A look at Ireland's World Cup 2018 qualification Opposition

In light of the recent World Cup qualification groupings we take a quick look at the opposition Martin O’Neil’s men will have to overcome to qualify for the 2018 World Cup to be hosted by Russia. Ireland ‘s 52^nd spot in the FIFA Rankings mean they are only the fourth highest ranked team in this group of six.

Wales

The Valleymen have only qualified for the World Cup, indeed any major competition, once in their history, the 1958 World Cup where they were quarter finalists. They currently top their group for EURO 2016 qualification and as the highest ranked team in Group D and containing many names that will need no introduction, they look set to bury that hoodoo. 

FIFA Rank: 10^th

Star Man: Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale could be the Welsh’s wing wizard and the world’s most expensive player is one to watch.

Austria

Austria finished ahead of Ireland in their last World Cup qualifying campaign but their third place finish, ahead of Ireland’s fourth, wasn’t enough to take them to Brazil. That group contained eventual World Cup winners Germany and a talented Swedish side. The Austrians managed a win and a draw against Ireland then and they will fancy their chances in this group.  If Ireland are to qualify it may well come down to their head to heads. Irish fans will get a chance to evaluate them before the World Cup as they look certain to qualify for EURO 2016, currently they lead a group containing Sweden and Russia.

FIFA Rank: 15^th

Star Man: David Alaba. The Bayern Munich player usually fills in at left back for his club but operates as a center midfielder for his country. His goals were crucial in both fixtures against Ireland in the last FIFA World Cup campaign.

Serbia

Serbia did not qualify for the last World Cup but they made the group stages of the South African World Cup. Prior to this they were group stage participants in Germany’s 2006 World Cup competition as Serbia and Montenegro.

Although Ireland have played a number of friendlies against Serbia in the past decade, you’d have to go back to the European Championship of 2000 for their last competitive pairing when they pipped the Boys in Green to qualify from group C – then playing as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. That said there are many names in the Serbian side that followers of the Premiership will be familiar with; they boast Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and Manchester City’s Aleksandar Kolarov in their backline. Other EPL players in their current playing squad include: Nemanja Matic (Chelsea), Lazar Markovic (Liverpool) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United). They failed to qualify for EURO 2016 and are currently bottom of their group with -2 points due to a points deduction from UEFA following a pitch invasion.

FIFA Rank: 43^rd

Star Man: Branislav Ivanovic: The Chelsea man is captain and an important player for the Serbs.

Moldova

Like Georgia this nation played its first competive games in the early ‘90s following the break-up of the Soviet Union.  They are ranked as one of Europe’s weakest teams and most of their squad hails from clubs in the Divizia Nacionala, Moldova’s national league. They currently prop up their European Group G, a group which is currently headed by Austria.

FIFA Rank: 124^th

Star Man: Alexandru Epureanu (Istanbul Basaksehir). The captain is Moldova’s most capped player of the current squad.

Georgia

Ireland’s lowest ranked opposition have never qualified for a major competition and will play Ireland in September as part of the EURO 2016 campaign. They almost caused an upset in Tbilisi when Okriashvili of Belgiums’ Racing Genk’s 38^th minute goal equalled out Aidan McGeady’s earlier strike. Only a second goal from McGeady on 90 minutes saved face, and the points, for the Boys in Green.

FIFA Rank: 153^rd

Star Man: Jaba Kankava. Kankava plays for Ukranian Premier League side FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and the captain is the first name on manager Kakhaber Tskhadadze’s teamsheet.