ForeverInLoveWithJus

Good Review of Irelands match:

Ireland slunk off the pitch in Tel Aviv last night. They had earned the point that was their objective, but they looked like they had lost the game. In many ways, they had.

Three points from the three away games keeps everything on target, but Ireland had the chance to blow the group wide open, to send a message to their rivals that they were the alpha males in the group. They could have done something outside the details of the long-term plan. Sometimes it is rewarding to go off-message.

After controlling the pace of the game and scoring a critical opening goal, flaws in the team and in manager Brian Kerr brought an unnecessary retreat and an inevitable Israeli equaliser.

That the Israeli substitute Abas Suan scored the goal just as the fourth official was holding up the injury-time board does not make Ireland unlucky. As the Israeli coach Avraham Grant brought on the attackers he had left out of the original side (effectively replacing the bad players he had initially selected) Ireland fell back on depressing, unappealing tactics.

Matt Holland made his debut for Ireland when sent on to secure a point on Skopje against Macedonia. Instead Ireland conceded with twelve seconds to go and missed out on a place in the European Championships. Last night, the consequences were not so grave, Ireland still have the power of qualification within their grasp, especially after the France-Switzerland stalemate, but Holland's introduction for Clinton Morrison at an identical moment to his debut was symptomatic of a coaching malaise that extends far beyond Brian Kerr. The game was calling out for Andy Reid, one of the best passers of a ball in the squad and a player who could have brought some order to a tired team, some flair and imagination to a group struggling to come up with ideas.

Instead Holland came on and Ireland retreated. It is not his fault, it is not his role to take the game to the opposition. We had seen the best of a Brian Kerr side in the first half, with inventive passing, tactical sophistication and superb performances from his three world-class players Damien Duff, Shay Given and Roy Keane. Robbie Keane was not far behind.

But in the second, Ireland removed all adventure from their play and at times began to resemble a side managed by Kerr's friend Gerard Houllier, when even set-pieces around the opponents' goal became merely an opportunity to relieve the pressure. Soon, we were in the arena of fatal circular logic: Ireland gave the ball away then Israel looked dangerous therefore they are a threat so Ireland retreated further and gave the ball away. We saw another Israel in the first twenty minutes, a side that were vulnerable and could have been killed off.

But there is something in the national psyche that prevents Irish football teams from winning away from home. It is nearly twenty years since Ireland won a game against significant opposition away from Lansdowne Road, but Ireland should not have allowed Israel such delusions of grandeur. Avraham Grant's side will travel to Dublin hopeful of taking a point as they did in Paris, they will be further encouraged by the yellow card picked up by Roy Keane last night for a foul on Yossi Benayoun which means he will miss that game.

He was not missing last night and when Kerr's side passed the ball, they were superb, performing as they did in Paris and exposing the Israelis as ordinary. But Ireland then defended as they did in Basle and, in front of a sell-out crowd, Israel grew in confidence.

Carr is suspended for the return game in June and it is just as well. His time is running out in an Irish jersey and Steve Finnan, selected at right midfield last night, is having an excellent season playing right-back for Liverpool.

If Carr was responsible for much defensive uncertainty in the first half, the mood grew in the second, soon enveloping most of the team. Kerr refuted all suggestions that his side was negative, pointing out the numbers that pressed forward minutes before Israel's equaliser but for most of the second half, Ireland lacked intent, no matter how many men got forward.

Even in the first half, when some of their passing movements were outstanding, there were moments when Ireland went backwards and brought on the pressure. Much of this was due to Carr's sloppiness but it was clear that the rewards were in attack against an Israeli side in awe of Duff and the two Keanes but confident of their chances against the back four.

For much of the night, they were denied by the excellence of Cunningham and O'Brien, as well as a world-class save from Given, but without courageous convictions, Ireland were always vulnerable, whether in injury-time or before. Kerr has the right to be upbeat as he was in the aftermath but his side have less room for manoeuvre and probably many more nervous moments if they are to fulfil the ambitions the manager has set and qualify for next summer's World Cup.

The hopes of the manager do not end there but if Ireland are to fulfil them, there will come a time for daring.

RoM

I read this article, it was translated from an Israeli newspaper

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Just to clarify this article came from the Irish Independent and was written by an Irish Journalist.

Teemu

Fantastic match indeed. 3 goals against Cech and Czechs without our only quality striker Forssell, very important midfieders Tainio and Vayrynen, and our number one goalie Antti Niemi was great achievement. But still... those goals Czechs scored.. our defence really sucked in all of those goals . Their last goal really pissed me off. Just 10 seconds before that damn goal our Kuqi had excellent chance to score winning goal but somehow Cech managed to save , and right after that Lokvenc scored.
Our situation looks bad right now but we still have tiny chance. But we need all our top players in those matches. We still don't have enough quality players in this country .

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Another result:

Brazil 1 Peru 0

PastyHusty

Wednesday 30th March
Group 1
Andorra .v. Czech Republic
Holland .v. Armenia
Macedonia .v. Romania

I can't see anything but 3 wins - Czech Republic, Holland & Romania.

Group 2
Georgia .v. Turkey
Greece .v. Albania
Ukraine .v. Denmark

Ukraine - Denmark is a huge match for Denmark at this stage. They will need to get at least a point to stay in touch with Ukraine, who are 5 points ahead. With Greece facing Albania at home - a match they should win - it'll be all the more important for Denmark to get something tommorow night.

Group 3
Estonia .v. Russia
Latvia .v. Luxembourg
Slovakia .v. Portugal

Slovakia - Portugal .. 2nd - 1st .. both on 13 points .. both haven't lost .. they've scored 37 goals between them .. but who will come out on top here!? My bet - draw.

Group 4
Israel .v. France
Switzerland .v. Cyprus

Switzerland have played a match less, so victory against Cyprus would move them level with the other 3 teams - realistically - challenging for qualification. Israel - France will no doubt be another draw!

Group 5
Moldova .v. Norway
Slovenia .v. Belarus

Wins for Slovenia and Norway would take them to within 2 points of Italy. All will have played 5 matches at that point!

Group 6
Austria .v. Wales
England .v. Azerbaijan
Poland .v. Northern Ireland

3 home wins.

Group 7
Bosnia H .v. Lithuania
San Marino .v. Belgium
Serbia & M .v. Spain

I love this group! Serbia are top (10 points), Spain are second and Lithuania are 3rd (both 8 points) Bosnia have drawn at home against the top 2.. so can they now do the same with Lithuania, or even go one better!? Serbia - Spain will no doubt be one of the most important matches in this group. Between them, they've conceded just 1 goal in 8 matches. In fact, Serbia are only one of 2 teams (the other being France) that haven't conceded a goal yet in this qualifying campaign! Will this change tommorow night!?

Group 8
Croatia .v. Malta
Hungary .v. Bulgaria

I expect Croatia to win by a few.. Hungary - Bulgaria should be an interesting match, but yet both will probably fall short of the top 2.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Group 1

Andorra 0-4 Czech Republic
Holland 2-0 Armenia RVN Scores!
Macedonia 1-2 Romania

Group 2

Ukraine 1-0 Denmark
Georgia 2-5 Turkey
Greece 2-0 Albania

Group 3

Estonia 1-1 Russia
Slovakia 1-1 Portugal
Latvia 4-0 Luxembourg

Group 4

Switzerland 1-0 Cyprus
Israel 1-1 France

Group 5

Moldova 0-0 Norway
Slovenia 1-1 Belarus

Group 6

Poland 1-0 N Ireland
England 2-0 Azerbaijan
Austria 1-0 Wales

Group 7

Bosnia 1-1 Lithuania
Serbia & Montenegro 0-0 Spain
San Marino 1-2 Belgium

Group 8

Croatia 3-0 Malta
Hungary 1-1 Bulgaria

DrTagnian

Another victory for the Dutchies, even though it wasn't conving. We played not good and with only Van Nistelrooy you can't expect it to get 5-0 or more. Van Basten should have come up with more strikers, but who am I ...

Czech Republic scored one goal more against Andorra than Holland did. It's obvious which two countries will battle for 1st place.

Good win for Turkey, this gives them chance to end 2nd, which means a possible WC play-off. Ukraine will probably end 1st ... honestly, Shevchenko is the only player I know from Ukraine.

Good week for France ... not! Two draws for France and 4 points for Switzerland. France (10 points) are still 1st, but Switzerland have 9 points and one game in hand. The French don't have it easy.

Poland came up with 8, England found 2 goals enough. Neil, that's not good.

Serbia & Montenegro ... how can that country be better than Spain? 'Cause even though it's a draw, Serbia have the advantage now.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

It was great to see RVN get a goal, first goal since November!

Hey you forgot about Ireland

ForeverInLoveWithJus

This just has to be a huge April Fools

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ls/4400147.stm