Northern Ireland overtake the Republic in FIFA rankings

[freedomlover]

Given that players from both countries can supposedly now play for either one, perhaps the talent may drift north.

Anyway, both teams have a #2 seed in Sunday's World Cup draw, so they cannot draw each other.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranki ... 5&rank=163

The relative merits of the two Ireland teams may soon be put to the test.

According to BBC Radio 5 Live, a new Celtic Cup competition will be announced the week after next. This will be a mini-league between the Rep. Ireland, N. Ireland, Scotland and Wales - to be played between February and May next year and, if a success, to be made into a regular competition, played every second year. I haven't seen this confirmed anywhere but the BBC reporter seemed very confident. BBC also saying Terry Venables now hot favourite to be Rep. Ireland manager.

[Gimpanzee]

were both awful.

(a great first post Im sure you'll agree)

a "home counties" competition whilst the footballing countries of europe play their "european championships"? Is it on?

Don't think that's fair - when you look at NI's population - the've earned themselves a place 2 pots above where they should be IMO. We're about right.

[odie1kanobe]

Lose 1 match or don't play then you go down wards, win one and you jump upwards.

It has as much relevance as an opinion poll.

[bobbysands81]

Given that players from both countries can supposedly now play for either one, perhaps the talent may drift north.

Anyway, both teams have a #2 seed in Sunday's World Cup draw, so they cannot draw each other.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranki ... 5&rank=163

Number 3 seed surely???

Why would anyone from the 26 feel an affinity with that sectarian bywater?

[JCSkinner]

Given that players from both countries can supposedly now play for either one, perhaps the talent may drift north.

Anyway, both teams have a #2 seed in Sunday's World Cup draw, so they cannot draw each other.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranki ... 5&rank=163

Number 3 seed surely???

Why would anyone from the 26 feel an affinity with that sectarian bywater?

Because they're Irishmen too, Bob?

[odie1kanobe]

Given that players from both countries can supposedly now play for either one, perhaps the talent may drift north.

Anyway, both teams have a #2 seed in Sunday's World Cup draw, so they cannot draw each other.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranki ... 5&rank=163

Number 3 seed surely???

Why would anyone from the 26 feel an affinity with that sectarian bywater?

Because they're Irishmen too, Bob?

Does it say that on their passports ?

[alonso]

oh for ****************************** sake

NOT AGAIN!!!!!!!

[Propforward]

Look let's just merge the two associations -
Look at the rugby - seperate we are 4 provinces that won't do well in the heineken but together we can go out in the group stages of the world cup.

It was all that "Ireland's call" business

i say we sing
"God Save Amhrán na bhFiann"
In irish to the english national anthem music

We can be known as "Irelands" or "Ireland 2 - the unification"
Our crest can be a red hand holding a shamrock or a harp

our shirts can be a compromise of green shirts and white socks (er maybe not a compromise)

We can hire someone to manage it based entirely on their name - Ian Ahern or Bertie Paisley

We can further the bias against Cork players by uniting belfast and dublin agin the common enemy

WHAT DO YOU THINK???

[dsmythy]

or a dream group of
greece
scotland
ireland
cyprus (yes I'm being serious..)
albania
andorra

It ought to be a dream group but we're Ireland after all. Greece would beat us home and away. Scotland probably would too at the moment! We'd be still stuck in third!

Italy
Scotland
Ireland
Belarus
Azerbaijan
Estonia

I got that at random. These draws always fascinate me for some reason. I'm probably just a sad bastard!