Crucial match in World Cup Qualification Group D on Friday evening when Ireland host Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The two teams have met thirteen times before, mostly in international friendly matches, and each of the two sides won five times. However, Ireland have been better than Wales recently, they haven't lost a direct match since 1992 and have won three of the last six matches since that defeat. The two teams were in the same qualification group for Euro 2008 and back then Ireland won 1-0 at home and drew 2-2 in Wales.
Ireland are at the top of the table in Group D after four matches, they have won the last three after having started out with a 2-2 draw in Serbia. A victory against Wales would further cement their position, but they could remain at the top of the table even in case of a draw. Last time out they secured a 1-0 victory in Austria, their third consecutive win. Manager Martin O'Neil has a few problems ahead of this match as Robbie Brady is suspended and Shane Duffy and Ciaran Clark have not been called up due to injuries. James McCarthy, Shane Long and Jonny Hayes are fitness doubts ahead of the match.
Wales are unbeaten so far in Group D as well, but they have won just one of their four matches. They started the campaign with a comfortable 4-0 home victory over Moldova, but after that they recorded draws against Austria, Georgia and Serbia. That string of results leaves them out of the qualification spots at the moment, with Serbia two points ahead in second place and Ireland another two points away. Victory in Dublin would put Wales right back into the qualification race, but a defeat could leave them out for good.
Probable line-ups:
Ireland: Randolph - Coleman, Keogh, O'Shea, Ward - McCarthy, Whelan, Hendrick - Walters, Long, McClean
Wales: Hennessey - Chester, Williams, Davies - Gunter, Allen, Ramsey, Ledley, Taylor - Robson-Kanu, Bale
My prediction: Wales to win 1-0.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Ireland win - 2.50
Draw - 3.10
Wales win - 3.30
03/23/17, 10:03:36 PM
