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Post by erasedcitizen on Dec 8, 2020 0:21:20 GMT
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but as Estonia and Belarus are both classed as 'winter countries' by UEFA, you can expect all of their home matches to be scheduled across the 5 matchdays in September & October.
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Post by marsvolta on Dec 8, 2020 7:11:42 GMT
Kieffer will suprise the Belgium defence. With his lack of goal celebration? As long as he scores I don’t care if he celebrates or not |
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Post by gwernybwch on Dec 8, 2020 8:16:12 GMT
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Post by erasedcitizen on Dec 8, 2020 8:21:11 GMT
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but as Estonia and Belarus are both classed as 'winter countries' by UEFA, you can expect all of their home matches to be scheduled across the 5 matchdays in September & October. What about the 3 matchdays in March? March is classed as a winter month. Average temp in Tallinn is -1 degrees celsius and 0 in Minsk. I suppose they might schedule them to play each other in those months to keep the home/away schedule fair. With us and Belgium and Belarus and Estonia bring fairly close geographically i could see a fair few double headers happening across the board. An Estonia/Belarus double header would be tasty. |
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Post by erasedcitizen on Dec 8, 2020 8:23:22 GMT
What I find even crazier is that Kazakhstan isn't included in the winter countries. Its capital Nur-Sultan is -7.1 Degrees Celsius in March and -5.4 in November!
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Post by sleepy on Dec 8, 2020 9:48:50 GMT
Anyone know what time the fixtures are out?
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Post by superunknown on Dec 8, 2020 9:59:21 GMT
Anyone know what time the fixtures are out? Around 6pm mate. |
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Post by squatter1 on Dec 8, 2020 10:52:16 GMT
Can’t believe how blasé folks on here talking about being happy with our draw.
We’ve literally drawn the No1 team in the tournament. Number 1. Highest rated. That’s the worst possible draw we could have had.
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Post by superunknown on Dec 8, 2020 11:04:09 GMT
Can’t believe how blasé folks on here talking about being happy with our draw. We’ve literally drawn the No1 team in the tournament. Number 1. Highest rated. That’s the worst possible draw we could have had. There was an 80% chance we'd draw a team who we most likely would fail to beat to the top spot. While Belgium are a great team, so are France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Germany and England. Some might be slightly easier than others there but realistically we probably wouldn't top groups barring a (let's face it) huge upset. We had a slim chance of drawing the Danes or Croats but we didn't, the odds were against us, what can you do. Three beatable teams below us as well. Belarus and Estonia we should really be looking at 12 points. The Czechs are beatable and not the team they were, could have had it easier from Pot 3 but could also have had Russia or Norway. A strong second place finish could set us up well for a potential play off and as others have said we're guaranteed an unseeded spot anyway so it's a free hit at a team who we've upset before. |
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Post by holmesdaleultra on Dec 8, 2020 11:09:22 GMT
Can’t believe how blasé folks on here talking about being happy with our draw. We’ve literally drawn the No1 team in the tournament. Number 1. Highest rated. That’s the worst possible draw we could have had. Rather play Belgium than the majority of the top seeded teams. Rankings mean nothing its all about 90 minutes on the pitch. |
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Post by erasedcitizen on Dec 8, 2020 11:15:54 GMT
Can’t believe how blasé folks on here talking about being happy with our draw. We’ve literally drawn the No1 team in the tournament. Number 1. Highest rated. That’s the worst possible draw we could have had. It's more or less because we are unbeaten in the last 4 against Belgium, whereas we have lost to Netherlands, France, Portugal, Spain and England in the last 15 years without managing to even draw against any. I'm not sure it's worth going back further than that. That leaves Italy who haven't lost a game since September 2018 (away to Portugal), Germany (drew against them in '07), Denmark and Croatia. Of all of the teams in that pot I would assume we would have a slim chance against Denmark and Croatia and the others would storm the group. We're far from the strongest side in pot 2 despite what the world rankings tell you so no matter who we drew from pot 1 we were always going to have an incredibly difficult time. At least Belgium are a side we have beaten in the last few years which is more than can be said about our records with other teams in that top pot, so even though they are an improved side since then there will still be that psychological effect on them that we are their main bogey team. Beyond that, the Czechs are a decent side but Norway were the one bogey team in that pot who I think we would certainly have struggled against. Czech Republic are no better than us. Belarus and Estonia are very good draws from pots 4 and 5 in my view as those are games that we should be winning but also have the potential to trip the Czechs up. What I find interesting about our group is that no matter which of us or the Czechs finishes 2nd, we will both get a playoff. 2nd is obviously favourable though as it gives us a seeding in the play-offs. Some of us also care about how good of an experience the trips will be as well, and when Brussels is the worst of the bunch you know you are in for a good time. As someone who goes away regularly with Wales, I am ecstatic with the draw. I just hope we get to go. |
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Post by rico on Dec 8, 2020 11:17:12 GMT
Happy with the draw because we know we can overcome Belgium, it's familiar, of course a lot has changed - but mentally based on most recent results I feel we have the upper hand. Belgium are usually prolific* but similar to our neighbours seem to have issues when the pressure is on.
I think the confidence amongst some fans is OTT but I'm happier playing them than a lot of other pot A teams despite their ranking and form.
* in qualifiers
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Post by quetzal on Dec 8, 2020 11:55:41 GMT
Can’t believe how blasé folks on here talking about being happy with our draw. We’ve literally drawn the No1 team in the tournament. Number 1. Highest rated. That’s the worst possible draw we could have had. Even if we drew Denmark or Croatia we’d still be the underdog. We’re just trying to have a bit of belief, Glass half full and all that. |
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Post by georgetm1 on Dec 8, 2020 13:27:47 GMT
Me and my mate were on the phone last night really excited about the away trips we were going to do until we remembered about fucking covid. I can't see any March games being available to away fans at all. Fingers crossed by the end of the year it will be fine but then again that could be on the proviso that you are vaccinated first and I have the feeling that a lot of us won't be top of the list.
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Post by robwrecsam on Dec 8, 2020 14:12:28 GMT
Can’t believe how blasé folks on here talking about being happy with our draw. We’ve literally drawn the No1 team in the tournament. Number 1. Highest rated. That’s the worst possible draw we could have had. We all know the world rankings are a good indication of which teams are decent but not 100% accurate. I’d much rather play Belgium than France, Spain, Germany or England. Saw some early odds for the World Cup also with Belgium about 8th favourite behind 5 European teams. It’ll be hard but those other teams will have been wanting to avoid us in pot 2 I’d imagine |
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Post by jackanapes on Dec 8, 2020 14:44:37 GMT
I'm very happy with the draw. There are very few groups where I'd swap places with the second ranked team.
Belgium have a better pool of players and are much stringer than us but they are certainly beatable. More importantly we have history with them - we've competed with and beaten them in the 90s and in recent years. That is priceless. Our boys and our fans will fancy us in these ties and that could give us an edge. Belgium will also have a little bit of fear as we are certainly one of their bogey teams. I've heard it said that we are called the 'black beast' in Belgium - an opponent who always gives them a hard time. There's also the story (probably apocryphal) of Hazard admitting to Ramsey after the Euros that they knew they'd lose to us in the quarters.
They could easily batter us - but I reckon we've got a better chance against them than any other top seed bar Denmark or possibly Croatia.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2020 15:41:11 GMT
Belgium could slam us. Toy with us.
We also know they are capable of shitting the bed and can be beaten.
They're more or less hazardless too.
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Post by allezlesrouges on Dec 8, 2020 16:49:38 GMT
Only group I'd have preferred would have been Group F, but even then Scotland would probably be a tougher game than the Czechs & Denmark are still strong. I prefer our group to the Croatia group as playing Russia & Slovenia is very hazardous. I'd be interested to hear any arguments that our group is anything other than the 2nd best group to be drawn into
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Post by sleepy on Dec 8, 2020 17:04:10 GMT
Only group I'd have preferred would have been Group F, but even then Scotland would probably be a tougher game than the Czechs & Denmark are still strong. I prefer our group to the Croatia group as playing Russia & Slovenia is very hazardous. I'd be interested to hear any arguments that our group is anything other than the 2nd best group to be drawn into I pretty much agree with this. I think we've done OK this with this draw. |
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Post by impeachabull on Dec 8, 2020 17:26:41 GMT
Not really a comment on our group which I think is pretty favourable, but I do wonder whether it's easier to qualify from a group with 4 stronger opponents or a group with 1 strong opponent and 2/3 weaker opponents.
I.e. in a Belgium/Wales/Norway/Bosnia*/Kosovo*, you'd expect everyone to drop a few points away from home, at least. (*I know those two can't meet but I've forgotten the pot 5 teams!)
In our group, it's hard to see Belgium not getting 12 points from Belarus/Estonia and probably another 4 points from Czechia.
That puts a lot of pressure on us to grind out the results, a couple of early home draws a la the last campaign and it's probably all over.
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Post by CrackityJones on Dec 8, 2020 18:15:55 GMT
Tough start
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Post by jbt95 on Dec 8, 2020 18:29:15 GMT
I think that is the worst case fixture list we could've got. |
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Post by conwy10 on Dec 8, 2020 18:31:41 GMT
I think it’s good to start off away to Belgium. Would hate to play them in the middle when they get a bit of steam. Hopefully a few retirees ahead of the campaign, maybe they decide they want to go in a different direction for the future and they aren’t firing on all cylinders.
Just realised it’s before the Euros 🙈 this year has thrown me right off
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Post by rioonamazy on Dec 8, 2020 18:33:38 GMT
Really can't get up for this......at the moment Wales are in a playoff position.....in 8 games time finish second to be in a playoff position....might as well save the players till playoffs
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Post by jbt95 on Dec 8, 2020 18:34:09 GMT
I think it’s good to start off away to Belgium. Would hate to play them in the middle when they get a bit of steam. Hopefully a few retirees ahead of the campaign, maybe they decide they want to go in a different direction for the future and they aren’t firing on all cylinders. Just realised it’s before the Euros 🙈 this year has thrown me right off Wednesday night away in Brussels is brutal. Then, typically, a friendly  Swansea v Cardiff is the weekend before, you watch sky have it on Sunday when this weekend it is Saturday. |
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Post by walesgolfmadrid on Dec 8, 2020 18:39:37 GMT
Surely you do want Belgium away first, when there's less likely to be a crowd? By the time we play them at home last game, hopefully it'll be a full house.
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Post by jbt95 on Dec 8, 2020 18:41:41 GMT
Surely you do want Belgium away first, when there's less likely to be a crowd? By the time we play them at home last game, hopefully it'll be a full house. It could be over though by the time we play them at home. If we lose in Belgium we ain't coming first, no chance. Even a 1-0 win for them would need us to beat them by 2 goals more than likely, and that's if we match their GD for the other 6 games, assuming we don't drop anymore points than them. If we draw, Belgium might only need a point in Cardiff to qualify automatically, which they'd get if that is all that is stopping them. It's huge pressure on us to turn up and win now, after not playing for four months and having limited prep time. |
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Post by caeboy on Dec 8, 2020 19:00:01 GMT
Anyone seen Belgium's fixtures?
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Post by jbt95 on Dec 8, 2020 19:08:08 GMT
Anyone seen Belgium's fixtures? They have Czech Republic away straight after us. |
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Post by melynwy on Dec 8, 2020 19:24:41 GMT
Belgium yet again it’s getting boring now Wales haven’t played Belgium since 2016. The next game will be in 2021. |
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