Euro 2016 Qualifier preview and odds: Poland vs. Republic of Ireland

Published on: 10/10/2015

Euro 2016 Qualifier preview and odds: Poland vs. Republic of Ireland

October 11, 2015 19:45pm Astana Arena

Euro 2016 Group D

Poland and the Republic of Ireland will battle it out for an automatic place at next years European Championship Finals when they face each other in Warsaw on Sunday night.

Play-offs guaranteed for both sides

Both teams are assured of a place in the Euro 2016 play-offs - as are Group D leaders Germany - but only two of the three nations can progress directly to the tournament in France.

There are many mathematical permutations that could come into play, but a win for either side would definitely seal a top-two finish. If the teams draw, things could get slightly more complicated, with the result of Germany`s game against Georgia, and the number of goals scored coming into play. All of the previous competitive matches between the sides have finished as draws.

If Germany lose against Georgia and the game in Warsaw ends all-square, the three contenders will all finish on the same points total. In this scenario, Ireland would finish as Group D leaders based on head-to-head results and Germany would be forced to enter the play-offs.

When the teams met back in March, it took a last-gasp goal from Shane Long to level the scores at 1-1 and earn a vital point for the Republic. That game was the third time that the teams had met in a competitive environment and the third time that they had played out a stalemate.

Team news

Republic of Ireland will be without goalkeeper Shay Given who has been ruled out after picking up a knee injury in Thursday`s win against Germany. He will be replaced in the squad by Newcastle Uniteds number two shot-stopper Rob Elliot. James McClean and Glenn Whelan are both available for selection after serving suspensions, as are Seamus Coleman and Marc Wilson who have both recovered well from injury.

Recent form (Euro Qualifying)

Poland: DWLWD

Republic of Ireland: WWWDD

Betting odds and tips

Poland are strong on their own turf and have remained unbeaten in their last six home qualifiers. Their last defeat came against neighbours Ukraine back in 2013.

Ireland are pretty handy on the road having lost just once during their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. That loss came against Scotland 11 months ago and was their only defeat in their last 17 Euro qualification matches.

These sides are very evenly-matched: Poland have home advantage and are much more fruitful in attack but Ireland have won their last three in a row and have only lost one of their last 11 Euro away Qualifiers. The draw looks like a good bet at 33/13 with Marathon bet.

Ajax striker Arek Milik has scored 6 goals in nine appearances during qualifying and can be backed at 12/5 with Bet365 to score anytime in this match.

Published on: 10/10/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (10/10/2015 10:50:21) but are subject to change.