So, that is pretty much that. Thanks for your comments and company; bye!
Remind yourselves of what’s come to pass..
“The screen at top of the blog is like late-90’s Nintendo game,” tweets Robert Walnut. “Font on ‘Russia 2018’ and ‘Qualifiers’ could be from Prince of Persia.”
Martin O’Neill has just told Sky that he’s delighted to be at home second. I don’t know.
Meanwhile, if Croatia get themselves together, you’d think they’d have ample for Greece. Either way, there’ll be some atmosphere at those games.
Looking at the non-Irish ties, Sweden-Italy should be a jazzer. Italy have struggled to get anything going, while Sweden pushed an admittedly Deschampsed France to the last.
Martin O’Neill is pleased to be in the draw, given what it took to get there. He says most coaches prefer to play at home second, but sensibly notes that the away goals rule - a nonsense, in mine - and potential for extra-time negates any advantage.
Darren Randolph has got the draw that he wanted, and Cyrus Christie concurs. Ireland could definitely beat Denmark, but the Danes improved significantly during qualifying - I’d not back against them.
Michael O’Neill points out that, while Switzerland are the highest-ranked side left, they had probably the easiest group. And it’s also fair to say that they were miserable against Portugal, in the key game; if Northern Ireland turn up, they’ve got a chance.
“Cherry over Regular is a war crime,” chides David Angel. “More importantly, it clearly goes...
1. Glass bottle
2. Can
3. Pub/bowling alley soda machine
4. Small plastic bottle
5. Large plastic bottle
I’d have the pub version at the bottom, but otherwise sound. When I was at university, I used to order a soft drink without ice, to get more in; the barman in my local quickly started charging extra for no ice.
Clinton Morrison says away first for Ireland is an “unbelievable draw”. I’d always want home first myself, if away goals count.
“You missed out Diet Lime Coke,” says Kevin Wilson, “which would be near the top. The Croatia in these play offs perhaps?”
I hope it’s better than that Lemon one which I also forgot and tastes like carbonated Jif.
So let’s recap that draw again because who can be bothered nudging a hand a quarter of a centimetre?
Northern Ireland v Switzerland
Croatia v Greece
Denmark v Rep of Ireland
Sweden v Italy
First legs will be played on 9–11 November, and the second legs will be played on 12–14 November.
Updated
Sweden will play at home first. So that’s Sweden v Italy.
So that’s Sweden and Italy left...
IRELAND! That’s Denmark v Ireland!
... will play ...
Denmark...
Croatia v Greece...
Next out are Croatia ... the World Cup needs their kit.
Northern Ireland are at home first! And they play Switzerland! They’ll be dancing in the streets of <I don’t know where> tonight!
Updated
The seedings are established “according to the Fifa Coca-Cola ranking”. I’m going:
- Cherry
- Regular
- Zero
- Diet Cherry
- Diet
- Vanilla
Fernando Hierro is here to picks balls out of bags.
“What is this imposter Scotland World Cup song?!” asks and exclaims John Roberts. “78 was the first world cup I remember and to this day Ally’s Tartan Army is stuck in my head and comes back to me on a hugely irritating regular basis whenever I hear about the Scottish football team (I’m English and also like music).”
Yes, that jamboree they had before the team left was especially amazing “Och, we’ll definitely get a medal” (though to be clear, I was not yet born).
We’re about to take a look at “what the teams have achieved so far”. This should be a pretty short segment.
We see some shots of Russia, none as evocative as those on this.
Aha! We have some talking! “Settle into your seats because the draw show is about to begin ... enjoy the show.”
Or, as I like to call it, eight balls being picked out of pots.
Updated
“On the draw, my unborn child is due between the two matches, and Switzerland is a hop and a skip from here,” emails Neil Connolly. “So, assuming the Swiss draw Ireland, which is better: to ask my wife to skip out just pre-birth (if it’s Basle or Berne first) or just after (if second)? Advice sought, from you and your readers.
My advice: if the away leg is second, you’re doing well to get to watch it, never mind getting off for a booze abroad.
Updated
“As a Rep of Ireland fan, I hope we draw Denmark,” says Neil Noble. “Though tough I feel this opposition will give us our best chance. Sadly I’m not confident we will be in Russia. But I could be wrong. I hope Northern Ireland draw Switzerland. Italy and Croatia are best avoided.”
Yes, I’d agree with that, though I’m not quite sure how Croatia managed to avoid qualifying automatically.
There’s a yellow ticker up trailing the draw; I’m sorry, but that is not right. I want to read that Rotherham have signed Jamie Cureton, not know about something I already know that hasn’t yet happened.
“As a Scotland fan I’d just like to congratulate England on another qualification job well done,” magnanimises Simon McMahon, teeth ground to gristle, “and wish good luck to all the teams involved in today’s draw. In any case, the World Cup Finals is no place for small nations like Scotland and, eh, Iceland, is it?”
A primer for youse:
“Ryanair don’t miss a turn,” tweets Paul Kelly. “Flights from Dublin to Copenhagen/Zurich €210+ for the playoff dates. Pre draw.”
Michael O’Leary really needs a cuddle doesn’t he.
So what do we groupthink: should this draw be seeded or not? I suppose it’s for our own good in the end: we probably want the best teams in Russia. But imagine if, in order to get there, Italy met Croatia and Ireland took on Northern Ireland!
Email and tweet! “I’m lying at home recovering from the removal of my burst appendix so this is the highlight of my day,” stoics Andy Simpson. “Please make this as entertaining as possible.”
Er, are you in any way familiar with this medium? Get well soon!
Preamble
Some people think football is all about winning; some people are also
c
silly billies. Take today’s draw, for example. Though few players, teams and countries ever win a World Cup, simply being there is, while not as intense as Leicester-West Brom, the key to months of hope, pride, excitement and joy - and oh my days don’t we all need some of that. How those actually participating process the unfathomable emotion of it all, the rest of us will never know: can they or can they not brand themselves upon the history of their nation into the annals of humanity?
So today’s draw is a BIG DEAL, salvation in contemplation of failure as well as a gentle cattle prod that in a mere 209 days’ time, the glory of a World Cup will be upon us.
Seeds: Italy, Croatia, Switzerland, Denmark.
Unseeds: Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Greece, Sweden
Pick-off: 1pmBST
Updated
