IRELAND HAVE BEEN handed a favourable 2018 World Cup qualifying draw as they were paired alongside Wales and Austria in Group D.
Martin O’Neill’s side will also face Serbia, Moldova and Georgia as they look to qualify for their first World Cup since 2002.
The Boys in Green avoided Europe’s heavyweights as they were drawn with Chris Coleman’s side from Pot One, although Wales recently climbed into the top ten of the Fifa world rankings.
Austria, who Ireland played in the last World Cup qualifying campaign, and Georgia are familiar opponents.
The group stages take place between September 2016 and October 2017 with each team playing each other home and away.
The team that finishes top of the group automatically qualifies for Russia with the side that finishes second going into a playoff.
The playoffs will then be played in November 2017.
We got a great chance here very good draw we know Georgia well and know Austria from a few years back as for Wales for top seeds we would of all wanted them.. Not saying it’s a easy but we got a great chances and it could of been a lot worse… We can do it..
Is it safe for me to be positive @irishoverseas?haha
How Wales are top seeds is beyond me. They were in Pot 4 in the last WC campaign. Did I miss something?
The way we have to look at it is Austria and Wales were fourth seeds for wcq 2014 as far as I know!
They beat a few high ranking teams. Simple as that. We haven’t beaten anyone of note in 14 years.
Yes and essentially that’s what gets you tanking points.No reason we can’t beat them though.
You did, Gareth Bale
Tenth in the world now and top of their Euro group. Won four and drawn two of their six qualifying games in a group that includes Belgium. Looks weird but they are there on current merit and form.
Lovely team to watch too,always put pressure on the opposition and knock the ball around quite quickly.But again we can beat them.
I watched them against Israel a few months back its just all down to Bale he was class he got a defender sent off and by the resulting free kick he scored and created another goal and scored another.. Without him they be no better than us..
Are you suggesting Gibraltar aren’t a top class team!??
They are better than us tho, that’s just a fact even without bale they have better players and work hard and as a team
Wales are ranked higher than Spain currently. It’s insane.
We did get a very favourable draw from pots 1&2 in Wales & Austria though Serbia are one of the more difficult teams in pot 3. Don’t know much about Moldova from pot 5 but we could have got an easier draw than Georgia from pot 6. San Marino or Lichenstein spring to mind. Still we can’t be too greedy, got the best possible top 2 seeded teams. I feel sorry for the teams seeded 3-6 in Group A who may as well give up now after drawing Holland & France !!!
I think if you look at the other groups we can be the happiest out of all the 4th seeds.Had a quick look at Moldovas results they’ve won two games in two years v Saudi Arabia and Andorra,we seem to always get the job done against the lower ranked teams.
We are going to finish 4th in that group, we are stink,
Kitchen
Kitchen? Are you making a cup of tea Karol?
I think they were actually pot 6. makes it all the more impressive really.
Blessed! Now get your sh:t together and man up!
Interesting group. With the right attitude and a little bit of luck a top 2 finish is very attainable… COYBIG!
Not to jinx it or anything, but by god do we really have a chance at qualifying here!! COYBIG!!
Group A is horrific. Netherlands, France, sweden and Bulgaria. We got a decent draw and now hopefully can capitalise on it. FAI will probably be pissed off they didn’t get germany again for lucrative tv rights. Well f@$k them, it’s about qualifying and that’s it. Come on Ireland!
Great draw. Pity we’re so shite!
We’r not sh#te,frustrating yes but not sh#te.If we were losing to low ranked teams and getting hammered on a game to game basis then maybe you can call us s#ite,far worse teams out there then us.
We’re shite…. haven’t beaten a decent team in yrs .. absolute crap
It’s unfortunate you feel that way.Hopefully you won’t be saying that in two years time.
Group wide open. Great chance for us.
we can qualify from that group ..
I honestly think that’s a great group,Bottom two teams are tough but we tend to get the job done against the lower ranked teams.Serbia aren’t what they used to be by no means,huge amount of retirements in recent years,Austria are good but probably the best second seeds we could get,definitely beatable and Wales are the best first seeds in my opinion,apart from Bale and Ramsey their squad is similar to ours(except they play more positively)we can speculate about how teams will be but ultimately won’t know what they are like til the games begin.Happy overall,some of the other groups are shockers.
When I say Wales are best seeds I meant that we could have drawn,I’d prefer them to Romania to be honest.
Also expect everyone to be dropping pts left and right…will be v interesting indeed.
Don’t get too excited, every other team in the group will be thinking the same.
Blessed!
Serbia are probably the toughest team we got
Them away seems the most daunting fixture. Hopefully their poor form continues
Austria, who are on course to qualify for the Euros, are a far better side than Serbia at the moment. The Serbs have some great players and have just won the World U-20 Cup but they are very brittle in matches that matter. Belgrade will be the most intimidating atmospher alright but Serbia are still some way off being a really formidable side.
I’d say it will be the same old story!!
We are definitely going to win the world cup after that draw.COYBIG
A pretty decent draw for Ireland. Austria and Wales are currently two solid teams lifted by one world-class player, so no guarantee they’ll still be so highly-rated in a year’s time. The away games against Serbia, Moldova and especially bloody Georgia again will be sticky, but we surely have to aim for winning all our home games this time around.
England get a piss easy group yet again.
England are serial qualifiers for tournaments.
do I dare to dream? could have been very ugly – we could qualify from this group
I’ll be able to watch Ireland play the top seed team from the sofa instead of behind it as is the norm!
Wales top seeds? on what planet are they top seeds havnt Qualified for a tournament in donkeys goes to show two genuine decent players can change everything. Unfortunately we havnt produced anyone in years an we won’t find them in the championship after England said they are not good enough
I don’t think they ever did qualify for a tournament
Easiest draw ever that an Irish team has got in qualification round – even if we were top seeds that would still be cushy number – if Bale gets injured Wales will be walkover
Wales are better than Ireland with or without bale. That’s a fact
If they haven’t played each other recently its not a fact
I agree
Ireland played Wales under Trap, not that long ago… We won, Stephen Ireland scored a beaut…
I am already planning my holliers
Serbia are the best team of our group but I believe we can actually qualify here. COYBIG
Bring back Trapatoni.
Bring back Jack Charlton
Bring back Steve Staunton
McCarthy would relish leading is against this group of teams.
We need to play much more positive to get out of this group. Gotta believe we can take any of them on our day!
Was wondering that earlier alright. No guarantee it will continue to be Martin and Roy. Maybe Roy on his own…
No marquee teams but will still be difficult. Quiet satisfaction for FAI but many tough days to come.
Can’t be but happy with that draw.
That’s probably the weakest group in the draw. At least you didn’t get Ukraine and Turkey.
england got a tasty draw
handy group maximum points
It’s 2018 right? These are the guys you will be playing against:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_FIFA_U-20_World_Cup
fuk
Handy draw, if Ireland can’t qualify out of this group they should disband the FAI and stop playing football!
Ahhhh sure that’s enough…we have the thing won now!!! Lol
I didn’t realise there was that many countries in Europe. The quality of the qualifying games has gone downhill big time .
where’s that great footballing nation Qatar? can’t believe they’re not there!
I hate to say it, whilst it could be worse we are not getting out of that group. Wales are a good side if everyone is fit, Austria are better than us. Away to Serbia will be a nightmare- although they might do something mental and get points docked again. Georgia will fancy it against us as well. Hate to say it but I can’t see it happening
I’ve put us into every other group as the 4th seed team and this is the only one we could possibly win! Overall it’s in the top 3 groups we could wish to be in, group É may have been favourable and Northern Ireland’s group would be a good group to finish 2nd in. But yea if we ever had a chance of topping a group as a 4th seed this is it!
Serbia wins this group.
It’s a good draw but a good few of the current squad will be retired so the next 3 years it is vital to try and get some youngsters a taste of international football!! It will be our chance in a long time to qualify
Happy days
on sky sports news there, they had a wales experts (dont know his name) view, said it was a horror draw for them!! there already afraid of us, whats russia like for a party?
It was Ian Rush
A great chance for qualification no excuses
Wow a lot of HUBRIS on here
I know Wales were the best seeds to get but still would’ve loved a crack off England!
Of the current Squad how many will still be around when qualification starts, unlikely if Keane, O Shea and Given will? Walters will be 33 and Hoolahan 34.
Not like there is a stream of talent coming through
This is great!!!! We have a great chance and maybe the boys can go in with some confidence now!!!!! We’re not the whipping boys in this group
I know people are excited by the draw but if Putin is still in power and Russia is still occupying parts of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia can FIFA really hold the World Cup in Russia? Could any self respecting Irish fan attend?
Putin will wring the maximum propaganda out of the competition.
People will say sport and politics are separate but just because you really like football that doesn’t absolve you of moral responsibility for your choices. There were boycotts of South Africa during the apartheid era for example.
While it is, possibly the most favourable draw we could’ve hoped for, it’s not by some clerical error that we were 4th seeds. I won’t be booking tickets to Russia anyway. But I do hope I’m proved wrong.
Disaster for away trips. For Wales away, read Scotland away. Austria €12 a pint. As for the others, forget it
You sound like a man who has never been to Vienna or if you have then you were drinking pints in The Kempinski Hotel. €12 is way off the mark.
I agree, Austria is a great spot beer.
I wonder where Blatter and Putin will watch the 2018 cup from
See you all in Moscow
But moscow is the oneno the most expensive cities in the world….. Pack some cans lads!!!!!
cheap vodka
4th at best in this group! It’s ok to be aspirational but you have to be real. Ireland have no real depth and forever rely on players who can’t get into better national sides. A good group performance would be to improve future seeding and unearth some talent along the way.
No need to exchange a few roubles quite yet!
It’s hard to imagine Ireland topping the group.They are useless.2nd at best and lose the playoff.And the usual headlines of heartbreak for Ireland.
I see the mail.on Sunday has all groups printed except Group F which has England and Scotland!! strange.