The draw for the European Championship qualifying playoffs took place on Thursday morning and no country is happier with the results than Ireland.
The Irish, who missed out on the 2010 World Cup after facing the tough draw (and Thierry Henry handball) of France, drew Estonia out of the eight-team pot, giving Ireland the easiest draw in the pot.
The toughest is arguably the Bosnia-Portugal pairing, while Turkey takes on Croatia in another close contest. Czech Republic takes on Montenegro in the final playoff.
The Euro qualifying playoffs kick off on Nov. 11/12, with the second legs taking place on Nov. 15. The 2012 European Championships are being held next summer in Poland and Ukraine.
What do you think of the draw? Happy to see Ireland score an easy path? Can you see Bosnia knocking off Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal?
Share your thoughts below.
Can’t root for the Belgians either. They’re super sensitive over the whole Congo thing haha
How many of those things happened since WWII and on the same scale as in Serbia? Every country in existence has done unconscionable things, but most have done them long enough ago that those involved in the activity are not young enough to hold political positions or real influence.
It looks like someone forgot to read up on their western history before they got up on their soap box…
If you’re gonna veto rooting for a national football team because they come from a country that practiced tribal killing in their recent history…
troubles of Ireland
(targeting and murder of Catholics and “Protestants”)
no English or Irish
Holocaust of WW 2
(targeted killing of Jews Gypsies and other “deviants”)
no Germans
Spanish Civil war (less than 100 years ago)
murder and disappearing of anyone anti-Franco
no Spanish
Stalin regime
murder and disappearing of anyone anti-Stalin
no Russians
Armenian Genocide
no Turkey
and going back an eyeblink further 150-200 years ago)
near extermination of native americans of North America
oh and a little thing called slavery
no USA
colonization of South America and Africa
no Spain, Portugal, France, or Netherlands.
So… I guess you’ll be rooting for the Belgians?
I don’t condone any of the above, but Football is about forgetting how screwed up the world is for 90 minutes and enjoying the pursuit of occasional excellence, so please put your piety on hold or take it to a political blog.
Great draw for Ireland! Come on you boys!
One of the best games of the tournament!
That would have been impossible since both teams along with Croatia and the Czech Republic were seeded and the other four teams were in the pot and had to play the seeded teams.
Noticed that, too. Will definitely be wearing my checkered jersey in support!
I hope Ireland go through, they play with high energy and spirit.
Ireland, Bosnia, Croatia, and Montenegro will all go through.
He was in St Louis for a few years of high school and college.
Thrilled with the lads drawing Estonia. Come on You Boys In Green!!! #YBIG
What kind of sick joke is this that Croatia has to play Turkey to get into the Euros after what happened in 2008. . .
Ah man. We should all root for Estonia and Montenegro, but they have like Zero chance and if they win, they’ll only be crushed at euro 2012. damn
Indeed, however I was really just trying to make the Yank connection since several Americans play for Hoffenheim and Ibisevic lived in California(?) for a bit. Pjanic is great, as is muslimovic too.
You have to admire his dedication to the Red Bulls. Give up international soccer to dedicate yourself to a club team thats pays you 125k/year.
You failed to mention Pjanić who is a hell of a player. You talk about the current Bosnia and Herzogovina set and you gotta mention Pjanić. I like this team alot and see them making next summer’s Finals.
Ireland will have their hands full with Estonia and I don’t see them getting through. I have a soft spot for Estonia and a number of the Eastern European sides.
Any chance of seeing Lindpere back on the Estonian team next summer if they can somehow make it through? (I know he didn’t play in the qualifiers…sorta wondering why)
Bosnia (along with Belgium) is one of the most underrated Euro sides. Everyone knows dzeko, but salihovic and ibisevic (somewhat of a Yank) are money too. They played for Hoffenheim last time I checked.
ERIN GO BRAUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (just as long as they don’t try to sign Conor Doyle. hehe) Someone throw on Shamrocks and Shenanigans….
Ireland is easy to root for. Portugal is easy to hate, but hasn’t committed massive war crimes and ethnic cleansing recently, so I don’t know who to go for there. I’ll take Turkey and the Czechs to round out my picks.
I was hoping for Ireland Portugal match up with Ireland knocking Portugal out. Now I am not sure who I want to win between Ireland and Estonia. Would love to see Estonia get through but have always liked Ireland team.
I am defenitely rooting for Bosnia to knock off Portugal. I think Croatia knocks off Turkey and Montenegro beats Czech Rep.
I have no Irish blood or roots at all, but I’ll be rooting for them. Its a shame that they are going against Estonia, they are a nice story, I always can appreciate a underdog. But the Irish should pull this off.
Portugal handled Bosnia pretty easily in the WC2010 playoff, I think the same will happen again, but Bosnia are tough and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if they win this, but my pick is still the Portuguese.
The Croatia v Turkey matchup is a complete toss-up. I can see this going either way.
Even though consensus will say that Czech Republic will beat Montenegro, this isn’t the same Czech squad from a few years ago and are definitely vulnerable. I really think Montenegro will pull this off and upset the Czechs.
Come on Ireland! Felt so bad for them in WC Qualifying I want them to redeem themselves and have a great tournament next summer, even though I am an American descended from Scots. Also think it’s ashame Bosnia and Portugal are playing each other. The tournament would have been better with both of those teams in it! But asit stands I want: Ireland, Portugal, Turkey, and Czechs.