After being robbed by the hand of a Frenchman our fate was again in the grip of our European counterparts: the four men who carried out Sunday’s Euro 2012 draw-two Polish and two Ukranian.
Luck was on the ‘Boys in Green’s’ side this time though as Ireland were handed what was unanimously regarded as a favourable draw. Giovanni Trappatoni’s charges will look to put their World Cup nightmare behind them and will feel confident having been placed in a group with Russia, Slovakia, FYR Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra.
Former Ireland international Ray Houghton was confident after the draw ‘I’m delighted,’ Houghton said. ‘The other top seeds are further ahead of us but Russia are certainly beatable. ‘I actually think we can win it, I certainly believe the number one spot is there for the taking.’
There is a confidence in Irish football after the almost successful campaign for 2010. Two of the world’s top seven sides, namely France and Italy were matched by Ireland so the Russians as the top seed in this current group should hold no fear for us.
Despite not qualifying for the World Cup the Russians have pedigree in this tournament, winning it as the USSR in 1960 and finishing runner-up on three further occasions (1964, 1972 & 1988).
Slovakia did however qualify for South Africa and Ireland boss Trappatoni believes that they will pose as big a threat to Irish hopes as the Russians will ‘Russia will be difficult and Slovakia. Slovakia are a technically good team and they are a team with a very tough mentality.’
Macedonia have cost the Republic a place at a major finals before when in 1999, Mick McCarthy’s side were denied a place at Euro 2000 by a late Goran Stavreski equaliser. They have remained tough on their own patch with Scotland losing there in their last campaign and Holland leaving with only a 2-1 win.
Andorra and Armenia should pose no such problems but the same was thought of San Marino in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2008 and Ireland nearly came unstuck there.
The grouping of England and Wales together is interesting considering they are neighbours although not particularly fierce rivals. England’s failure to qualify for the 2008 finals cost then manager Steve McClare
n his job as the ‘Three Lions’ missed their first international tournament since the World Cup in 1994.
