They must also rely on the Republic of Ireland failing to beat world champions and Group D leaders Germany at the Aviva Stadium.
Advertisement
Eight of Brazil’s World Cup final starting 11 came to Dublin on a bitter February night in 2004 and played like they’d rather be anywhere else on earth in a stupefying 0-0.
Ireland can only be certain of a place if they win in Dublin.
Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark is definitely ruled out with a quad problem, while fellow centre-half Marc Wilson has remained at Stoke City for treatment on a calf injury, which will be assessed later in the week. Then there’s Robbie Keane, who will be in a great mood with the new addition to his family. “Yeah, but he didn’t”. Wales are a bit like Scotland in that it’s been so long and they’ll feel like they’ve done the hard work. These are the type of games that you want to be playing in.
“The heat is on, the pressure is on, and this is where you find things out about yourself. They should enjoy it, that’s what the game is about”.
The Boys in Green weren’t thinking too much about the permutations and combinations around various Group D results this week when they spoke to the media today in Abbotstown.
It’s going to be a walk in the park and I can see them winning four or five nil as a lot of guys will be really hungry to make the most of their opportunity.
The last team to prevent loss in both matches against Germany in a EURO qualifying campaign was Turkey in EURO 2000 qualifying.
For the neutral or the outsider, the sheer volume of offensive talent available to Germany is as exciting as Low believes the match itself will be, highlighting the “amazing atmosphere” the teams are likely to face in Dublin. Mind you, it does not secure the top of the group, but the point is to get into the tournament. When the anthems blare out into the Lansdowne Road evening, it will be the 12th time Ireland have faced reigning World Cup holders across our footballing history. Factor those two games out, and that leaves Ireland with six goals scored in six games.
If Poland defeat Scotland, there is of course no possibility of going up in the table, but it would at least mean that the four-point cushion on the Tartan Army would be maintained.
O’Neill has lost just one of those 11 matches (W6 D4).
Wales and Northern Ireland are set to give British football a boost by sealing qualification for Euro 2016 this week, joining England at next summer’s tournament in France.
How many teams qualify before the play-offs in November?
Once the group stages conclude, when are the play-offs?
Advertisement
Muller has been in impeccable form for both, country and club, recently scoring a brace to help his side destroy rivals Borussia Dortmund 5-1. So, it’ll be a hell of fight in Hampden and, if I had to call it, I could see it finishing in a draw. The Irish have improved – but so have Germany.
