Ireland Face Table Toppers Poland In Group D

The Republic of Ireland will host Poland on Sunday looking to make further headway in their bid to qualify for the European Championships from Group D. The hosts currently sit in fourth position in the table, one of three teams on seven points after their first four games. A win would see them move to 10 points, seeing them move onto the same number of points as their opponents, league leaders Poland. A defeat could see Ireland be cut adrift in fourth position with second placed Germany facing fifth placed Georgia and Scotland, in third, playing bottom of the table Gibraltar.

Indeed, whilst a win for Poland would see them extend their lead at the top of the group, losing to the Reupblic of Ireland could potentially see four teams all on 10 points.

Martin O`Neill`s hosts have moved up one position in the FIFA world rankings, they now occupying 66th place in the world. Their opponents, however, have made serious movements in the rankings, being shunted up six places since the last reconfiguration. Fourth placed Germany are the group`s top ranked side, leading the way as the number one team in the world.

Despite finding themselves beneath Poland in both the world rankings and the Group D standings, the Republic of Ireland`s home advantage means that they are the favourites to scoop all three points on Sunday. O`Neill`s men can currently be picked up at 13/8 at Betvictor in what should be a close encounter. Otherwise, william hill have the best price on an away win, that being 21/10. A draw has been installed at 23/10 at Bwin.

O`Neill`s side have played four qualification games since the September of 2014. They have picked up two wins, a draw and a defeat, scoring 10 goals, conceding three and keeping one clean sheet.

The lion`s share of these 10 goals came at home to bottom club Gibraltar, they being seen off in a 7-0 humiliation. Robbie Keane bagged a hat-trick in the first 20 minutes of this game before James McClean grabbed a second half brace. Wes Hoolahan was the only other Irish player to hit the back of the net after Jordan Perez put the ball in the back of his own goal.

These three goals mean that Keane is his country`s top scorer in this qualification campaign. He can be backed at 27/10 (888sport, unibet) to add to his tally at any time whilst Betvictor`s 6/1 says that he will grab the first goal of the game once again. The LA galaxy man is currently being offered at 90/1 (william hill) to scoop his second hat-trick of the campaign.

Both McClean and Aiden McGeady, who grabbed both goals away at Georgia in their 2-1 victory, have contributed braces. They are both available at 80/1 (McClean: bet365, McGeady: Betvictor) to score at least two goals again on Sunday. Poland are unbeaten in their qualifying campaign, winning three of their four matches and drawing just once. That tie was picked up in their 2-2 draw with Scotland. This has been the only time that Adam Nawalka`s side have conceded during this qualification campaign, winning the other three by a number of goals to nil. Numerous bookmakers have odds of 7/2 on Poland securing their fourth win to nil against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday.

Having also beaten Gibraltar by seven goals to nil as well as defeating Germany 2-0 and Georgia 4-0, Poland have scored over 1.5 goals in all of their four qualification matches. They are available at a price of 5/2 (Coral) to continue this streak of goal scoring form.

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25/03/2015     © Frixo 2024