Match by match the story of our campaign.....
September 2nd 2006 Germany away
We’ll play the team that will win bronze in this summer’s World Cup. Germany will be suffering from the usual post-World Cup hangover. We’ll be jittery and full of teething problems, but we’ll display huge resolve and determination to start well. Prediction 0-0.
October 7th 2006 Cyprus away.
No dodgy performance this time round. Catch the Cypriot Indian summer and add 3pts to our tally. Prediction 0-3.
October 11th Czech Republic at home.
The last significant game in Lansdowne, prior to a San Marino epilogue. The Czech republic are at the beginning of a new era with Nedved and co. definitively retired from the international stage. A hugely enthusiastic crowd for the first home game of the campaign. The team doesn’t disappoint. Prediction 2-0.
November 15th 2006 San Marino at home.
Terribly emotional night. There will be no errors this evening. All the Irish players want to score the last goal at the old Lansdowne. A rout. Prediction 5-0.
February 7th 2007 San Marino away.
Start the new year where we left off in 2006 with a siege on the San Marino goal. Prediction 0-4. Thirteen points out of a possible fifteen. Flying high. Set up for a fall?
March 24th 2007 Wales at home.
The single most hyped international sporting moment in the history of Irish sport. The atmosphere is unprecedented. The players respond. Wales are never really let into the game. Staunton can do no wrong. Prediction 2-0.
March 28th 2007 Slovakia at home.
Can Ireland extend their unbeaten record at Croker? They do better than that. Two early goals and a third late in the game, and we’ve taken 6 out of 6 Croke Park Points. And we’ve yet to surrender a goal. Prediction 3-0.
September 8th 2007 Slovakia away.
Rested after a summer break we travel to Bratislava. The Slovaks are still in the running for second spot. They have everything to play for. We’ve lost some momentum. We surrender an early goal. We huff we puff but the Slovaks have built their house with brick. Staunton’s first competitive defeat. Prediction 1-0.
September 12th 2007 Czech Republic away.
Phenomenal amounts of inexpensive alcohol consumed on this Eastern trip. The green army reeks and burps its way to and through Prague. We’re uncertain. We will bounce back right? Staunton won’t have hit any alarmist buttons. We’ll get something out of this trip? We don’t. Prediction 2-0.
October 13th 2007 Germany at home.
Bobby’s doing more interviews now. Stuanton smiles less. We’re back at Mother Croke. This is the big one. More hyped than the Welsh game earlier in the year. Three points for either side here and a place in the finals could be secured. The players rally. The poor eastern performances are not repeated. But the Germans won’t be toppled. Prediction 0-0. You’ll never score at Croker.
October 17th 2007 Cyprus at home.
A shivering Cypriot team. Ireland don’t play particularly well. For the first time the atmosphere goes missing in Croke Park. We do enough. Prediction 2-0.
November 17th Wales away.
23 points out of a potential 33. But Germany and the Czechs have matched us all the way. It’s a mini league of three, but we know that a draw will be enough. Ferryload after ferryload after ferryload. The Millineum Stadium glows green. Will the Welsh stop Staunton qualifying us for our 20th anniversary Euro-Finals? Predictions anybody??????
