Euro 2020

While Mick McCarthy’s men currently remain unbeaten in their quest to reach Euro 2020 – and sit proudly atop Group D, for good measure – this week is the one that might decide it all. The boys in green hit the road for two massive ties, with Georgia and Switzerland the opposition across four days that will go a long way to determine whether we’ll have something to look forward to next summer.

 

Matters get underway in Tbilisi on Saturday afternoon, with Geneva the destination on Tuesday evening – with both games live on Sky Sports Main Event, Virgin TV 401. So what’s the word before things get underway? Read on for a little primer…

 

BACK PROBLEMS

 

Ireland’s stout resistance at the back has been key to many of their most famous nights, which makes the difficulties in defence this time around altogether concerning. The reasons are varied – from Enda Stevens’ suspension to Richard Keogh’s rather more serious issue – but the upshot remains the same; with Shane Duffy also a major doubt, it will be a much-changed Irish backline charged with producing the goods…

 

GOING FOR MCGOLDRICK

 

He’s been a talismanic presence in the campaign so far, so it’s little surprise that David McGoldrick is being given every chance to recover from a hamstring strain; we wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a full scale Hollywood dash through the airport to get him on the plane in necessary! If the Sheffield United striker makes it, then we’ll breath a sigh of relief – but if he doesn’t, it opens up some interesting possibilities following an unexpectedly successful weekend…

 

GOALS GOALS GOALS

 

Well, this one’s new! A flick through the Premier League results this weekend made for wonderful reading from an Irish perspective, with scorers all over the place; a brace for Aaron Connolly against Spurs, as well as strikes for Jeff Hendrick and Conor Hourihane, while Scott Hogan grabbed a winner in the Championship too. It might be asking a bit much that they all repeat the trick this weekend, but there are reasons for positivity in front of goal – for a change!

 

THE OPPOSITION

 

OK, so it’s probably a good idea to look at the other end of the field at some point – where opponents of differing quality await. Georgia can be a tough nut to crack, but as one of the two weakest sides in the group it’s a game that any side hopeful of qualification would need to win. Switzerland, however, are a side with real talent, and in Dublin showed flashes of the quality that’s seen them reach seven of the last eight major summer tournaments. That’s why we’re already counting down to kickoff; this is where the real business begins…

 

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