Contrarian Posted January 7 Posted January 7 Draw 5 weeks tomorrow, less high profile than the last draw, but I'm guessing we won't have to wait practically the time equivalent of an entire football match before a ball gets drawn out, whilst a corrupt crook gives a made up peace prize to a warmonger. I'm guessing it will be not long after this that we get details of tickets going on sale for this year's home games, with a no doubt tempting offer for the 5 match package, he said tongue in cheek. We're top seeds in League B, personally I'm hoping for Bosnia, Slovenia and Kosovo. Quote
supersub Posted January 8 Posted January 8 Im hoping we dont get Ukraine, Rep Ireland and N Ireland - seen enough of Ukraine and hate the way both Irish teams play when facing us. Wouldnt mind Austria/Switzerland, Romania and Sweden although would be perhaps the toughest of groups. Quote
Grim Jim Posted January 8 Posted January 8 (edited) For places we've not played in a while... B&H, Romania, Kosovo. Toughest for us? - Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden. Easiest? - you're having a laugh. Edited January 8 by Grim Jim OK, we've not played IN Switzerland for a while either. Quote
Squirrelhumper Posted January 8 Posted January 8 Unless it's an absolutely belting trip, i think i'll be giving these away games a miss and let my bank balance breath! Quote
wanderer Posted January 8 Posted January 8 With the September/Oct international window combined into one, probably will mean having to choose which away games if we get a home-away-home-away type scenario. Quote
bdgsct Posted January 8 Posted January 8 (edited) 1 hour ago, Fin4ever said: So what does this nation's league stuff actually do if we don't need it for a play off spot (since we are hosts) I think, we might need it for a play-off if we failed to finish top 2 in our group and Wales and Ireland also failed to do the same and they overtake us in the rankings. Highly unlikely that none of us will finish outside top 2 and even more unlikely that Ireland could overtake us, particularly if they don't make the world cup. It's going to make for 2 years of pretty meaningless games as far as I can see. Edited January 8 by bdgsct Quote
Grim Jim Posted January 8 Posted January 8 4 hours ago, Fin4ever said: Ireland ain't tough. We're probably a little better than them. I think your pot 3 alternatives are Slovenia, Georgia or Romania. Take your pick of the toughest. I'm still annoyed about our shite game in Dublin. Quote
ceudmilefailte Posted January 8 Posted January 8 10 minutes ago, bdgsct said: I think, we might need it for a play-off if we failed to finish top 2 in our group and Wales and Ireland also failed to do the same and they overtake us in the rankings. Highly unlikely that none of us will finish outside top 2 and even more unlikely that Ireland could overtake us, particularly if they don't make the world cup. It's going to make for 2 years of pretty meaningless games as far as I can see. Not as meaningless as you might think. I would think that most opponents would treat it very seriously. If we believe we have qualified via normal route it gives us a chance to try things against competitive opponents. Also the players will want a seat at the top table again even if some of our supporters don’t Quote
Silversand Posted January 8 Posted January 8 If it's similar to the last Nations League qualifiers in 2024, it will be a good opportunity for low pointers to attend away games, & climb up the points table. In 2024 most folk, understandably concentrated on Germany, meaning that Portugal, Poland & Croatia away all went down to zero points. Allowed me & grandson to attend Portugal & Poland away, and ultimately climb up to the dizzy heights of upper 20s points. Quote
Silversand Posted January 8 Posted January 8 17 minutes ago, Fin4ever said: Why would you pay for some meaningless games? We sold our 2,400 allocation to the Cryuff Arena, "meaningless friendly" against the Netherlands, March 2024. Not sure what your point is? Quote
bdgsct Posted January 8 Posted January 8 22 minutes ago, Fin4ever said: Guess we still have promotion and relegation stuff to sort out in the nations league too. Correct me if i'm wrong, but if we get relegated does it make it easier to get a play off spot next time around by winning the lower group?? They seem to tweak the rules each time. There are certainly teams that have benefitted from being in League C of Nations League to help them into WC26 playoffs. I suppose if we look beyond the next euros (which we will surely qualify for) we want to have as many ranking points as possible to attempt to get into pot 1 or pot 2 for the WC30 qualifiers - that would give us an easier route to the finals. Those Tier 3 teams whilst having an easy route in, have an away tie against the top ranked play-off participants which is s tough ask. We are currently ranked 18th and it would be some achievement and a big prize to get inside the top 12. Being in League B NL is probably gives us the best chance of accumulating ranking points and overtaking the teams ahead of us. We will be in Pot 2 for the Euros qualifying. Quote
AlfieMoon Posted January 8 Posted January 8 22 minutes ago, Fin4ever said: hmm ok vastly complicated but a lot better than meaningless friendlies. If we chuck our group we could hopefully win group C and then have a play off in the bag for WC. Just a thought, probably better to try and get seeding high as possible and qualify the normal way. Yeah, it is complicated but I think there’s a cycle that would be to our benefit and we’ve kinda fallen out of that with the recent relegation. I think for us to get on track, we’d want to stay in B at the end of this campaign (whilst picking up as many points as possible for ranking, but not enough to win group). Then next NL campaign (again in Group b ) we would want to win the group and secure WC playoff fall-back. All while boosting ranking. Then for the one after that (in Group A) it would be fine to get relegated again - with theory being that play off not so necessary as Euros easier to qualify for. Maybe. Quote
mccaughey85 Posted January 9 Posted January 9 1 hour ago, supersub said: Could end up with a tough group if we get Switzerland, Georgia and Sweden. Quote
dan cake Posted January 9 Posted January 9 (edited) Can’t get Israel which is a blessing given the shitshow that would surround it Edited January 9 by dan cake Quote
mccaughey85 Posted January 9 Posted January 9 19 minutes ago, dan cake said: Can’t get Israel which is a blessing given the shitshow that would surround it Sick of playing them as well. Hopefully it's another 3 or 4 years at least before we have to play them again. Quote
supersub Posted January 9 Posted January 9 4 hours ago, dan cake said: Can’t get Israel which is a blessing given the shitshow that would surround it 100% agree Quote
Squirrelhumper Posted January 9 Posted January 9 5 hours ago, dan cake said: Can’t get Israel which is a blessing given the shitshow that would surround it Good. Sick of the sight of the cunts Quote
DesiScotsman Posted January 9 Posted January 9 14 hours ago, supersub said: How are Switzerland, Austria & Ukraine in pot 2 when they are a higher ranked nation than all 4 teams in pot 1? Unless is it determined by another metric? Quote
stocky Posted January 9 Posted January 9 20 minutes ago, DesiScotsman said: How are Switzerland, Austria & Ukraine in pot 2 when they are a higher ranked nation than all 4 teams in pot 1? Unless is it determined by another metric? I presume They got relegated last year, same as we did. Other teams got promoted, lower ranking. Quote
Caledonian Craig Posted January 9 Posted January 9 21 minutes ago, DesiScotsman said: How are Switzerland, Austria & Ukraine in pot 2 when they are a higher ranked nation than all 4 teams in pot 1? Unless is it determined by another metric? Nations League places are not determined by rankings but more of how they have faired on this completion recently or promoted/relegated. Quote
YesTA Posted January 9 Posted January 9 Just had a look at the schedule and we play 4 games in 1 international window within a 13 day period in Sept/Oct. Quote
Orraloon Posted January 9 Posted January 9 https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/029a-1df96111817a-2669251e926b-1000/unl_final_overall_rankings_after_unlf_2025.pdf Quote
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