Getting harder.
The Republic of Ireland are heading into the decisive week of Martin O’Neill’s reign with the games against Germany in Dublin on Thursday and Poland in Warsaw next Sunday deciding our Euro 2016 fate.
By the end of this day next week we will know whether we are qualified for the tournament in France, into a two-legged play-off next month or watching enviously at home as the festivities unfold next summer.
But O’Neill has been dealt a blow before these vital games with the news that Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark has been ruled out of both matches with a quad injury.
Clark started in the victories over Georgia and Gibraltar last month and would have certainly been in the starting XI against the world champions on Thursday night.
On the back of the suspensions to Glenn Whelan and James McClean, the injury to Clark forces O’Neill to further reshuffle his already thin pack.
Seamus Coleman has been named in the squad but O’Neill faces an anxious wait to see if he is passed fit to play for Everton in Sunday’s Merseyside derby.
Harry Arter and Stephen Quinn have also been ruled out of both games through injury.
The revised Ireland squad, who will arrive in Dublin today ahead of this huge week for Irish football, is as follows:
Goalkeepers
David Forde
Shay Given
Darren Randolph
Defenders

Richard Keogh
Seamus Coleman
Cyrus Christie
John O’Shea
Alex Pearce
Paul McShane
Stephen Ward
Robbie Brady
Marc Wilson
Midfielders
James McCarthy
Jeff Hendrick
Glenn Whelan
Aiden McGeady
James McClean
Alan Judge
David Meyler
Wes Hoolahan
Eunan O’Kane
Forwards
Robbie Keane
Shane Long
Daryl Murphy
Jonathan Walters
Kevin Doyle
David McGoldrick
