World Cup 2014 Qualification Group C fixtures announced

THE Republic of Ireland’s path to the next FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014 has been confirmed, with the boys in green set to both begin and end the next qualification campaign with games against Kazakhstan.

Ireland travel to Kazakhstan in the first competitive game after Euro 2012, with that fixture pencilled in for September 7th. The Irish have just one game in September, before hosting Group C favourites Germany at the Aviva Stadium and travelling to the Faroe Islands in an October double header.

That the more 'awkward' traveling to away games in Kazakhstan and the Faroes are coming immediately after the Euros will delight the many Irish fans who wouldn't opt to make those long trips - and will have time to get the bank balances in order before heading to Sweden in March 2013.

Ireland’s final game in Group C is a home clash with Kazakhstan on October 15th 2013.

Ireland’s fixtures for the campaign were agreed at the HQ of the DFB in Frankfurt and team manager Giovanni Trapattoni has welcomed the timing of the fixtures.

“This is a good fixture schedule for our team with a good balance to the matches,” said Trapattoni this morning.

“We finish the campaign at home and start with a single away match against Kazakhstan which was important given the long distances involved.

“I am also happy with the balance obtained in the double headers and the timing of what we would expect to be some of the key matches in the group.”

Trapattoni’s current contract runs out at the end of Euro 2012, but having obtained qualification to the country’s first European finals since 1988 the Italian looks set to win a new deal.

Talks to thrash out a new contract until Brazil 2014 for Trapattoni and his team of Marco Tardelli, Fausto Rossi and Alan Kelly will begin in the coming weeks.

Despite suggestions that a much-reduced financial package would be put forward by the cash-strapped FAI, Trapattoni said this week that the signing of a new deal was ‘a formality’.

Half of his salary is funded by businessman Denis O’Brien and Trapattoni said, before flying back to Italy on Wednesday, that he had met with O’Brien. “He and other sponsors support us,” said Trapattoni.

"I say, with a little arrogance, that we deserve this agreement. We deserve to continue because in the future, we can make good results. I believe in this squad."

Meanwhile, in order for Group C teams in Ireland’s World Cup qualifying group to reach a final agreement on fixtures, teams had to agree to the unusual departure of playing one game in early June 2012.

The Faroe Islands v Austria game will take place before Euro 2012, a proposal that has been given the backing of UEFA.


IRELAND’S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING FIXTURES

September 7, 2012
Kazakhstan v Republic of Ireland

October 12, 2012
Republic of Ireland v Germany

October 16, 2012
Faroe Islands v Republic of Ireland

March 22, 2013
Sweden v Republic of Ireland

March 26, 2013
Republic of Ireland v Austria

June 7, 2013
Republic of Ireland v Faroe Islands

September 6, 2013
Republic of Ireland v Sweden

September 10, 2013
Austria v Republic of Ireland

October 11, 2013
Germany v Republic of Ireland

October 15, 2013
Republic of Ireland v Kazakhstan