France analysis – the job must be done
An away goal and a clean sheet found during ninety minute of unconvincing football could just be the perfect result to push France’s way through to the finals of the World Cup in South Africa next year.
Last Saturday, Les Bleus managed to hand the Irish their first home defeat in the World Cup qualifiers through Nicolas Anelka’s 62nd minute goal.
France’s ability to triumph away from home despite playing poorly somehow shows how lucky of a side they are.
Raymond Domenech could build on this narrow but excellent result to reorganize his team as the French public expects Les Bleus to perform at their highest level.
The job for France is not done yet but no supporter will accept Les Bleus to slip and miss the finals of the World Cup which will take place in South Africa.
Not even the absence of the injured trio – Gael Clichy, Jeremy Toulalan, and Eric Abidal – will be an excuse for France to crush out from the finals of the World Cup.
The French will have to affront the hunger of Giovanni Trapattoni’s wounded Irish side who know that losing or even drawing in France cannot be options.
The Republic of Ireland analysis – tables must be overturned
The fact of having conceded a goal on home soil without scoring at the other end of the field is the beginning of the end of the Irish’s World Cup dream.
Respectable names like Robbie Keane, John O’Shea, Richard Dunne, and Shay Given who all play in the world’s most lucrative league – the English Premier League – will not want to miss on the planet’s most exciting tournament, the World Cup.
The entire Irish team will have to up their game in Paris and survive against the pressure that will be caused by France’s home support.
Finding the net will definitely be the Republic of Ireland’s number one priority whereas Trapattoni will also demand more from his defense led by the experienced John O’Shea.
Ireland’s captain Robbie Keane was his country’s savior in crucial games during the World Cup qualifiers and his team will need more of the same on Wednesday.
A couple of goals could make the day for the Irish but how will they do achieve such a wish?
Well, the Republic of Ireland could benefit from a record away crowd as it is known that Irish people are all over the world. Irish football fans will just need to turn up in numbers and create an intimidating atmosphere for the French on Wednesday night.
For Giovanni Trapattoni, the dream is not dead and he could take Raymond Domenech’s France by surprise with an aggressive and attacking performance – especially if the French do not improve the standard of the display that they showcased in Ireland.
Wednesday night will be a battle of the nerves and the wounded Irish know that they must kill before they get dead and buried by the French.
