Quote:
Originally Posted by Fish
I shan't be at the match. Costs a little too much to travel from here to [place that isn't here]. Looking forward to it though. How similar is Northern Ireland to England? Obviously less talented, but in terms of organization, player type, and play style.
Slovenia worries me a little bit. I think we're a more talented team, but they play a lot like Slovakia, whom we played a friendly with and lost 0-1. The USA has an issue with that disciplined defending play style. We don't have the prowess to reliably break down defenses like that. However, and no disrespect to Slovenia as winning a playoff v Russia is no small feat, the US should not lose and hopefully not draw that match, but they will give us a fight.
I think those 2 advanced due to poor opponents as much as anything. The Czech Republic and Poland severely underperformed, and Russia dominated the first leg of the playoff against Slovenia until they gave up that late goal, and apparently some Russian players partied a little too hard before the 2nd leg, and if anybody watched that game Russia played horribly. I think they had 2 players sent off.
In spite of them qualifying ahead of these teams, I'd still rather have Slovenia in my group than Russia or Czech Republic. They're simply less dangerous.
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Most of the home teams (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) play with a similar British style allthough England (obviously) have the biggest pool of players to choose from.
The current Northern Ireland team is made up mainly of players who are from the lower divisions of the English or Scottish leagues allthough we have a few who play in the English premiership. The nearest thing we have to a 'star' is David Healy (who can't keep his place in the Sunderland first team at the moment). Considering it all we do quite well and but for a poor home result against Slovakia had still a chance to qualify with just a few games to go.
Both the Czech Republic and Poland were poor during the qualifying games but i didn't see anything to worry about with Slovakia and Slovenia. I think they both qualified due mainly to other teams poor form rather than their talents.
Still believe the Serbs will the team to watch out for.