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Post by superunknown on Nov 22, 2021 17:00:46 GMT
Thought I'd start a thread as the draw is rapidly approaching this Friday (26th) at 4pm.
As you're all probably aware we're seeded which means we are at home and we avoid the big hitters like Italy and Portugal in the semi but we'll know on Friday too who we'll play in the final should we get through. We'll also know whether it is home or away.
The teams we can potentially draw on Friday for a home time in Cardiff on 24th March are:
Turkey
Poland
North Macedonia
Ukraine
Austria
Czech Republic
Some obvious ones we'd like to avoid and a couple that could give us a great chance, as we know though, no easy games when it comes to Wales.
And if you were wondering, the other seeded teams are:
Portugal
Scotland
Italy
Russia
Sweden
And the finals will all take place on 29th March.
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Post by jimexotic on Nov 22, 2021 17:13:15 GMT
I think I'm right in thinking that we can't draw the Czechs because they were in our qualifying group.
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Post by iot on Nov 22, 2021 17:28:19 GMT
I think I'm right in thinking that we can't draw the Czechs because they were in our qualifying group. Nope, there's no such rule. |
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Post by jimexotic on Nov 22, 2021 17:36:36 GMT
I'd heard that load but never seen it confirmed, thanks for clearing that up for me. I'd take any of them at home as long as we have a fit and solid squad.
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Post by morg on Nov 22, 2021 17:43:42 GMT
I'd heard that load but never seen it confirmed, thanks for clearing that up for me. I'd take any of them at home as long as we have a fit and solid squad. Except we presumably don't want Ukraine in the semi, as that means we have more chance of getting Italy or Portugal in the final! |
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Post by dlwilliams on Nov 22, 2021 18:45:28 GMT
Obviously, looking at the rankings, you'd want North Macedonia, but it most likely won't be. Knowing our luck, it'll probably be the Czechs again, or Turkey.
Always interesting looking at a list of potential sides we could face in a competition and check when we last played them. We've played four of them in the last four or five years, but we haven't faced North Macedonia for eight years, and not played Poland since 2009.
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Post by underwood on Nov 22, 2021 18:55:06 GMT
We went through a period of regularly playing Poland - and regularly losing to them - about 15 years ago.
We certainly haven’t played them during what I consider to be our more competitive period & in that time we have become a lot more successful against the former Eastern Bloc nations on the whole.
Although I would be wary of Lewandowski, you would think that they would be equally as wary of facing the likes of Bale & Ramsey.
Going on the summer’s performances, surely it is Turkey who are there for the taking?
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Post by fiveattheback on Nov 22, 2021 19:33:34 GMT
I'd rather not face Poland or Ukraine. I'd back us against the other unseeded sides
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Post by superunknown on Nov 22, 2021 19:46:59 GMT
Obviously, looking at the rankings, you'd want North Macedonia, but it most likely won't be. Knowing our luck, it'll probably be the Czechs again, or Turkey. Always interesting looking at a list of potential sides we could face in a competition and check when we last played them. We've played four of them in the last four or five years, but we haven't faced North Macedonia for eight years, and not played Poland since 2009. When you said we’d faced 4 of them in the last 5 years I assumed North Macedonia were in there as it doesn’t feel that long ago but 8 years ago, where does the time go! |
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Post by jimexotic on Nov 22, 2021 19:48:20 GMT
If I look at that list for too long I start imagining things and it's never positive.
North Macedonia at home and Roberts tries to kick it off of one of theirs and out of play but the ball spins down the line and stays in long enough for them to cut inside, drill in a low cross which cannons off the pulled out of position Mepham and into the net. 13 minutes played and 77 minutes plus injury time of us huffing and puffing but NM just getting all the men behind the ball and even Bale resorting to doing stupid things and Allen missing an absolute sitter in the dying seconds, Earnshaw at Wembley style.
I just know we, like anyone, have something utterly stupid in us. I just want us to absolutely batter someone and make a massive statement, at this level we've got the players to do that. Just as long as Moore doesn't get booked!
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Post by fiveattheback on Nov 22, 2021 19:51:03 GMT
Obviously, looking at the rankings, you'd want North Macedonia, but it most likely won't be. Knowing our luck, it'll probably be the Czechs again, or Turkey. Always interesting looking at a list of potential sides we could face in a competition and check when we last played them. We've played four of them in the last four or five years, but we haven't faced North Macedonia for eight years, and not played Poland since 2009. When you said we’d faced 4 of them in the last 5 years I assumed North Macedonia were in there as it doesn’t feel that long ago but 8 years ago, where does the time go! A home win through a Simon Church goal as I recall - a rare treat! They weren't North Macedonia then though were they? |
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Post by superunknown on Nov 22, 2021 20:01:45 GMT
When you said we’d faced 4 of them in the last 5 years I assumed North Macedonia were in there as it doesn’t feel that long ago but 8 years ago, where does the time go! A home win through a Simon Church goal as I recall - a rare treat! They weren't North Macedonia then though were they? They weren’t no, would have been FYR Macedonia! |
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Post by dlwilliams on Nov 22, 2021 20:57:56 GMT
We went through a period of regularly playing Poland - and regularly losing to them - about 15 years ago. We certainly haven’t played them during what I consider to be our more competitive period & in that time we have become a lot more successful against the former Eastern Bloc nations on the whole. Although I would be wary of Lewandowski, you would think that they would be equally as wary of facing the likes of Bale & Ramsey. Going on the summer’s performances, surely it is Turkey who are there for the taking? Yeah, we played them in back-to-back WC campaigns and then in that strange friendly in Portugal, when Bellamy had that altercation with a fan or something or other. They're the second-highest-ranked side among the unseeded teams. The only matches they lost in their group were narrowly away to England and then home to Hungary in the last game (which I think helped a lot in terms of us being seeded). Would be interesting to know what happened in that last game, seems a curious result. Did they just rest a few players? I know Lewandowski wasn't even on the bench but I saw a clip of him applauding on the side when they scored. As for their threat, I suppose you're right on the whole. Apart from Lewandowski, nobody really stands out. Milik is a decent player, but no one else really scares you. Famous last words! |
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Post by saturn9 on Nov 23, 2021 9:22:12 GMT
IF we draw the Poles. I have no doubt it goes into ET and then you all know what comes next😟
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Post by vvm on Nov 23, 2021 10:13:55 GMT
I think in terms of what we should hope for, just go off the rankings.
Italy 6
Portugal 8
Sweden 18
Wales 19
Ukraine 25
Poland 27
Austria 30
Czech Republic 31
Russia 34
Turkey 37
Scotland 38
North Macedonia 67
Home semi final against North Macedonia and then play the winners of Scotland vs Turkey at home. Or Russia vs Turkey if you don't fancy the whole home nation playoff.
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Post by allezlesrouges on Nov 23, 2021 23:46:21 GMT
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Post by saints19 on Nov 24, 2021 19:27:53 GMT
I think in terms of what we should hope for, just go off the rankings. Italy 6 Portugal 8 Sweden 18 Wales 19 Ukraine 25 Poland 27 Austria 30 Czech Republic 31 Russia 34 Turkey 37 Scotland 38 North Macedonia 67 Home semi final against North Macedonia and then play the winners of Scotland vs Turkey at home. Or Russia vs Turkey if you don't fancy the whole home nation playoff. To be honest that sounds like a dream draw, bet we end up with Ukraine and then Italy v Poland lol |
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Post by saturn9 on Nov 24, 2021 19:51:44 GMT
I think in terms of what we should hope for, just go off the rankings. Italy 6 Portugal 8 Sweden 18 Wales 19 Ukraine 25 Poland 27 Austria 30 Czech Republic 31 Russia 34 Turkey 37 Scotland 38 North Macedonia 67 Home semi final against North Macedonia and then play the winners of Scotland vs Turkey at home. Or Russia vs Turkey if you don't fancy the whole home nation playoff. To be honest that sounds like a dream draw, bet we end up with Ukraine and then Italy v Poland lol Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, to see the Poles knock out Italy if they were drawn together. |
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Post by welshrover on Nov 24, 2021 20:36:39 GMT
What time is the draw just out of interest?
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Post by fiveattheback on Nov 24, 2021 20:53:44 GMT
What time is the draw just out of interest? 4pm I think, at least that's what Twitter says But in true UEFA fashion I imagine it'll start at 4pm but the balls won't be drawn until around 7, need to let them warm up |
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Post by gwernybwch on Nov 24, 2021 22:19:24 GMT
Anybody know if the draw is going to be live on the radio or tv (i assume that it will be on uefa website)?
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Post by mrpicton79 on Nov 24, 2021 22:40:10 GMT
I think in terms of what we should hope for, just go off the rankings. Italy 6 Portugal 8 Sweden 18 Wales 19 Ukraine 25 Poland 27 Austria 30 Czech Republic 31 Russia 34 Turkey 37 Scotland 38 North Macedonia 67 Home semi final against North Macedonia and then play the winners of Scotland vs Turkey at home. Or Russia vs Turkey if you don't fancy the whole home nation playoff. To be honest that sounds like a dream draw, bet we end up with Ukraine and then Italy v Poland lol I think deep down we all know that's exactly what's going to happen. |
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Post by jimbo82 on Nov 25, 2021 9:52:29 GMT
Anybody know if the draw is going to be live on the radio or tv (i assume that it will be on uefa website)? BBC Red button from 4pm apparently |
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Post by underwood on Nov 25, 2021 10:21:32 GMT
So who do FIFA want at the Finals then? Italy & Portugal it goes without saying.
After that I would say Russia. Huge TV & Advertising audience for a start & the previous Host Nation. Who knows how much Russian money is swilling around the bank accounts of FIFA officials. The country’s athletes, tennis players, footballers - you name it - they’ve been cheating for years, so they are perfect bedfellows for the corrupt governing body of football.
Don’t be surprised if after the draw tomorrow, it is possible for all three of the above nations to all qualify.
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Post by welshrover on Nov 25, 2021 11:18:59 GMT
So who do FIFA want at the Finals then? Italy & Portugal it goes without saying. After that I would say Russia. Huge TV & Advertising audience for a start & the previous Host Nation. Who knows how much Russian money is swilling around the bank accounts of FIFA officials. The country’s athletes, tennis players, footballers - you name it - they’ve been cheating for years, so they are perfect bedfellows for the corrupt governing body of football. Don’t be surprised if after the draw tomorrow, it is possible for all three of the above nations to all qualify. I don't think it would come as a surprise to anyone. It's all about TV audiences and marketing. Unfortunately as a nation of three million we are not a big draw with the exception of Gareth who to be honest probably doesn't excite the worldwide TV viewers as much these days as previously. |
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Post by insertname on Nov 25, 2021 13:23:19 GMT
Yep, hard to see beyond Italy, Portugal and Russia being the Fifa approved candidates for the play off berths
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Post by yanto on Nov 25, 2021 13:25:11 GMT
i am fairly comfortable with whoever we get but that we have to play someone better or much better 4 days later is what bothers me (unless its Scotland lol). The last 2 games were the exception i think in terms of back to back good performances, and given the quality and stakes I am realistic about our chances. Apologies in advance.
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Post by iot on Nov 25, 2021 14:11:53 GMT
I was too young to understand what was going on for the 04 playoffs, but I think people's paranoia about FIFA stitching us up in these playoffs is, well, just that - paranoia. I've just had a look at how the playoffs were organised in the last world cup here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)The only big team in it were Italy and they got the hardest team they could (Sweden as opposed to the two Irelands or Greece) and eventually lost. It seems to have been a transparent process with no underhanded tactics - barring potentially seeding the playoffs which I guess you could argue, but that was known from the start and the same principle applies this time. It feels a bit like some are trying to get their excuses in early. The draw last time seems to have been fair - otherwise Italy wouldn't have got the hardest team, so I'm expecting the same this time. |
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Post by insertname on Nov 25, 2021 14:39:27 GMT
I was too young to understand what was going on for the 04 playoffs, but I think people's paranoia about FIFA stitching us up in these playoffs is, well, just that - paranoia. I've just had a look at how the playoffs were organised in the last world cup here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)The only big team in it were Italy and they got the hardest team they could (Sweden as opposed to the two Irelands or Greece) and eventually lost. It seems to have been a transparent process with no underhanded tactics - barring potentially seeding the playoffs which I guess you could argue, but that was known from the start and the same principle applies this time. It feels a bit like some are trying to get their excuses in early. The draw last time seems to have been fair - otherwise Italy wouldn't have got the hardest team, so I'm expecting the same this time. That’s as maybe, but take a look at the 04 draw, absolutely scandalous that was for what was billed as an unseeded draw so imo, they have previous form for draws that appear on the surface at least, to have been squint. And who’s to say that the absence of Italy wasn’t noted last time and a “must do better” handed down to UEFA? Okay, so that comment was tongue in cheek, but that 04 draw has set a precedent for me, that if they really want to they can keep teams apart. So I’ll be very, very pleasantly surprised if Portugal and Italy are drawn in the same track but I don’t think any of us would be putting serious money on it. |
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Post by derynglas on Nov 25, 2021 14:47:28 GMT
Anybody know if the draw is going to be live on the radio or tv (i assume that it will be on uefa website)? BBC Red button from 4pm apparently Just seen that Sgorio are going to be covering the draw live online on their usual channels on you-tube and facebook. |
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