Republic Of Ireland Should Win Very Tight Playoff First Leg
Republic Of Ireland travel to Estonia on Friday night knowing that qualification for Euro 2012 is just two games away but few teams have had as much playoff heartbreak as Republic Of Ireland so they will be giving Estonia maximum respect. Anything but a defeat would be classed as a decent result with Republic Of Ireland very much expected to win the return leg on Tuesday but Republic Of Ireland have to get used to wearing the favourites' tag ahead of this tie.
The main selection dilemma that Giovanni Trapattoni faces is who to partner Robbie Keane up front, Kevin Doyle is suspended whilst Shane Long and Leon Best are both unavailable so a decision between Stoke forward Jonathan Walters and West Brom's Simon Cox will be made close to kick off. John O'Shea is out injured so Stephen Kelly fills in at right back for the Sunderland defender. Kelly is joined in defence by Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger and Stephen Ward whilst Shay Given is fit to play despite complaints of a stiff neck during the week. The quartet of Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan, Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady will make up the Republic Of Ireland midfield.
Republic Of Ireland will be well fancied to win this game and it is not hard to see why considering how close they came to topping a group containing one of the favourites to win Euro 2012 Russia. Just two points ended up separating those teams whilst Estonia finished ten points behind their group winners Italy. Republic Of Ireland should win this game but an even safer bet is under 2.5 goals in this fixture. Republic Of Ireland have conceded just once in their last five competitive matches and averaged a goal a game during that period whilst Estonia are hardly prolific scorers, they finished their group with a goal difference of just one goal in the positive.