Ireland can start Euro 2012 countdown with a win

The Republic are focused on their first major finals for ten years and can get the better of fellow finalists Czech Republic in Dublin, says Shaun Curran.

It seems to have taken an age to get to this point, but this week the Euro 2012 countdown can truly begin.

A great deal has gone on since the 16 teams who will travel to Poland and Ukraine this summer qualified for the finals in November (let’s not go there with England) but in the Republic of Ireland, the hysteria will have hardly ceased.

The green and white army are looking forward to their first major finals since Mick McCarthy took the team to Japan and South Korea for the World Cup in 2002 (Roy Keane and all that) and it has been a long ten years that have seen nothing but disappointment.

But all that is now forgotten as Giovanni Trapattoni begins preparations for Euro 2012 in earnest for what will be, despite the excitement, a terribly difficult summer.

World Cup Qualifiers - European Zone - Group B

Czech Republic win	£27.60	(19/50)
Draw	£85.00	(13/4)
Armenia win	£140.00	(6/1)

Drawn in the same group as holders Spain, Trapattoni’s home nation Italy and Croatia, the task could hardly be more difficult for a nation that has done amazingly well to ensure participation.

Ireland have been on an incredible run. Since the start of 2011, they have lost just one of 15 matches and are unbeaten in the last 11. During that run, the Irish have kept nine clean sheets and beaten Italy and held Russia and Croatia.

It is perhaps why for the first of three warm-up matches, the Republic will be pitted against fellow finalists in the shape of the Czech Republic.

The Czechs have been handed a plum draw in the Euros, making up a Group of Life that consists of Poland, Greece and Russia, but they are a far cry from the Pavel Nedved-inspired side that should have won Euro 2004 (I don’t just say that because I backed them) and that is reflected in the odds.

Ireland are priced up as the 23/20 favourites in bwin’s 3way football betting market, with the Czechs outsiders at 13/5. The draw is a 9/4 shot.

Betting on friendlies means exercising caution, as there are many variables, but Ireland have helped us by naming their team a day early and it is a strong one which includes all the big-hitters in Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Aidan McGeady and Shay Given. Even before the team news I was tempted by the price on the Irish, but having seen it, I think that the 11/10 is well worth taking.

Ireland have been on an incredible run. Since the start of 2011, they have lost just one of 15 matches and are unbeaten in the last 11. During that run, the Irish have kept nine clean sheets and beaten Italy and held Russia and Croatia.

What they lack in flair and top-notch quality, they more than make up for in organisation and commitment and Trappatoni has made them extremely difficult to beat.

The Czechs, though still capable on their day, are much easier to defeat, especially on their travels. Michal Bilek’s men have lost half of their last 14 away games, winning on just four occasions.

They were quite fortunate to qualify for the play-offs from a group that included Scotland, but saw off Montenegro to book their place in the summer to prove they can still turn on a performance on occasion.

I just don’t think those occasions happen often enough and having lost on two of their previous three trips to Dublin, I think that the Czechs may well be on the end of another defeat.

I wouldn’t break the bank with it being a friendly but the 11/10 on Ireland is worth a small play.

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