https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/128270328/all-whites-eye-peru-ahead-of-world-cup-playoff-costa-ricas-buildup-takes-shape
Italy-based right back Niko Kirwan is the only player at risk of missing major matches for his club, Padova. If they don’t finish first in group C of third-tier Serie C, they will have to take part in a playoff series for a shot at promotion to Serie B, which culminates in a home-and-away final on June 5 and 12.
Italy-based right back Niko Kirwan is the only player at risk of missing major matches for his club, Padova. If they don’t finish first in group C of third-tier Serie C, they will have to take part in a playoff series for a shot at promotion to Serie B, which culminates in a home-and-away final on June 5 and 12.
Absolutely beats me, AV!
They changed the rules a few seasons back. I guess it's supposed to make the end of the season more exciting and to give more teams something to play for. Top teams in each of the 3 groups to straight up and Teams 2-10 battle it out in a gruelling play off series for the last remaining spot.
I am very much against it. With all the problems Italian football has, the last thing you need is a mid table Serie C team fluking it into the second tier and then either being unable to compete or not having enough capital to do so.
I also feel that's tremendously unfair to the second placed
teams, like Padova at the moment who are on a different level to the rest of their group.
If you look at Group A, you have Sudtirol on 83, Padova on 81 and 3rd placed FeralpiSalò is on 62.
Similar story in Group B: Modena 81, Reggiana 77 and Cesena 63.
It's more even in the southern group (C) with already promoted Bari leading on 75, Catanzaro on 62 and Avellino on 61.
I think they should either increase the number of teams getting promoted/relagated, or maybe play off the 2nd placed teams and maybe the best placed 3rd. Or reduce the size of Serie C altogether!
Though to be devil's advocate Niko's Reggiana did get promoted via the playoffs a few years ago and what an amazing play off campaign that was...
Still, if Padova or Reggiana, don't make it after having such a stellar season, that would be a real heartbreak moment.
I'm very hoepfuly for Padova. I was critical of their coach being let go with the team being firmly in second place but Oddo is doing a good job and Sudtirol seem to finally have run out of legs so anything is still possible.
The two teams are actually plating tomorrow in the Serie C Cup Final. The game is essentially a dead rubber (other than for silverware) as both teams are guaranteed, at worst, a place in the play offs (which is the prize for winning the Cup).
I feel that if Niko and Co can roll them over, it would send a very strong message especially since they are going to play each other again in a few days in the league where Padova could pull off the mother of all comebacks!