Feeling the tension?
There’s just a few hours to go until we find out if Ireland are going to reach the European Championships next summer in France.
Stop for a minute and think how different your June next year will be if the country has collectively lost its mind while 40,000+ fans make the relatively short hop to France to cheer on the Boys in Green.
Now imagine we don’t make it – you’ll struggle to round up a few friends to go for a pint and watch a game on a Tuesday night.
That’s how much is at stake tonight at the Aviva.
Robbie Brady’s away goal gives Ireland a slight advantage, but there’s a long night ahead as extra-time and penalties could well come into the equation.
We asked you what starting XI Martin O’Neill should choose for this defining match of his reign. Here’s what you came up with:
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland XI: Randolph, Coleman, O'Shea, Keogh, Brady, McCarthy, Whelan, Walters, Hoolohan, McClean, Long.
— Matthew Riordan (@Riordan_Matt) November 15, 2015
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Randolph, Coleman, Keogh, O’Shea, Wilson McCarthy, Whelan, McClean, Brady Hoolahan Walters ?????
— Sean Ward (@SeanWard014) November 15, 2015
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Randolph, Coleman, Keogh, O’Shea, Brady, McClean, Whelan, McCarthy, Hendrick, Hoolahan, Walters. — Robbie Mulcaire (@RobbieMulcaire) November 15, 2015
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Randolph,Coleman,Keogh,Clark,Wilson, Whelan,McCarthy,Hendrick,Brady,Hoolahan and Long
— David Cahill (@DavidCahill99) November 15, 2015
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Randolph Coleman keogh Clark ward whelan McCarthy Brady Hendrick mcclean Walters — Röb Fitzpatrick (@storybud115) November 15, 2015
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Randolph, Coleman, Keogh, Clark, Wilson, Walters, McCarthy, Hendrick, Whelan, Brady, Murphy.
— Sean (@xstlfc) November 15, 2015
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Randolph, Coleman,Keogh, Clarke, Wilson, Walters, Mccarthy, Whelan, Brady,Hooligan, Long. — Joe Burke (@burkey2859) November 15, 2015
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Randolph,Coleman, O’Shea, Keogh, Wilson, McGeady, Whelan, McCarthy, Hendriks, Walters, Long (hopefully all fit)
— Danny McGarry (@DannyMcGarry2) November 15, 2015
Not to mention the compulsory Team of Gary Breens.
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland 1. Gary Breen 2.Gary Breen 3 . Gary Breen 4.Gary Breen 5.Gary Breen 6.Gary Breen 7.Gary Breen 8.Gary Breen etc. — Fr Ed O’Toole (@EdOToole1) November 15, 2015
And there’s always a couple of dreamers.
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland Bonner Irwin, Mcgrath, Dunne, Harte Houghton , Roy Keane, Giles, L Brady Quinn , Robbie Keane World Beaters
— stephen kearney (@stephenkearney7) November 15, 2015
@SportsJOEdotie @SPARIreland given O’Shea dunne breen irwin walters keane McCarthy duff keane long
— Stephen (@Tonerrrrrrr) November 15, 2015
We also asked SportsJOE Football Correspondent Conán Doherty to pick the line up he would like to see start tonight. He wants O’Neill to make three changes from the draw in Zenica, but has no place for John O’Shea, who is available again after suspension.
Darren Randolph keeps hold of the No1 shirt having barely put a foot wrong since replacing Shay Given against Germany,
The back four consists of Seamus Coleman (obviously), Richard Keogh with Ciaran Clark keeping his place ahead of O’Shea. Marc Wilson comes on for Stephen Ward at left back.
Glenn Whelan drops out of the midfield in favour of the more attacking option of Jonathan Walters, while Shane Long comes in for Daryl Murphy, assuming he passes a late fitness test.
Whatever the starting XI, it promises to be a very tense evening.
Brought to you by SPAR, a proud partner of the FAI
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