what a load of bo**ocks

I don't see what they are complaining about.

The group draws were seeded, and the finals themselves are seeded - why should seeding the playoffs be the 'death of football'?

The point of the qualifying tournament is to try and ensure that the best 17 European teams represent the continent in the finals.

Ireland seem keen to avoid the seeded teams which suggests they think they are unlikely to win because those teams are better than them, in which case they are admitting that it is right that those teams should be at the finals and not them.

Conversely, if they think they deserve to be in the finals they shouldn't need to worry about who they play in the playoff.

It might also be worth noting that at present Ireland have the worst record of any of the second place playoff bound teams.

Posted By: mr carra, Oct 12, 08:45:32