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David Healy said last night he'd love if the Wee Province gets Ukraine away in Semi Final and then a home Final at Windsor Park.....sounds good, but if Austria and Denmark lose tonight then Austria,Denmark, Italy and Turkey into Pot 1 and Ukraine drop to Pot 2.
It's highly unlikely Austria and Denmark will lose so Pot 1 will consist of Italy, Turkey, Poland and Ukraine.
Ukraine away would be the cushy draw!

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2756 - 18/11/2025 15:09:19    2645173

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Nationality is not complicated or "fluid." A piece of paper does not make you Irish or Japanese or Swiss."
Well said Barney, anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2592 - 18/11/2025 16:01:02    2645176

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I don't like the project player situations in rugby but also not shocked to see Barney weighing in. The Irish Patriot himself.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8643 - 18/11/2025 17:38:45    2645183

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Nationality is not complicated or "fluid." A piece of paper does not make you Irish or Japanese or Swiss."
Nationality isnt as simple as you make out. ive a cousin.he's irish and married to a french girl and their kids have grown up totally and always in England. many of their customs/characteristics etc are english as thats what many of their friends are. and its same all over for many more. nationality is complicated because it is a subjective blend of a persons legal status and a subjective feeling of cultural identity, influenced by factors like birthplace, heritage, and personal experience.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3859 - 18/11/2025 17:58:22    2645187

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Replying To katser:  "David Healy said last night he'd love if the Wee Province gets Ukraine away in Semi Final and then a home Final at Windsor Park.....sounds good, but if Austria and Denmark lose tonight then Austria,Denmark, Italy and Turkey into Pot 1 and Ukraine drop to Pot 2.
It's highly unlikely Austria and Denmark will lose so Pot 1 will consist of Italy, Turkey, Poland and Ukraine.
Ukraine away would be the cushy draw!"
It's a real farce that the North even have a shot of going to the World Cup by virtue of winning a group in Nations League 3. It is very unfair system that teams in League 2 will miss out on a play off because they didn't win a group containing much better teams. San Marino were next in line for a play off because they won a league in Nations League 4. It's definitely not a fair system.

In the same campaign the Republic of Ireland would have to have won a group containing England to get a play off via this method. The Republic of Ireland stayed in League 2 but they would almost be better off getting relegated to League 3 to boost their chances of a play off going forward. Crazy system.

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1716 - 18/11/2025 19:44:36    2645195

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Nationality is not complicated or "fluid." A piece of paper does not make you Irish or Japanese or Swiss."
Ok Barney what does make you Irish in your book? Or any other nationality?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17559 - 18/11/2025 19:56:21    2645197

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Replying To REDANDBLACK30:  "It's a real farce that the North even have a shot of going to the World Cup by virtue of winning a group in Nations League 3. It is very unfair system that teams in League 2 will miss out on a play off because they didn't win a group containing much better teams. San Marino were next in line for a play off because they won a league in Nations League 4. It's definitely not a fair system.

In the same campaign the Republic of Ireland would have to have won a group containing England to get a play off via this method. The Republic of Ireland stayed in League 2 but they would almost be better off getting relegated to League 3 to boost their chances of a play off going forward. Crazy system."
I agree it's a nonsensical system, but in fairness if the keeper hadn't cocked it up in the 1-0 loss to Slovakia, Northern Ireland would have finished 2nd behind Germany.

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2756 - 18/11/2025 20:43:39    2645202

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Replying To Viking66:  "Ok Barney what does make you Irish in your book? Or any other nationality?"
Being born here at a minimum! Unless of Irish descent obviously.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3823 - 18/11/2025 20:50:57    2645205

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Being born here at a minimum! Unless of Irish descent obviously."
Define of Irish descent ?? Are yanks who grandparents were Irish and emigrated Irish in your eyes without ever setting foot on the land?

Say a Tom Brady for example Irish

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1756 - 18/11/2025 21:28:46    2645213

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Being born here at a minimum! Unless of Irish descent obviously."
So a lad who has an Irish grandmother and never set foot in the country, never contributed to Irish society here or elsewhere, or paid taxes here, and maybe even plays soccer for England is more Irish than a fella spent most of his life here since he was in his teens or early 20s? Plays for Ireland, pays his taxes here, and is rearing his family here?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17559 - 18/11/2025 21:39:05    2645214

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "I don't like the project player situations in rugby but also not shocked to see Barney weighing in. The Irish Patriot himself."
Ah yes, the Grants rowed here in a corach 2500 years ago ;-)

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17559 - 18/11/2025 21:41:16    2645215

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Replying To REDANDBLACK30:  "It's a real farce that the North even have a shot of going to the World Cup by virtue of winning a group in Nations League 3. It is very unfair system that teams in League 2 will miss out on a play off because they didn't win a group containing much better teams. San Marino were next in line for a play off because they won a league in Nations League 4. It's definitely not a fair system.

In the same campaign the Republic of Ireland would have to have won a group containing England to get a play off via this method. The Republic of Ireland stayed in League 2 but they would almost be better off getting relegated to League 3 to boost their chances of a play off going forward. Crazy system."
Sorry Moldova would have been next to get a play off then San Marino under this format.

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1716 - 18/11/2025 22:08:28    2645220

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A huge shame that one of the great sources of joy from international soccer tournaments is about to come to an end.

Scotland will probably get a handy draw and make it past a group stage for the first time ever.

It was fun ripping the pee out of them for this fact for the last few decades but to be fair to them, they now look like a serious international team who could have a deep run in either international tournament with a favorable draw

eoghan6688 (Galway) - Posts: 160 - 18/11/2025 22:20:08    2645221

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Being born here at a minimum! Unless of Irish descent obviously."
It's an interesting one. I used to think was more black and white. If you think of the person born of Irish parents in America, steeped in Irish culture and sees themselves as Irish and American.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 480 - 18/11/2025 22:31:19    2645223

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Replying To Viking66:  "So a lad who has an Irish grandmother and never set foot in the country, never contributed to Irish society here or elsewhere, or paid taxes here, and maybe even plays soccer for England is more Irish than a fella spent most of his life here since he was in his teens or early 20s? Plays for Ireland, pays his taxes here, and is rearing his family here?"
Not much point arguing with that lad.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8643 - 19/11/2025 10:20:16    2645246

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Scotland had a similar frantic finish in their game last night - great to see them qualify after 28 years. If we don't qualify I'll be rowing in behind them given our close ties and mutual glee in seeing the English beat!

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1384 - 19/11/2025 10:38:09    2645248

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