The end of another qualifying campaign is upon us. Contrary to our predictions four months ago, Ireland are still in with a shout of a playoff place at the very least, thanks not so much to outstanding results on our own part, but rather Scotland's meltdown in Tbilisi. All we have to do to ensure a playoff is match Scotland's result vs Poland. That said, these two matches are extremely difficult, and the injury picture for Ireland isn't looking good. Seamus Coleman is almost certainly out, and today doubts emerged over Wes Hoolahan's fitness. We'll still have O'Shea and McCarthy through the spine of the team, but with Whelan and McClean suspended for Germany, it's starting to look more like a second-string XI. If we are to be a bit pessimistic (realistic?), and assume that we won't pick up three points against the World Champions, then our hopes of automatic qualification are slim, and our hopes of a playoff place dependent on matching Scotland's result vs Poland in Glasgow. Dare we be greedy and hope for a draw there, giving us some chance of automatic qualification in Warsaw on Sunday? Not me. I hope Lewandowski and co. trounce the Scots, making our match in Warsaw on Sunday an easy-going dead rubber (probably a dull 0-0 draw). We'll take our chances in the playoffs. Republic of Ireland squad: David Forde (Milwall), Shay Given (Stoke City), Darren Randolph (West Ham United); Richard Keough (Derby County), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie (Derby County), John O’Shea (Sunderland), Alex Pearce (Derby County), Paul McShane (Reading), Stephen Ward (Burnley), Robbie Brady (Norwich City), Marc Wilson (Stoke City); James McCarthy (Everton), Jeff Hendrick (Derby County), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Aiden McGeady (Everton), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Judge (Brentford), David Meyler (Hull City), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Eunan O’Kane (Bournemouth), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town), Jonathan Walters (Stoke City), Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town).
The internets tell me it will be on ESPN3. Which means I can watch it while I'm at work. On my iPod. Mad stuff.
Coleman is out, but Hoolahan and Gibson are available for selection. O'Neill says that Coleman should be ready for Poland on Sunday.
Cyrus Christie to RB now, right? I also read that Wilson is out so we re really short at the back. My guess: Given Christie-O'Shea-Keogh-Brady McCarthy-Hendrick Walters-Hoolahan-McGeady Long
Is Coleman that big of a loss? He's a great player but do any of you remember any stand out performance when he's wearing green?
Wow some performance that was. Probably the best result since Holland in 2001 and perhaps even better than that. The no-name players really stepped it up - Christie, Keogh, Randolph.
It wasn't as good as the Dutch result. 1. That was for the WC 2. We did it with ten men. 3. I was there