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Post by underwood on Nov 23, 2023 12:35:45 GMT
It’s certainly favourable. No travel is a big factor should we get through. However, winning away to Armenia & home to Turkey was an easier task in my view, so I am not getting too worked up. You're forgetting, in both of those games under this scenario they would have gone to extra time, so you're comparing oranges to apples Not really, I’m comparing Finland to Armenia & Turkey to Poland. Your greengrocer analogy doesn’t apply. |
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Post by ddirpytnop on Nov 23, 2023 12:37:01 GMT
No need to get ahead ourselves here. Let's not forget we've played sh*te in probably 80% of our games during the past year. Finland will be tough, and then we will probably be underdogs against Poland (I assume they'll beat Estonia). At home? I doubt it. Suspect the bookies would make us favourite for that one. On the basis of what I saw against us the Nations League games, their games in the world cup, and their results in the Euro qualifying campaign, there's not much quality in that Poland team, Lewandowski aside. Whilst, they beat us in the Nations League games, for different reasons, we fielded understrength sides in both and there was little to choose between the sides. |
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Post by saturn9 on Nov 23, 2023 12:40:29 GMT
Who runs things for the Finns now on the pitch, is there anybody similar to Litmanen in their squad? One of my favourite players from the mid 90's and that great young Ajax team.
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Post by winsumluzsum on Nov 23, 2023 12:40:44 GMT
The challenge of Finland compared to Armenia is probably similar, as is the challenge of Poland compared to Turkiye. Home advantage isn't insignificant though. We should beat Finland, and it's 50/50 with regards to Poland.
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Post by manulike on Nov 23, 2023 12:41:34 GMT
Yellow cards are all wiped at the end of the group matches, so barring sendings off, if we get to the final, we'll have no suspensions going into it. Looks like none of the teams in our path carry a suspension.
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Post by daearegwr on Nov 23, 2023 13:03:00 GMT
It's not going to matter because we're going to win against Finland but I assume if we lose the first game we'll have to play the loser of Estonia vs Poland on the Tuesday instead? Same scenario as we would have had for the World Cup play-off Yeah that would the the case, and no doubt the FAW will not refund the money! I expect at least a £5 increase on match by match tickets for two games, just hope they sell them in a double pack this time. Probably similar to the World Cup play off where we had to buy both. The priority that time was membership and the Belarus/Belgium double header and 2 per member. I think this time it'll be Membership and Campaign Ticket and potentially 1 per member - hopefully allowing people to renew the seats they had from the campaign. |
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Post by jono on Nov 23, 2023 13:06:16 GMT
Delighted we've avoided Ukraine and even more delighted a potential final would be in Cardiff. Finland Poland is more favourable than Austria Ukraine was so god willing, and the river don't rise there's every chance we'll pull this off with or without Page in charge.
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Post by bringbackelmo on Nov 23, 2023 13:27:22 GMT
I'd have preferred Iceland to Finland but won't complain, it's a great draw for us otherwise.
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Post by janglingjack on Nov 23, 2023 13:31:48 GMT
I am sure the Finns are confidant they can give us a more than a good test,obviously all the other teams thinking was avoid Ukraine and anything is possible
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Post by jbt95 on Nov 23, 2023 13:37:16 GMT
Yeah that would the the case, and no doubt the FAW will not refund the money! I expect at least a £5 increase on match by match tickets for two games, just hope they sell them in a double pack this time. Probably similar to the World Cup play off where we had to buy both. The priority that time was membership and the Belarus/Belgium double header and 2 per member. I think this time it'll be Membership and Campaign Ticket and potentially 1 per member - hopefully allowing people to renew the seats they had from the campaign. Yeah it should be 1 per member this time. Just let us renew our seats!! |
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Post by robin1864 on Nov 23, 2023 13:50:16 GMT
I can't see any way of getting past Poland. It should go without saying they've got well-established talent in all positions, regularly playing top-flight football in Europe's best leagues and have been unlucky in qualification. Anyone who thinks we're in with a reasonable chance against them with our half-fit squad needs to put the crackpipe down.
Roll on 2026.
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Post by jbt95 on Nov 23, 2023 13:51:38 GMT
I can't see any way of getting past Poland. It should go without saying they've got well-established talent in all positions, regularly playing top-flight football in Europe's best leagues and have been unlucky in qualification. Anyone who thinks we're in with a reasonable chance against them with our half-fit squad needs to put the crackpipe down. Roll on 2026. If it was away it would be very difficult. At home gives us a decent shout. |
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Post by robin1864 on Nov 23, 2023 14:08:03 GMT
I can't see any way of getting past Poland. It should go without saying they've got well-established talent in all positions, regularly playing top-flight football in Europe's best leagues and have been unlucky in qualification. Anyone who thinks we're in with a reasonable chance against them with our half-fit squad needs to put the crackpipe down. Roll on 2026. If it was away it would be very difficult. At home gives us a decent shout. Didn't we say that about Turkey? On top of that there is a huge Polish population within Wales, unless tickets are managed properly it could end up being a home away from home for them. |
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Post by superunknown on Nov 23, 2023 14:10:37 GMT
I can't see any way of getting past Poland. It should go without saying they've got well-established talent in all positions, regularly playing top-flight football in Europe's best leagues and have been unlucky in qualification. Anyone who thinks we're in with a reasonable chance against them with our half-fit squad needs to put the crackpipe down. Roll on 2026. For all their ‘established talent’ they still couldn’t take more than a point off Moldova. Not saying we were any better having done the same against Armenia but the gulf clearly isn’t as big as you think it is. Some Poland fans on twitter aren’t nearly as confident as you either. Well in with a chance if we get past Finland. |
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Post by jbt95 on Nov 23, 2023 14:14:21 GMT
If it was away it would be very difficult. At home gives us a decent shout. Didn't we say that about Turkey? On top of that there is a huge Polish population within Wales, unless tickets are managed properly it could end up being a home away from home for them. We drew with Turkey. Would be ET. I’m sure the FAW will learn lessons. I was expecting a lot of Turkish in the home end on Tuesday, as again a lot of Turkish in Wales & the UK in general - my barber is Turkish! I didn’t see any other than the official Turkish allocation in the Grandstand. |
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Post by toshfan on Nov 23, 2023 14:25:17 GMT
Just one question when was the last time put in 2 good performances in a row? Or are we going to put in one good performance and scrape through by the skin of our teeth? You could argue that the double header Korea then Croatia, though I accept that the former was a friendly. Or the previous play offs in that we were excellent against Austria and did enough against Ukraine (with some fortune including referee decisions that went in our favour). |
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Post by allezlesrouges on Nov 23, 2023 14:44:53 GMT
Who runs things for the Finns now on the pitch, is there anybody similar to Litmanen in their squad? One of my favourite players from the mid 90's and that great young Ajax team. In their most recent games they beat Northern Ireland 4-0 and San Marino 2-1, in both games their midfielders were; Kairinen (Sparta Prague) Schuller (Djurgarden) Kamara (Leeds) Jensen (Augsburg) Hakans (Valerenga) Taylor (Inter Miami) Lingman (HJK Helsinki) Lod (Minnesota) So it's fair to say they don't really have a Litmanen of any sort. Kamara the holding midfielder is a good player, but they don't have a creative midfielder like Ukraine (Zinchenko) or Poland (Zielinski) |
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Post by jbt95 on Nov 23, 2023 14:45:43 GMT
Only 119 days to wait! (17 weeks!)
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Post by superunknown on Nov 23, 2023 14:49:53 GMT
Only 119 days to wait! (17 weeks!) Nations League draw in Feb too, something to look forward to |
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Post by vvm on Nov 23, 2023 14:52:09 GMT
When does the nations league start?
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Post by allezlesrouges on Nov 23, 2023 14:59:10 GMT
Yellow cards are all wiped at the end of the group matches, so barring sendings off, if we get to the final, we'll have no suspensions going into it. Looks like none of the teams in our path carry a suspension.
No Kvaratshkelia ia a big blow for them. Crazy for them to risk him in a glorified friendly match before such an important game. Luxembourg might well get through that one now, and if they do the prospect of a home final for them to reach Germany is huge, give them a much higher chance than the bookies personally. They will be well up for it! |
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Post by daearegwr on Nov 23, 2023 15:02:37 GMT
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Post by jbt95 on Nov 23, 2023 15:13:57 GMT
Only 119 days to wait! (17 weeks!) Nations League draw in Feb too, something to look forward to Will be taking more notice of the EURO final tournament draw on 2nd December than had we got Ukraine and an away potential final! |
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Post by allezlesrouges on Nov 23, 2023 15:16:13 GMT
Nations League draw in Feb too, something to look forward to Will be taking more notice of the EURO final tournament draw on 2nd December than had we got Ukraine and an away potential final! Will we know which group we'll go into then I assume? |
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Post by jbt95 on Nov 23, 2023 15:20:16 GMT
Will be taking more notice of the EURO final tournament draw on 2nd December than had we got Ukraine and an away potential final! Will we know which group we'll go into then I assume? Yes. Let’s hope our play-off pathway winner doesn’t get England and Scotland. |
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Post by allezlesrouges on Nov 23, 2023 15:30:35 GMT
Cap update;
Ben Davies now 16 caps away from the centurion club with 84 caps
Ampadu now 1 away from 50 caps, he will get that if he plays Finland & I wonder if he'll be the youngest ever player to reach that figure?*
*Edit - I've answered by own question. Gunter has the record of youngest to reach 50 caps, he was 24 years, 2 months & 24 days when we drew with Belgium 1-1 away in 2013. Providing Ampadu plays in the March games he will become the new record holder, reaching 50 caps in 23 years, 6 months & 7 days
Dan James also just 1 away from 50 caps
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Post by morg on Nov 23, 2023 16:00:06 GMT
Mad to think that our place in the March 2024 play off was effectively sealed or at least enabled by our performance in a tournament ending in November 2020!
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Post by superunknown on Nov 23, 2023 16:12:09 GMT
Mad to think that our place in the March 2024 play off was effectively sealed or at least enabled by our performance in a tournament ending in November 2020! Just goes to show the importance of the Nations League and taking it seriously! |
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Post by winsumluzsum on Nov 23, 2023 16:50:48 GMT
With Glen Kamara, one of Finland's best players, playing for Leeds, training could get tasty!
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Post by fiveattheback on Nov 23, 2023 16:57:06 GMT
I can't see any way of getting past Poland. It should go without saying they've got well-established talent in all positions, regularly playing top-flight football in Europe's best leagues and have been unlucky in qualification. Anyone who thinks we're in with a reasonable chance against them with our half-fit squad needs to put the crackpipe down. Roll on 2026. Unlucky? They were the top seed and ended up missing out by 4 points having failed to beat Moldova. Not sure that's unlucky. |
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