When you have to wait over four months between international games, it’s easy to forget that matches like these are downright huge.
Ireland are top of their World Cup qualifying group and they have a chance to move seven clear of their neighbours on Friday night. It’s the classic six-pointer even if it all inevitably points to another 1-1 draw.
With Serbia away to Georgia on the same evening, Martin O’Neill and his men could honestly be looking at having one foot in Russia by the end of proceedings at Lansdowne Road – if they really go for it.
But they probably won’t.
That’s why the bookies are crazy to be dishing out these sort of odds on a draw.
2/1. For an Ireland game. At home. Against a decent side.
Don’t ever not back Ireland at 1-1, especially when the kind folk at Ladbrokes are being so generous.
These games creep up on you and you tend to not worry as much about Robbie Brady or Harry Arter or Wes Hoolahan being unavailable until kickoff comes and you’re then cursing every one of them, including God himself, for hating you.
It’s going to be a massive clash with a huge atmosphere at the Aviva come 7.45pm and the FAI have produced a very special match-day programme to mark the occasion.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSBmYkSFaOH/
That’s going to be a great keepsake. It’s also going to be 1-1.
