Ireland striker Robbie Keane will probably line up for the home side despite his wife having just given birth – as Roy Keane said on Tuesday, unless he’s breast feeding there’s no reason he shouldn’t play.
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Ireland took one point in last match against Germany thanks to late equalizer John O’Shea scored in 94 minute. Ciaran Clark and Marc Wilson are ruled out, as are Glenn Whelan and James McClean (suspended).
O’Neill, who was joined at his pre-match press conference by skipper Keane, added: “Obviously selfishly, I would like to qualify for myself and the backroom staff, but for a few of the players, including the man beside me here, it would be terrific”.
Germany coach Joachim Loew says his side will face a tougher task in Thursday’s Euro 2016 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland than they did in Glasgow last month.
“I hope things will go the same way for us as they did back then”, said Boateng, who is set to win his 55th cap. “If you were saying would I take the playoffs now, there’s no point in beating around the bush – yeah”.
We won’t find out Irelands starting eleven for tonights Euro qualifier with Germany until just before kick off.
Cyrus Christie did acquit himself well in Portugal against Gibraltar, but you’re really talking about an amateur team there.
“We are a stronger team now; like in any campaign, teams improve”. Diego Maradona came to Lansdowne Road in 1980 and was the only bright point in an otherwise deathly boring 1-0 win for Argentina. We will be ready.
Ireland’s record goalscorer and all-round player of national pride, Keane is still in good scoring form at club level in MLS with LA Galaxy, and he has long since been noted as prolific on the global scene. “But it is also possible that the Irish, despite this, will be more defensively oriented”. They have everything to play for.
Germany (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Emre Can, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Jonas Hector; Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger; Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, Marco Reus; Mario Gotze.
The Die Mannschaft have won their last five matches on the spin to move to the top of the table, including victories over Poland and Scotland in the last round of fixtures. Four of the matches have ended in stalemates.
Despite standing on the verge of securing a play-off place to qualify for next summer’s tournament, pessimism percolates through Irish football.
David Meyler will ignore Bastian Schweinsteiger’s glittering CV if he gets the chance to go head-to-head with him in the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 showdown with Germany.
“Both ourselves and the Republic have to play Poland, so it looks like they will be the deciding games”. Being four points ahead of the Irish themselves, all that ze Germans need is a win to ensure mathematical qualification to the finals.
Absolutely – it will be screened live on Sky Sports 1 in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
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Global viewers can see their viewing options here.
