0-0 final score. Wood came on for final 10 minutes and forced a save with first touch of the ball - a free kick. Don't really fancy kiwi chances on Thiursday morning in Peru. Great atmosphere in Wellington. Biggest crowd ever to watch a football match in NZ - over 37,000 with the additional seating.
So Saturday has arrived and my train tickets for Shrewsbury are in my pocket. But instead of ten of us traveling for what should have been a good Day out I am stuck at home. To make matters worse Mrs.Blackpool has insisted that we take the grandkids to the cinema to watch Paddington bear.
1. Northern Ireland or Switzerland (12th Nov) 2. Croatia or Greece (12th Nov) 3. Italy or Sweden (13th Nov) 4. Ireland or Denmark (11th & 14th Nov) 5. Tunisia or Congo 6. Morocco or Ivory Coast 7. Senegal or Burkina Faso or Cape Verde or South Africa 8. New Zealand or Peru (15th Nov) 9. Honduras or Australia (15th Nov)
Middlesbrough and ex West Ham and Birmingham City goalkeeper Darren Randolph played well for the Republic of Ireland as did Bournemouth academy product Harry Arter.
0-0 between Ireland and Denmark. Who will be happier with that? Denmark IMO. An away goal in the next leg puts them at a big advantage.
I think Ireland, they didn't appear to even want to score a goal last night - it was all about protecting the 0 and turning it into, effectively, a one leg play-off in front of a packed Aviva Stadium in Dublin. They've achieved that but I cannot see them beating the Danes unless something dramatic changes between now and the second leg.
0-0 between Ireland and Denmark. Who will be happier with that? Denmark IMO. An away goal in the next leg puts them at a big advantage.
Do away goals count extra if tie is level? I hate that rule
Generally, i think its a very good rule - brought in in the early days of the 2 legged European cup games to try to entice away sides (mostly Italian) out of their own half and not parking the bus looking for a 0-0. It does make for a more entertaining game normally.
Comments
Big crowd
But instead of ten of us traveling for what should have been a good Day out I am stuck at home.
To make matters worse Mrs.Blackpool has insisted that we take the grandkids to the cinema to watch Paddington bear.
I fu@$$g hate international breaks.
I watched it on a live stream and thought it was a decent game despite the 0-0 scoreline.
Now for Denmark to do the business later and its been a good weekend.
Tunisia through by the skin of their teeth (0-0 home draw with Libya), Congo out (did what they needed to do, 3-1 win).
2. Croatia or Greece (12th Nov)
3. Italy or Sweden (13th Nov)
4. Ireland or Denmark (11th & 14th Nov)
5. Tunisia
or Congo6. Morocco
or Ivory Coast7. Senegal
or Burkina Faso or Cape Verde or South Africa8. New Zealand or Peru (15th Nov)
9. Honduras or Australia (15th Nov)
If they'd held that lead, they'd be at the World Cup.
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276412/match=300367103/index.html#
Another 0-0 and pens is the only way I see Ireland getting through.
NZ 0 Peru 0
Honduras 0 Australia 0
Denmark 0 Ireland 0
NI 0 Switzerland 1
Sweden 1 Italy 0
Hopefully the 2nd legs are a bit more exciting.
10 mins played, 0-0 (1-0 on agg).