Ireland v France
Football: World Cup Play Off 1st Leg
Saturday 14th November 2009 - Kick Off 8pm

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Republic of Ireland

Ireland will go into their World Cup Play Off with France as underdogs as they will face some of World Football's top attacking talent. However the underdogs tag will suit them as they tend to raise their game against the better sides. Ireland finished as Group 8 runners up behind Italy and went through the campaign unbeaten.

Their best performance of the campaign came away at Italy in a 1-1 draw in a game they could well have won. This can only be encouraging for Giovanni Trappatoni's side and they were also minutes from beating them in Dublin last month only to concede a very late equaliser. The Irish side didn't play particularly well in some of the other games but did get the results when it mattered.

Under Trappatoni Ireland play a very defensive formation with a central midfield that doesnt get forward too often. It may not be pretty to watch but it has been effective and could be the right approach to frustrate a very talented French side.

One thing they have is great spirit and a side that will give 100 per cent effort no matter who they face. In the 2006 qualifiers Ireland went to Paris and played very well earning a 0-0 draw. The return fixture in Dublin ended in a 1-0 win for France with Thierry Henry getting the winner in a game of few chances.

Many of the Irish side that played in those games are still playing and will certiainly believe they can win. Ireland have many top class players such as keeper Shay Given, defenders Richard Dunne and John O Shea and striker Robbie Keane. These players in particular must perform and if they do can make it possible for an Irish victory.

France

Meanwhile France who played in group 7, finished runners up behind Serbia. They performed below par in many of the group games despite finishing only a point behind Serbia.

When you look at the players in the French squad its hard to believe that they haven't won the group comfortably. Henry, Benzema, Anelka too name but a few are all players who would get into any side in the world and the Irish defence will have to be at its best to contain them.

Manager Raymond Domenech isnt the most popular French Manager there's been but he did guide them to the final in 2006 but had a disastrous Euro 2008 campaign last year. In the qualifiers for that tournament they lost to Scotland 1-0 both home and away and this will surely give encouragement to Trappatoni's men.

France's results in their away fixtures in Group 7 may also be a cause of concern. The French side won 2 out of 5 and one of those was a narrow 1-0 win at the Faroe Islands, one of the minnows of European Football. They also lost 3-1 in Austria.

France's first choice goalkeepers are not heading into this game on great form either. Last Sunday Lyon drew 5-5 with Marseille in an incredible game but the two goalkeepers in Lyon's Hugo Lloris and Marseille's Steve Mandanda are battling to be France's first choice keepers. Not exactly a confidence boost ahead of two huge play off games.

France will be favourites for this but I think will be very tight over the two legs and in Dublin Ireland certainly have every chance of getting a result. It could be a moment of magic that is the difference and with France's talent it certainly gives them the edge overall, although France will be without Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Arsenal's Gael Clichy through injury.

Full Qualifying Results

Ireland's Qualifiers
Georgia 1-2 Ireland
Montenegro 0-0 Ireland
Ireland 1-0 Cyprus
Ireland 2-1 Georgia
Ireland 1-1 Bulgaria
Italy 1-1 Ireland
Bulgaria 1-1 Ireland
Cyprus 1-2 Ireland
Ireland 2-2 Italy
Ireland 0-0 Montenegro

France's Qualifiers
Austria 3-1 France
France 2-1 Serbia
Romania 2-2 France
Lithuania 0-1 France
France 1-0 Lithuania
Faroe Islands 0-1 France
France 1-1 Romania
Serbia 1-1 France
France 5-0 Faroe Islands
France 3-1 Austria

VERDICT

A DRAW is a likely outcome and is available at 11/5. Ireland +1 Handicap at the short price of 8/15 is also well worth a bet.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Ireland 0-0 France

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Consider the DRAW