After a turbulent few months, the Republic of Ireland will be hoping to end the year on a high with a decent result and performance against Greece in Dublin on Wednesday.
After getting a vote of confidence from the FAI, Giovanni Trapattoni needs his team to produce a good performance against Greece in order to help him win back the hearts and minds of a disenchanted Irish footballing public.
The Republic of Ireland face a Greek side that sit twenty-four places above them in the FIFA rankings. Greece were honourably beaten 4-2 by Germany in the Euro 2012 quarter finals and currently top their World Cup 2014 qualifying group having picked up ten points from four games.
Ireland have been installed as the bookies favourites to inflict a defeat on their opponents. The home win is priced at 8/5 with
bet365, while Paddy Power are offering 19/10 on a Greek victory. The draw is available a 23/10 with Coral.
In the absence of Robbie Keane and Jon Walters, Trapattoni has elected to pair Shane Long and Simon Cox up front for Wednesday’s encounter. Long has been in good form for high flying West Brom in the Premier League, and can be backed to score first at 11/2 with Boylesports. Paddy Power are offering 15/8 on Long netting at any time against Greece.
Controversial winger James McClean has been given a starting berth by the Italian manager, and the Sunderland man knows that this match represents a good opportunity for him to impress. McClean has yet to score at international level but Wednesday would be as good a time as any for the Derry native to ‘break his duck’. McClean is 12/1 with Paddy Power to score first and 9/2 with
Ladbrokes to score at any time.
Although his international scoring record is less than impressive – 10 goals from 62 appearances - Celtic striker Georgios Samaras should pose problems for an inexperienced Irish defence. Samaras is 17/2 with bet365 to open the scoring, and 3/1 with
Paddy Power to score at any time. Georgios Salpingidis netted the winner for Greece in their last match, a 1-0 victory over Slovakia in Bratislava. Salpingidis is priced at 9/1 with Paddy Power to score first, with the same firm offering odds of 7/2 on him scoring at any time.
Rep of Ireland v Greece is not a fixture that will appeal to the football purists, with many commentators predicting a scoreless draw. Such a result can be backed at 15/2 with SkyBet. However, given the attacking potential of the Irish midfield and the current form of Shane Long, a home victory is certainly a viable prospect.
Recommendations:
Republic of Ireland to win @ 8/5 (
bet365)
