" CAN THEY REALLY FINALLY DO IT,THIS TIME? ? "

" CAN THEY REALLY FINALLY DO IT,THIS TIME? ? "


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The Euro 2016 Group B qualification picture facing Wales as they prepare for day of destiny v Israel



Tuesday 24 March 2015


By Simon Gaskell

Wales are second in Group B going into the next round of fixtures as they hunt a place at a major tournament for the first time since 1958


Following the most promising start to a campaign in years, a positive result against Israel would continue Wales’ trajectory towards a first major tournament since 1958.

But Israel provide a significant hurdle, having been the surprise package of Euro 2016 qualifying group B so far.

So, how exactly do things stand and what would be acceptable for Coleman’s men on Saturday to maintain the qualifying feelgood factor?

With Wales playing their last qualifier against Belgium in November 2014, we re-cap the state of play in Group B as the Dragons prepare for their day of destiny...




How it stands...

Israel and Wales occupy the top two positions in Group B.

Israel are top with nine points from three games, having earned a 100% record with wins over Cyprus, Andorra and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Wales have eight points from four games, having beaten Andorra and Cyprus and drawn with Belgium and Bosnia.

Behind them, Cyprus have six points, Belgium five, Bosnia two and Andorra none.

Belgium are still a big threat – they are undefeated in three games and, on paper at least, have the strongest squad of any team in the group.

How the contenders for Group B qualification look

P W D L F A Ps
Israel 3 3 0 0 9 2 9
WALES 4 2 2 0 4 2 8
Cyprus 4 2 0 2 9 5 6
Belgium 3 1 2 0 7 1 5




Who qualifies?

In the first instance, the top two qualify automatically.

There is a chance third in the group could qualify automatically as well – but only if they are the best third-placed team out of all the groups A-I.

Otherwise, third will go into a play-off with one of the third-placed teams in another group.






Is anything different about qualification this time?

For the tournament in France, 24 places are up for grabs in all, more than in previous versions of the tournament when there have been just 16.

France already has one as host, 18 come from the top two automatic qualifiers in the nine groups and another for that best third-placed team.

The other third-placed teams, of which there will be eight, will play-off for the four remaining places at the tournament.






So what would be a good result for Wales this weekend?

Well, it goes without saying a win would be nice!

That would take Wales to the top of the group, with main rivals for qualification Israel and Belgium set to take points off each other when they meet in Jerusalem on Tuesday, March 31.

With eminently-winnable games against Cyprus and Andorra left, it really would put automatic qualification within Wales’ reach.

Israel have proved they are no turnovers at home though, with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over group top seeds Bosnia-Herzegovina, with goals by Gil Vermouth, Omer Damari and danger man Eran Zahavi, laying down a serious marker.

Given that, a draw would not be a disaster and would mean things are still in Wales’ hands when they take on Belgium at the Cardiff City Stadium in their next qualifier in June.

A loss, however, does not bear thinking about.

That would put Israel four points clear of Wales while, if Belgium beat Israel after what will surely be a win over Cyprus on Saturday, then they would also be three points clear with a better goal difference.

In short, a loss in Haifa would mean Wales are playing catch-up and relying on other results to get back into the automatic qualification picture.




Ideal scenario?
Wales are certainly capable of beating Israel home and away, but need to be at near their best.

Belgium have been hit by injuries to Everton duo Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas and showed they aren’t all that dynamic going forward against Wales in November.

Nevertheless, you would expect them to beat Cyprus at home.

If they do that, Wales win in Haifa and Belgium and Israel subsequently draw in midweek, it would mean Wales top the group one point clear of Israel and two ahead of Belgium, with all three teams having played five games.

That would keep the momentum going ahead of the Belgium game in June and the trip to Cyprus in September.

All this is discounting group top seeds Bosnia-Herzegovina, who look to have given themselves too much to do after picking up just two points from their opening four games.

Win against Israel and it becomes a lot more positive. I'm still skeptical but that's years of repeated failure taking its toll. On paper we have the squad capable of doing it. We need a win against Israel though. They've got some decent players and I think they could take a scalp or two. They could even pip Bosnia or even Wales to the playoff position so it's not going to be a given by any means. We just need to put them on the back foot from the start.

If we lose I blame FIFA as Israel is not in Europe ffs

I think we have the squad just not the manager

If we lose I blame FIFA as Israel is not in Europe ffs

Neither is the vast majority of Turkey.

If we lose I blame FIFA as Israel is not in Europe ffs

Neither is the vast majority of Turkey.

same can be said of Russia, and?

And what? Just saying. A few countries are partly in Europe, and partly in Asia.

And what? Just saying. A few countries are partly in Europe, and partly in Asia.

don't mind me, I think i want an arguement, missing Chuckles

And what? Just saying. A few countries are partly in Europe, and partly in Asia.

don't mind me, I think i want an arguement, missing Chuckles

After all those narrow failures during the 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's - I expect nothing other than another plucky but unsuccessful campaign.

Let's get real here. Wales back in the day had the likes of L James, Toshack, Curtis, Radcliffe, Hughes, Rush, Southall, Yorath, Mahoney, Flynn, Nicholas etc alongside a series of good international footballers now they have just Ramsey and Bale surrounded by players who just are not very good at this level.

If eg Bale doesn't play or is man marked out of the game, then Wales have no chance.

One man may make a difference to the odd game here and there but not a whole campaign.

Please prove me wrong.

Absolutely! I know most of us bluebirds fans slag Chris Coleman off and doesn't want him to be our manager because of where hes from! but fair play to Coleman who is bringing quality youngsters into the squad and getting a good philosophy into the squad and playing good football! Why can't we do it with the likes of Bale, Ramsey, Allen and so on, we've could actually win the group or not definitely get 2nd place, so win on Saturday will be massive for qualifying for France!

If we lose I blame FIFA as Israel is not in Europe ffs

FIFA were happy to let them play in Europe as its far safer here then playing in asian muslim countries where jews are hated.

And what? Just saying. A few countries are partly in Europe, and partly in Asia.

don't mind me, I think i want an arguement, missing Chuckles

Nobody should be missing him...

Win against Israel and it becomes a lot more positive. I'm still skeptical but that's years of repeated failure taking its toll. On paper we have the squad capable of doing it. We need a win against Israel though. They've got some decent players and I think they could take a scalp or two. They could even pip Bosnia or even Wales to the playoff position so it's not going to be a given by any means. We just need to put them on the back foot from the start.

Don't you mean 2nd place? 3rd place is what gets you in the play-offs. Two teams qualify automatically.

After all those narrow failures during the 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's - I expect nothing other than another plucky but unsuccessful campaign.

Let's get real here. Wales back in the day had the likes of L James, Toshack, Curtis, Radcliffe, Hughes, Rush, Southall, Yorath, Mahoney, Flynn, Nicholas etc alongside a series of good international footballers now they have just Ramsey and Bale surrounded by players who just are not very good at this level.

If eg Bale doesn't play or is man marked out of the game, then Wales have no chance.

One man may make a difference to the odd game here and there but not a whole campaign.

Please prove me wrong.

What an ignorant post. Have you actually been watching Wales lately? Unbeaten in four games, one of which was a goalless draw away to Belgium, who reached the World Cup quarter-finals!

Bale is vital to us, clearly, but so is Ronaldo to Portugal, and Messi to Argentina.

We've had good teams in the past, and some great players, but did they actually qualify for anything? No. If the current crop do get to France then they'll have made history. So let's have this harking back to the days of the 70s, 80s and 90s. Nothing was achieved.

'now they have just Ramsey and Bale surrounded by players who just are not very good at this level'. Eh?! If you think that the only decent players we possess are Bale and Ramsey, then you're very mistaken, and also just plain ignorant. Haven't you heard of Joe Allen? Ashley Williams? What about the others? They've played their part during this campaign so far, as well. Just look at the results. When most of them are Premier League players, to label them as 'just not very good at this level' is frankly insulting.

Absolutely! I know most of us bluebirds fans slag Chris Coleman off and doesn't want him to be our manager because of where hes from! but fair play to Coleman who is bringing quality youngsters into the squad and getting a good philosophy into the squad and playing good football! Why can't we do it with the likes of Bale, Ramsey, Allen and so on, we've could actually win the group or not definitely get 2nd place, so win on Saturday will be massive for qualifying for France!

You can see that most Coleman haters are CCFC supporters, which is telling.

It's disappointing that George Williams, one of the very promising youngsters you mentioned, is out for 4-6 months with a ruptured ACL, because he had really made a mark. The same goes for Jonny Williams, although he might be included in the squad after all. Hopefully he is, because he was outstanding against Bosnia back in October.

If we can beat Israel, then it really does set up the Belgium game at home on June the 12th. If we can match them away from home, who's to say we can't beat them at home? And if we can do that, then top spot will be a realistic target for us. It's not impossible!

I think we have the squad just not the manager

Really? Four games unbeaten suggests that we do.

I think we have the squad just not the manager

Really? Four games unbeaten suggests that we do.

We will see if we qualify, I don't think Coleman has enough about him to get us to the finals. Certainly a good start pointswise.