World Cup playoff draw

[Blackpooljack]

I think we'll beat Bosnia but even with a fully fit side I give us no more than a 10-15% chance of beating Italy, even taking into account it is in Cardiff. They are packed with Champions League players and if they don't qualify they'll go a minimum 16 years without appearing in a WC, that simply cannot happen. They'll be really fired up.

I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see it happening for us unfortunately. Stinking draw, worst possible.

They've been beaten home and away by Norway who are only a one man team, have faith ANH

 

[J_B]

Of course Italy has lots of good players but the weight of expectation will bear massively on them and they’ve struggled away from home with very late wins in Israel and Macedonia. Hammered by Norway twice. Score first and they’ll themselves.

Assuming we beat Bosnia of course.

 

[Magic_Michu]

Italy won’t get past Northern Ireland

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

They've been beaten home and away by Norway who are only a one man team, have faith ANH

I just don't see it mate, but as I say I hope I'm completely wrong because I'd love us to have a crack at another WC. Especially if we can play like we did on Tuesday.

 

[tardylum]

We can do this especially if it is just over one leg. Really need Kieffer back as an option, even if it is off the bench when defending a lead or needing a goal.

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

Getting a 3rd consecutive final at home (if we get there) is about as good as it gets.

Personally I think I’d prefer our chances at home to Italy than away to Denmark, Turkey or Ukraine.

Definitely can’t take Bosnia lightly but it’ll be a hell of an atmosphere on the Tuesday night if we get there!

 

[garetharogers]

I think we'll beat Bosnia but even with a fully fit side I give us no more than a 10-15% chance of beating Italy, even taking into account it is in Cardiff. They are packed with Champions League players and if they don't qualify they'll go a minimum 16 years without appearing in a WC, that simply cannot happen. They'll be really fired up.

I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see it happening for us unfortunately. Stinking draw, worst possible.

Definitely not the worst possible. The 4 possibilities of being drawn away from home are worse, no matter the opponent.

This Italy team might be the worst I've seen since the mid-70s. Donnarumma is superb but after him, they are very average. Israel stuck 4 past them. Playing them in Italy, I'd agree with you, but getting them in a fired up Cardiff City Stadium is another matter. They are under so much pressure to not miss out again. Gatusso, who is not a very good coach, has already been whining about even having to be in the playoffs in the first place.

We're better off playing them than the other 3 Pot 1 possibilities where we would be favoured at home and the pressure on us. We've had that before and were dead lucky vs. Ukraine in '22 and awful vs. Poland in '24.

(Let's hope we don't balls it up vs. B&H and make this all moot!!!)