World Cup Qualification Group D Thread

Its that time again, after a campaign has finished when we usually have to look ahead to the start of the next campaign.
Obviously we have the welcome situation where we we have qualified and so we dont have to spend the next ten months on here looking ahead to the future and hoping things will be better next time.
But it is still worth looking ahead. And actually we do have to hope things will be better next time. 3rd place wont cut it.

The main hope has to be that the team head to Serbia in September with the current high spirits and resolve unbroken having avoided another ignominious showing at the European Championships.

We still have to achieve that elusive 'big' away win. On the face of it, Serbia offers our best hope of that. They're in a bad place at the moment. A trashing by Czech Republic in a friendly last week followed a qualification campaign which at one stage saw their points total hit negative figures. There are whispers of player unrest and threats of retirements.

The first game of the campaign could be an opportune moment to play them. As we saw last week, and indeed against Germany, when there is a discernible difference in commitment from the two sides, however slight, it can negate any advantage our opponents have in terms of technical ability or having so-called star players in their ranks. It can tilt the balance in our favour.

Of course, Serbia will probably introduce some members of their recent U-20 World Cup winning side to their squad over the coming months, and they will look to get back to winning ways, but they have maybe four friendly games between now and September to get their house in order. With Georgia at home and Moldova away to follow in October, we have a great chance of heading to Austria with seven or even nine points on the board.

Austria look to be the strongest team in the group. And no matter what anyone says, Wales will be tough opponents too. This group will be a battle between four teams for two places. Although some teams qualified for the 2014 World Cup play-offs with as little as 15 or 16 points, the target has to be 18 or 19 points as a minimum. 19 points would have been enough for us to pip Poland to second last month on head-to-head (had we drawn 2-2).

To achieve a sufficient number of points to secure a play-off we'll need to pick up 12 from 12 in the four games with Georgia and Moldova, and at least one victory from our six games against the top three teams in the group.

There'll be some changes to the squad. Given is going to retire after Euro 2016, and will most likely be followed by Keane and O'Shea. Lots of names are being thrown about as to who will come into the frame but we have shown that we can deal with the loss of these players. We have a squad of players capable of beating Serbia and capable of taking points off Wales and Austria.

That said, there are deficiencies in our team which will leave us with frayed nerves in the next campaign. We seem incapable of holding onto the ball for prolonged periods. We were caught out on our left side repeatedly in the away play-off. Our central defensive partnership still doesnt inspire complete confidence. There is a lack of goals in the side, and we lack any kind of threat from dead balls. We persist with putting two men up to take a corner kick every time - a ploy which almost cost us dearly in Bosnia when we lost possession from a corner and should have been punished on the counter. Our manager still makes some questionable decisions up front and in midfield.

However, the last six games has seen a renewed spirit in the team. There is a new-found confidence, and a desire to overcome any perceived deficiencies and give everything they have to get the required result. They're going to need this and a lot more to get over the line in the next campaign.

We are in a group that gives us a real chance of qualifying. We have a real opportunity, but its not going to be straightforward. It never is with Ireland.

I certainly don't fear Wales. Think we will beat them in Dublin for sure.

Yeah we were really blessed with the group. It's almost as bad as NI's Euros qualifying group! As Trap has said would really fancy beating Wales in Dublin and wouldn't be intimidated by the trip to Cardiff at all. Serbia are also a team on the slide and although the away fixture will be tough again I'd fancy us cause them all sorts of problems in Dublin. Austria are a team heading in the right direction for sure, but they are still very beatable. It's definitely something to look forward to as soon as the Euros dream ends!

Denis Irwin wrote: In with a great chance IMO. Wales although no pushovers are no Germany,Spain etc... Austrians seem to be a good side but no world beaters.Serbians are decent but beatable. Moldovans and Georgians should be beaten at home. I see no reason why we can't win all our home games. It'll come down to the final game in Cardiff but I think we can top the group

While I think topping the group is definitely up for grabs I think our mentality means we will always settle for the playoffs and that is where I think we will finish with Austria winning the group with a few points to spare.

It's impossible to answer this one as I'd expect a massive swathe of retirements after the Euros. At the moment we've a very top heavy over 30 squad. If even one of the following group stays on/maintains their current form for the WC Qualifiers we'd probably be doing well.
Wes, Keane, O'Shea, Murphy, Walters and Whelan.
Bar Keane those are all integral first teamers. I'd struggle to name 6 players to replace them.

Walters will stay on. Keane isn't a massive loss as he's only able for the last 15/20 mins. O'Shea isn't a massive loss as shown in the Bosnia games IMO. Murphy isn't a massive loss either.

Edited by Denis Irwin - 25 Nov 2015 at 4:53pm

Bitored wrote: It's impossible to answer this one as I'd expect a massive swathe of retirements after the Euros. At the moment we've a very top heavy over 30 squad. If even one of the following group stays on/maintains their current form for the WC Qualifiers we'd probably be doing well. Wes, Keane, O'Shea, Murphy, Walters and Whelan. Bar Keane those are all integral first teamers. I'd struggle to name 6 players to replace them.

I wouldn't say Murphy is an integral first teamer. While we might lose Murphy, Walters and Keane, Shane Long will still be around, and I imagine Walters will hang on for at least another World Cup campaign (whatever about Keane calling it a day after the Euros). Walters does not rely on pace the way Long does (much and all as he relies on fitness) so I am not overly concerned about him.

I wouldn't be overly pessimistic about midfield, either. With McCarthy, Hendrick, Artur, McClean and Brady all the right side of 26, we don't have a huge amount to be worried about, provided they can keep fit and avoid injuries. Wes leaving would cause a loss of imagination, perhaps, but I think we have a few other skillful and creative players. I haven't even mentioned Darron Gibson, although obviously he has his injury troubles.

Defensively, Clark looks a different player in green to when he plays for Villa. Clark, Wilson, Coleman and Keogh are all under 30 and good for another four years.

While retirements could very well lead to a loss of experienced players, if we can keep our current players injury free, we will still be pretty strong in the World Cup qualifiers.

I reckon we will put up a strong fight for second, anyway. Wales are a Gareth Bale injury away from disaster, Austria close to (but not quite) the same with Alaba. If either of them were to miss one international window of two games, they could easily drop points anywhere, with the likely exception of the home games to Moldova and Georgia.


Edited by SuperDave84 - 25 Nov 2015 at 5:02pm

SuperDave84 wrote: I wouldn't be overly pessimistic about midfield, either. With McCarthy, Hendrick, Artur, McClean and Brady all the right side of 26, we don't have a huge amount to be worried about, provided they can keep fit and avoid injuries. Wes leaving would cause a loss of imagination, perhaps, but I think we have a few other skillful and creative players. I haven't even mentioned Darron Gibson, although obviously he has his injury troubles.

Serbia look a decent team on paper but as you say with maybe 4-5 friendlies to get their house in order playing them 1st game could work out well. If we had 9 points heading to Austria anything is possible but again much like the euro campaign we should aim to beat Georgia and Moldova away, try and get something from the games away to Austria, Wales and Serbia- then at the Aviva win 4 of the 5 games. I think we could be formidable at home under O'Neil much like his Celtic team.

Edited by Stickittotheman - 25 Nov 2015 at 6:26pm