were verrrrry lucky to get a win.

Cyprus dominated the 1st half and could have been easily a couple up. 2nd was a pretty even back and forth affair.

On a side note and OT but in reference to the report below I had the pleasure of attending Croker on Sunday for the All-Ireland hurling final as part of a 82K+ crowd for a pure spectacle of a game of guts and skill. A majestic stadium built and owned by the people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrCSnglZUSo

edit to add TSO. 17 points will do it easy.

The Special One · 09-08-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bagor

^Watched that game troutman.

Ireland were verrrrry lucky to get a win.

Cyprus dominated the 1st half and could have been easily a couple up. 2nd was a pretty even back and forth affair.

On a side note and OT but in reference to the report below I had the pleasure of attending Croker on Sunday for the All-Ireland hurling final as part of a 82K+ crowd for a pure spectacle of a game of guts and skill. A majestic stadium built and owned by the people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrCSnglZUSo

I don't think Cyprus dominated the first half. If Ireland had a better left back than Kilbane it wouldn't have been a match at all. Consistent pressure, high long balls in to Keane, Doyle, and later Folan won in the end. Trap is a great manager, he doesn't ask much from Whelan or Andrews because he knows that they're muck. Wait until Finnan and Steven Reid are back and you'll see a truly great occasion at Croke Park, one month from now.

Bagor · 09-08-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Special One

I don't think Cyprus dominated the first half. If Ireland had a better left back than Kilbane it wouldn't have been a match at all. Consistent pressure, high long balls in to Keane, Doyle, and later Folan won in the end. Trap is a great manager, he doesn't ask much from Whelan or Andrews because he knows that they're muck. Wait until Finnan and Steven Reid are back and you'll see a truly great occasion at Croke Park, one month from now.

Agree to disagree ( I thought they murdered Ireland) but we could go on for ever but IMO Cyprus could easily have gone in at half time with 3 goals on three very good chances.

2nd half to me opened up with a few tit for tat open periods that should have suited Ireland but where Cyprus just as easily could have bagged one.

A fortunate win IMO all things considered but I'll take it.

Read Roy Keanes book a good while back and dissappointed to see that things haven't changed re. organisation with half the team sitting economy en route to Cyprus. His point still stands ... take an amateurish approach, expect amateurish performances.

The Special One · 09-08-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bagor

Agree to disagree ( I thought they murdered Ireland) but we could go on for ever but IMO Cyprus could easily have gone in at half time with 3 goals on three very good chances.

2nd half to me opened up with a few tit for tat open periods that should have suited Ireland but where Cyprus just as easily could have bagged one.

A fortunate win IMO all things considered but I'll take it.

Read Roy Keanes book a good while back and dissappointed to see that things haven't changed re. organisation with half the team sitting economy en route to Cyprus. His point still stands ... take an amateurish approach, expect amateurish performances.

Roy Keane was right in what he was saying, the FAI and Delaney are a bunch of idiots. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

I think we're in for a hiding in October against a poor poor Italy team and we'll be lucky to get more than a point out of Montenegro four days later. We've been very lucky thus far.

Bagor · 09-08-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Special One

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

That's the one!

Keane sorta split the country in a good way. The Dubs hated what he did, whilst every other human being with half a brain saw his point. They're a disgrace. Eve of a vital qualifier and the team was so hungry they're ordering pizza from the hotel. Turn up at a world cup with no balls for practice, with a lump of dead grass that's rock hard.

They weren't interested in competing, just being there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Special One

the FAI and Delaney are a bunch of idiots.

My opinion and my opinion only ... the FAI and their effort is a disgrace to Croke Park and the spirit that took to build it.

2 people IMO can manage Ireland, Keane (will be the Brian Clough of Ireland) or Martin O'Neill.

The Special One · 09-08-2009, 06:25 PM

No garrison sports at Croke Park. I agree.

Keano was a great player, but he doesn't seem to be able to cut the mustard as a manger. His own players hate him.

Martin O'Neill turned the job down back when we had a much better team. I don't see him being interested.

Trap seems to be doing a grand job but he's 70. John Sheridan might do the job. I wouldn't mind if Brian Kerr came back. Anyone but Stan.

Bagor · 09-08-2009, 06:34 PM

I'm currently posting (Photon will verify) from about 5 mile down the road from Martin O'Neill's home place (S. Derry) Know him to talk to and his family.

Just because he turned it down when he was a bit green and the timing wasn't right doesn't IMO (by a long way) say that Martin O'Neill wouldn't dream of managing Ireland.

One day ....... and I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled a stunt like picking his own trainers in as a clause in the contract and promptly called Keane.

icarus · 09-09-2009, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Special One

The average construction worker on these stadiums makes seven Canadian dollars a day. I don't think they're out of line asking for a raise when the tickets are going to be 200-500 dollars for each match.

Agreed, but when you've got something like 30% unemployment that's pretty strong "wage pressure". That's why the unions in South Africa remain so solidifed.

rubecube · 09-09-2009, 01:32 PM

It's been the Aaron Lennon Show in London so far. Drew a penalty kick that was converted by Lampard; and then had a nice cross on the Gerrard goal.

troutman · 09-09-2009, 01:41 PM

http://www.fifa.com/Live/Competition...=10/index.html

united · 09-09-2009, 01:47 PM

2-0 at half time. England all over Croatia and I mean all over.

Croatia's bright spot has been their keeper. Really in my eyes Croatia are lucky it's not 3-4-5 nill.

rubecube · 09-09-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by united

2-0 at half time. England all over Croatia and I mean all over.

Croatia's bright stop has been their keeper. Really in my eyes Croatia are lucky it's not 3-4-5 nill.

Actually, I think it has been more the fact that Heskey is brutal. I'm hoping he's done on the international stage.

As I write this Lampard scores on a nice play from Johnson. 3-0 Brits.

rubecube · 09-09-2009, 02:26 PM

Gerrard adds his second. 4-0 England.

rubecube · 09-09-2009, 02:30 PM

Eduardo gets one back for Croatia. 4-1.

You Need a Thneed · 09-09-2009, 02:33 PM

probably safe to say that England had qualified for the big dance.

rubecube · 09-09-2009, 02:36 PM

Rooney! 5-1 now. See you in South Africa.

GirlySports · 09-09-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

probably safe to say that England had qualified for the big dance.

They might be one of the favorites now.

troutman · 09-09-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubecube

Eduardo gets one back for Croatia. 4-1.

Eduardo is Croatian?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduardo_da_Silva

GirlySports · 09-09-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Eduardo is Croatian?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduardo_da_Silva

Yup played many years in Croatia and became naturalized.
Many Brazilians play for countries not caled Brazil.