REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v SLOVAKIA
Football : Euro 2012 : Qualification
Friday, September 2nd, 2011, 7:45PM GMT

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PREVIEW

The Republic of Ireland are level on points with Slovakia but top the group thanks to their superior goal difference. Russia sit in between the two so this one is tight at the top. This is going to be a crucial week for Ireland, who travel to Russia next in what might be a defining match.

Giovanni Trapattoni's side are at home and should be feeing confident as they have been in amazing form of late. Ireland have not lost any of their last 5 internationals, winning 4 of them and conceding no goals. 5 clean sheets for goalkeeper Shay Given, who has managed the same feat in his last 2 matches, playing for his club Aston Villa. With John O'Shea back to add experience to the defence, Slovakia will do well to score more than 1, if that.

Ireland should have plenty going forward too. Shane Long and Kevin Doyle have both scored for their clubs in the Premier League, and Trapattoni also has McGeady in the side, who will try and add to the goal he scored in Irelands last qualifier, where they beat Macedonia 2-1.

Slovakia and Ireland played out a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, but really Ireland should have won that one. They were pegged back after taking the lead and had Robbie Keane not missed a penalty they might just have gotten the 2-1 win.

Slovakia do look like they can give Ireland a fight though, as they have managed enough wins to get them level on points with Ireland, including an excellent 1-0 win away in Russia.

Slovakia's manager, Vladimir Weiss, is a very capable manager. He brought his side to Ireland during the qualifiers for last years World Cup and engineered a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland. He got his team to qualify for the tournament in South Africa, so this will not be a walk in the park by any means.

Ireland may have kept 5 clean sheets, but now face a Slovakia team that has scored at least once in each of their last 9 internationals.

BETTING VERDICT

I expect this to be a battle as both teams are very well matched.

However, with the Republic of Ireland in cracking form, and playing at home, go with the home team to grab a win here at a decent price

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Republic of Ireland

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take the Republic of Ireland to win @ 2.00 (Bet365)