Republic’s World Cup aspirations left hanging by a thread

THE Republic of Ireland’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup in Russia almost ended last week after their defeat to Serbia at the Aviva Stadium.

I was at the game and I thought they played very positively and could have nicked a goal with a bit of luck.

It was a game they probably deserved to get something from but the lack of a decent goalscorer again was exposed with the Serbian keeper not tested enough in a game they had plenty of possession especially after the Serbian red card.

Mathematically they are not out of the equation yet but they have to beat both Muldova and Wales at Cardiff Park if they are to have any chance of progressing.

Their goal difference is very poor and they will need a lot of luck with other results in the concluding 2 games.

With 6 of the best placed runners up from the 8 groups to qualify 3 of the qualifying spots have already been taken so there is 3 teams to come out of 5 groups and Ireland in their present predicament are looking very unlikely to make to Russia.

They should be able to beat Moldova at The Aviva Stadium and if they could bag a few goals it could be very important. Then they travel to play Wales and on the evidence of what we have seen from Wales so far in the competition Ireland should have a reasonable chance of winning. However, they are depending on other results to go their way also and if they get the rub of the green they could squeeze in but it looks unlikely at this stage.

If they had secured a point against Serbia they would be in with a great chance of making the finals.

In the meantime fans will just have to get out their rosary beads and pray for a miracle on October 9 in Cardiff as divine intervention looks like Ireland’s only way of getting to Russia now.