From the Simpsons-Willie teaches French
Les Bleus visit a damp and windswept Croke Park this evening for the 1st leg of what looks to be the pick of the UEFA WC2010 play-off ties. Ireland of course finished as runners up to Italy ion Group 10, whereas the French were squeezed out of an automatic qualifying spot by Serbia-their 3-1 defeat to Austria in the opening game proving costly. Along the way, they could only manage a 1-0 win in the Faroes (managed by the never bitter Brian Kerr), but did actually manage to defeat Serbia at home and get a draw in the return leg. All of this on the back of a disastrous Euro 2008, where they didn't win a game (alebit they found themselves in a fairly tough group). They arrive in Dublin with a host of injuries (Ribery and Diaby absent, questions over Toulalan and Henry), questions surrounding their coach, and the prospect of playing in front of vocal Irish support, both at Croke Park, and indeed in Paris.
Even with their injuries, France still should enough talent to take care of Ireland. Their midfield looks like being a bit of an unknown quantity, but their attacking full backs and pace upfront suggests that can cause Ireland plenty of problems (I'm looking at you Sean St Leger and Kevin Kilbane!) The reality, for me, is that France will have to play poorly and Ireland will have to play as well as they can to win through. The prevailing opinions in the 'meeja' here in Ireland is that Ireland have a good chance of going through because:
(a) France have such a hated coach;
(b) if they were any good they would have qualified automatically;
(c) Ireland are so strong at set pieces; and
(d) we 'nearly' beat the World Cup Champions.
We shall see. My prediction? France by the odd goal-no penalties required.
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So Sunday night's result, nor the manner of the defeat was really a surprise. What hope do Ireland have now? Not a lot I suppose. If France decide not to turn up and Ireland sneak a late goal, we might just take them to penalties.
ReplyDeleteNote how I say 'late goal'. If Ireland score early, we are doomed. This will France will have to come out and play, and Ireland have not proved they can keep good teams from scoring when they want to (see Italy at Croke Park).
The fact that France have lost Abidal is a postive, I guess, as is the fact that Gourcoff, L Diarra and Gignac didn't always look great on Saturay night. Still, I don't think this Irish team has it in them to go through.
My sympathies to all Liverpool fans but this has been 10 years coming for La Viola. We deserved it (just about) but we needed to push on if we have any aspirations to join the top 20 teams in Europe permanently; that's still a long way away but this is a big step. Forza Viola!
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