Big Ramy 1314 Posted March 24 Author Posted March 24 Italy v NI is interesting. The pressure on the Italians is immense. Can they handle it in a one off !! Quote
Broath Boy Posted March 24 Posted March 24 13 minutes ago, Big Ramy 1314 said: Are these games home and away or one-off games. Quote
Big Ramy 1314 Posted March 24 Author Posted March 24 1 minute ago, Broath Boy said: Are these games home and away or one-off games. One off mate !! Quote
DoonTheSlope Posted March 24 Posted March 24 9 minutes ago, Broath Boy said: Are these games home and away or one-off games. I’ve never understood why these playoff games aren’t played at a neutral venue. It’s not as though these playoffs have just been sprung upon us. They’ve known since mid November what teams are going to be competing against each other The likes of DR Congo and Jamaica are playing playoffs in Mexico Quote
Big Ramy 1314 Posted March 24 Author Posted March 24 19 minutes ago, DoonTheSlope said: I’ve never understood why these playoff games aren’t played at a neutral venue. It’s not as though these playoffs have just been sprung upon us. They’ve known since mid November what teams are going to be competing against each other The likes of DR Congo and Jamaica are playing playoffs in Mexico My question is why so long for the matches? Fifa know who is involved, then get it done !! Supporters need to book flights, hotels, book time off work, it's a fuckin joke !!! Quote
JECK Posted March 25 Posted March 25 Looking forward to these tomorrow night. Just knowing we are already there whilst the 2 Irelands and wales are going to be struggling away trying to get in via the back door. Both Wales and NI on the beeb I believe. Quote
Ally Bongo Posted March 25 Posted March 25 Wales should win at home The ROI have a good chance against a Czech side that lost to the Faroes Northern Ireland have next to no chance Quote
kumnio Posted March 25 Posted March 25 On 3/24/2026 at 6:18 PM, Big Ramy 1314 said: First 6 home teams to qualify, last 2 away teams to qualify. Quote
AAAfather Posted March 25 Posted March 25 23 hours ago, DoonTheSlope said: I’ve never understood why these playoff games aren’t played at a neutral venue. It’s not as though these playoffs have just been sprung upon us. They’ve known since mid November what teams are going to be competing against each other It's money. And the nature of modern professional football. In the old days, European tournaments used the away goal rule because going to Romania etc. and getting any sort of result was a challenge. The travel, the pitch, the standard of ref, the logistics like food and rest all posing issues. Now with professional teams, professional conditioning and professional preparation, its not so big a deal. Matchday routine for players is almost the same anywhere in Europe - night before game in hotel, diet and sleep controlled, managed activities up to Kick off. Travel with team by plane night before or that day in luxury. Play. Get home late in the night and then a rest day or stretching in gym etc. Being home or away now of little difference. Pitches all meet competition standards. A lot of international players no longer play in their home country, so live abroad anyway. Travel - sleep - play. All regulated by sports scientists. Why have two matches for a play-off with this standardisation? The viewing figures and sponsorship is more without the double headers and more varied opposition. UEFA and FIFA like more income. Quote
DesiScotsman Posted March 25 Posted March 25 (edited) 53 minutes ago, JECK said: Looking forward to these tomorrow night. Just knowing we are already there whilst the 2 Irelands and wales are going to be struggling away trying to get in via the back door. Both Wales and NI on the beeb I believe. They are indeed. Can’t seem to find what channel is showing the ROI game, was wanting to watch that one out of the 3 games if it’s being broadcasted? Edited March 25 by DesiScotsman Quote
kumnio Posted March 25 Posted March 25 14 minutes ago, DesiScotsman said: They are indeed. Can’t seem to find what channel is showing the ROI game, was wanting to watch that one out of the 3 games if it’s being broadcasted? Its an Amazon Prime game. Quote
kumnio Posted March 25 Posted March 25 https://www.live-footballontv.com Good site for seeing what games are on what TV channels. Quote
Big Ramy 1314 Posted March 25 Author Posted March 25 1 hour ago, kumnio said: https://www.live-footballontv.com Good site for seeing what games are on what TV channels. Nice one !! 👍 Quote
scotlad Posted March 25 Posted March 25 2 hours ago, Ally Bongo said: Wales should win at home The ROI have a good chance against a Czech side that lost to the Faroes Northern Ireland have next to no chance Wales under Bellamy have impressed me but I've a wee sneaky that Bosnia will win on Thursday. Just a feeling I've got. Mad to think Italy might miss out on their third finals in a row. It makes me wonder if they might be given a wee helping hand. 🤔 I see the Danish coach has rung the changes (wanky phrase klaxon 📣) since our game against them. A few younger players called up and Erikson back in the squad. They should be good enough to get through. They must be raging with themselves for dropping four points against Belarus and us; I reckon we'll see a reaction from them. Quote
dan cake Posted March 25 Posted March 25 Hopefully none of the home nations or Eire qualify, don’t want anyone taking the shine off us. Italy also but mainly because they’re cheating/diving cunts Quote
dan cake Posted March 25 Posted March 25 On 3/24/2026 at 7:22 PM, stocky said: Thank phukk we are not involved. No way was I going to America if we were in the playoffs, last to book flights/digs internal travel etc not that the fans are a consideration Quote
DoonTheSlope Posted March 25 Posted March 25 2 hours ago, AAAfather said: It's money. And the nature of modern professional football. In the old days, European tournaments used the away goal rule because going to Romania etc. and getting any sort of result was a challenge. The travel, the pitch, the standard of ref, the logistics like food and rest all posing issues. Now with professional teams, professional conditioning and professional preparation, its not so big a deal. Matchday routine for players is almost the same anywhere in Europe - night before game in hotel, diet and sleep controlled, managed activities up to Kick off. Travel with team by plane night before or that day in luxury. Play. Get home late in the night and then a rest day or stretching in gym etc. Being home or away now of little difference. Pitches all meet competition standards. A lot of international players no longer play in their home country, so live abroad anyway. Travel - sleep - play. All regulated by sports scientists. Why have two matches for a play-off with this standardisation? The viewing figures and sponsorship is more without the double headers and more varied opposition. UEFA and FIFA like more income. Bunkum Nobody has suggested for double header playoffs. It should be a semi-final, loser friendly and final between two cities in a host country There’s no good reason why UEFA can’t say after the play off draw is made that pathway A will be played between Warsaw and Krakow, pathway B between Rome and Naples, pathway C Porto and Lisbon etc etc etc That way everyone knows where they stand and fans aren’t being left with 2/3 days to plan a trip across the continent(that’s if they haven’t already paid for flights that will never get used) at even more over inflated prices than the surge sees for regular away games It maintains a level of neutrality for all the teams involved and far easier fir the travelling fan If as you suggest being home or away has little difference then the ticket allocation should initially be split 50/50. Would you be happy in the next playoff Scotland are involved in at Hampden to give Ireland, Poland, Italy or whoever 22,500 tickets meaning some Scotland fans miss out? Quote
JECK Posted March 25 Posted March 25 Didn’t realise ROI’s great white hope Evan Ferguson was done for the season although there appears be a bit of disharmony in the Czech campaign. Quote
Och Aye Posted March 25 Posted March 25 Fs have we to start pronouncing Turkey different now. Add it to the list with Cologne, Kiev.... Milan (people pronouncing it Meelan can fuck right off). Quote
exile Posted March 25 Posted March 25 On 3/24/2026 at 6:18 PM, Big Ramy 1314 said: I think those times are 1700 and 1945 in UK Quote
Big Ramy 1314 Posted March 25 Author Posted March 25 16 minutes ago, exile said: I think those times are 1700 and 1945 in UK Yes mate, these are Canadian times so I would imagine a 4 hour difference as our clocks went ahead a fortnight ago. Quote
vanderark14 Posted March 26 Posted March 26 Hopefully I am right as I don't particularly like the Northern Ireland support, I think they will go out to Italy and Wales will beat Italy in the final Quote
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