With one game remaining in European zone, World Cup qualification group 4, the Republic of Ireland stand on the brink of performing in the “Greatest show on Earth”. On the brink yes, but the bitter disappointment that would accompany failure to qualify is also a possibility.

In truth, Ireland must beat Switzerland in Dublin on Wednesday to most likely secure a play-off place. Only defeat for France, at home to Cyprus, would see the Republic go through, without experiencing the peril of the play-offs.

Ireland have not had the rub of the green in these games of two legged Russian roulette in the past, but that now looks like a route that the Irish would be very grateful to take on route to next summer’s festival of the beautiful game

The Swiss stand in Ireland’s way though, and a continued journey toward the FIFA World Cup Finals could be a shattered dream if they fail to beat a much improved Switzerland Team, who have scored more goals than any other team in group 4 (18), and are undefeated.

Ireland will also be without their captain Roy Keane of course, although it has to be said that when Keane”s particular brand of captaincy was absent from the, world Cup 2002 Ireland team, the Irish performed well, but in this one off game against Switzerland, they’d love to have him.

There’s still work to do then for the Irish, and the Swiss will be dreaming of victory themselves, and a chance to sneak into first or second place, in the tightest of races, that could see leaders Israel cruelly pipped at the post having no more games to play.

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | google | yahoo | technorati