So it's as good a time as any for another poll.

I'm going for option 1.

But for me its a 50/50 draw: avoid croatia and italy at all costs. Had that down as an option but removed it as it sort of clashed/overlapped with other options.

For some reason I can't vote above 

looking forward too the draw even more now with the storm today

It was.

And apparently they didn't look all that great in the return game. 

All fair points, but the flip side is it's hard to see Italy not make the World Cup. They'll surely get through.

Whereas Croatia have actually been a bit flakey lately, despite their class in midfield. They lost to Turkey, Iceland, and drew at home to Finland last week.

I think the press conference today where they announced Zagreb would host the playoff was also for an announcement of their new manager. Link was in Croatian and I wasn't bothered going to google translate.

Denmark

Switzerland

Italy

Croatia

And your point is......

The problem with doing that is they'll have sustained periods of pressure on us and they have the players to pick us off if one of our defensive unit switches off and they play someone in.

Whatever people think about Whelan, he would certainly be my first name on the team sheet against a creative Croatian/Italian midfield anyway. 

Exactly.

Can't believe anyone on ybig thinks that Italy would be an easier wicket to take than Croatia. 

1. Italy make tournaments - they always do. We beat them at the Euro's. They owe us one and they're Italy. 

2. Croatia struggled in a piss poor group and lost out on top spot to Iceland. They sacked their manager before Ukraine game, they are generally in turmoil. Players not performing, mutiny in camp, serious unrest etc. 

3. We play away first and manage to contain them. Those Countries like Croatia etc, the fans are lunatics. Imagine the negativity towards them if they couldn't break down little old Ireland. They would almost be rioting. 

4. They would then travel to Dublin under MASSIVE pressure from spectators / media and would end up saying daft things that would motivate us even further. 

5. These are the games MON has shown he can win. No better man to set us up to stifle and beat the Croats. 

6. The least amount of bandwagoners will travel to this game.

7. I have never been - that interests me. 

8. We are due a scalp. We already have Italy & PS we don't want them. They will be at the World Cup.

1958 and it was Northern Ireland who knocked them out.  

In a friendly that doesn't matter a jot. 

Neither ourselves or that shower would be a pushover for Croatia. Croatia would know we/and them would make it as difficult as possible.

Well save your emergency jamrag supply until/if we actually draw them tomorrow

Not that I'd be happy if we got Croatia tomorrow. I just think I'd rather them to Italy.

Italy were unlucky to be in a group with Spain. That said, they drew at home to Macedonia last week. And they didnt look too great in the process, highlights on youtube.

I know we're no worldbeaters, but none of these seeds strike the absolute fear into me, in the way Germany, Spain, France, Belgium or Portugal would.

But I really want to avoid Italy and Croatia...

2) Switzerland 

Pros: again i think we'd stand a fairly decent chance of beating these but I rate them slightly higher than Denmark. No great shakes all things considered, a decent team but one we shouldn't fear. Lack any real 'world class' players like ourselves.

Cons: Won 9 games in their (admittedly piss poor outside of Portugal) group, are a bogey team of ours from the days of Hakan Yakin and the boys. Basel is also probably a sh*thole.

3) Italy 

Pros: We have a good enough record against them, easily the most glamorous fixture of the four and the memory of Lille is still fresh. Slight chance that their big names underperform in a playoff where we get in their faces. They're unlikely to hammer us which means we'd be well in the tie.

Cons: Massive gap between 2 and 3 in order of preference, we stand a good chance against the first two and a very slim chance against these two IMO. Need no introduction, almost impossible not to see them getting to a world cup and very possible the officials have that in the back of their mind. Chance they'll stick us a million miles down in Palermo and unwise to sort out going over until we know where we're playing. They'd almost certainly get the job done against us when they need to.

4) Croatia - the nightmare scenario for me. 

Pros: haven't been in good form recently, fairly credible reports of infighting in the camp, no major worries about getting tickets, apart from the hassle of getting there it'd probably be my favourite potential destination of the four.

Cons: Zagreb difficult to get to, we'll bring the least fans here, doesn't have the glamour factor of Italy, just a fear factor. That midfield is terrifying, Mandzukic did a number on us in 2012, they're light years ahead of us technically and won't be bothered by mixing it with us physically. Would almost certainly handle us comfortably over two legs and a very real chance we'd be out after the first leg.

obviously just the opinion of one journalist from each of the seeded countries but still insightful

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/1016/912726-irelands-world-cup-opposition-view/" rel="nofollow - https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/1016/912726-irelands-world-cup-opposition-view/

\

i want the swiss  since they dont feel  the national team shirt...they are a bunch of plastic cheese eaters stranded in La  Confederation Helvetique...,,,sh*tty team

the Denmark not a great team....but they have a few good talented players but they are mind fragile...plus we always get them bar  1985

then croatia .. and italy at the same level....media pressure plus sponsorship for Italy...but they have an average team bar ...Buffon who is a  39/ years old GK......CROATIA...had a bad qualififers they got defeated by iceland ...and are not performing well but they have  modric  rakitic and the big fellow from juventus up front

 

I'd prefer the Danes.

Depends where you are located. 

 

 but it is 14.00 CET.

 

Fair play to the Swiss

at least they know an irish player

 

What sort of a journalist can't name a single player from a national team that was at the last two Euro Championships?

 

 

2.) Switzerland. I think that group they were in has given them the reputation as a team who will steam roll you. Germany, they are not. That group was muck. Portugal were tearing their defence apart with ease the other night. 

I still think we could get past any of these things, but the idea of Italy not qualifying for a World Cup is just hard to get past. If they need to get the result, I feel they will.

No draw will be kind regardless, but Denmark would be the team I feel we would have the best chance against. 

Looking for the same answer. For all the bullsh*t "everything you need to know about the play off draw" articles floating about not one says it.

https://www.youtube.com/fifatv

Ha not at all... Like many just want to book asap after the opponents announced.

Not to worry looks like 4 nights in god knows where to cover all possiblities it is.

That said, any of the coaches/teams who get us will find it hard to ignore some of our results over the last couple of years. And what makes it more difficult for other teams is that it's hard to pin point the reason  for our wins. We have no lethal goal scorer, no world class midfielder. 

If we get out battled or out spirited, that's when we're fooked, but from an opposition view point, you can't suddenly muster up those qualities over night.

 

 

 

The Swiss beat Portugal in their qualifying group which makes me wary of them to an extent. But imagine we were seeds and looked at the results of an unseeded team we could play. Beat Wales and Austria away this campaign(decent quality sides), beat Italy last year at the euros, drew with Sweden, beat Bosnia in our last play off and obviously the big win vs Germany. We would absolutely be looking to avoid a team like that. Ok our home record hasn't been great but still we have some quality results there to show.

How much messing will go on before they actually draw the teams out? 30/40 minutes I suppose?

you need to see someone about your anger issues. 

it's not your fault

 

Is this on a tv channel today? SSNews or Eurosport.

Most people know

The draw is about 13:30 today, starts at 13:00 and after the lick arsing etc probably about 13:30

Dates will be announced approx 30 mins later.

Croatia have confirmed Zagreb yesterday

Denmark always play in Copenhagen

Switzerland play virtually all their big games in Basle

The stadium must be confirmed by Saturday.

The big question is whether to jump in two footed and book straight away or hold out the half hour for certainty!

This draw is vital. 

A bad draw and we're out before a ball is kicked in all honesty