Slovakia v Republic of Ireland
REP OF IRELAND Three Reasons to be Cheerful
1 They have an excellent pedigree in major tournament play-offs, successfully taking that route to the 2002 World Cup and European Championships of 2012 and 2016. 2 Mick McCarthy has a valiant, never-say-die bunch. Hence the late equalisers in qualifying draws against Switzerland and Denmark. 3 With skipper Seamus Coleman ruled out with a thigh injury, Wolves’ outstanding right-back Matt Doherty should more than compensate as a replacement. His flair for goals could be Ireland’s not-so secret weapon.
Three Fear Factors
1 They have been short of attacking firepower for quite some time and during qualification they only scored seven goals in eight fixtures, which is a poor return in anyone’s book. Shane Long, who has scored many a vital goal for the Irish, would be the answer if he was not so injury prone. 2 McCarthy’s visceral unwillingness to blood youngsters, even though they have a number of promising fledgling forwards such as Aaron Connolly, Michael Obafemi, Troy Parrott and Adam Idah.
3 The financial and structural shambles that is the FAI and huge net liabilities of more than €55million point to an existential crisis. How can the players not be affected?
SLOVAKIA Three Reasons to be Cheerful
1 Much-coveted centre-back Milan Skriniar and creative midfielder Marek Hamsik. The latter, now aged 32 and enjoying one last pay day in China with Dalian Professional, is not quite the player he once was, yet he remains a genuine game changer.
2 Dynamic, industrious and tactically astute, their midfield is a highly complimentary unit, comprising Hamsik, solid defensive midfielder Stanislav Lobotka and box-to-box operative Juraj Kucka.
3 Emerging talent Robert Bozenik, who recently left MSK Zilina for Dutch side Feyenoord, looks to have a great international future. The 24-year-old has netted four goals in his last five national team starts.
Three Fear Factors
1 They have never beaten the Republic of Ireland and the five head-to-heads are made up of four draws and a 1-0 defeat in Dublin in 2007. The absence of injured keeper Martin Dubravka will not help matters, either. 2 Normally Slovak coach Pavel Hapal goes with a compact 4-3-3 system, which leaves acres of wide room for opponents to exploit. This should be meat and drink to an old-school Irish side that loves to put in as many crosses as humanly possible.
3 Any home advantage in Bratislava may be negated by the Slovak government’s decision to play the game behind closed doors following coronavirus cases in the country.