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Kazakhstan up first on the road to Brazil 2014

The Republic of Ireland’s fixture list for World Cup 2014 qualifying was confirmed this morning.

IRELAND’S JOURNEY TO the 2014 World Cup will begin not with a single step, but with a 10,000-kilometre round trip to the city of Astana.

Games against the minnows of Kazakhstan, currently ranked 129th in the world, will book-end Ireland’s qualification campaign which begins on 7 September 2012.

But the Group C fixture list, confirmed by the FAI following meetings in Frankfurt yesterday and today, hasn’t been quite as kind to Ireland for the remainder of the campaign.

A visit to top seeds and probable group toppers Germany has been fixed as the penultimate game, a trip which Ireland could find themselves needing points from if they are to make the pot for the finals in Brazil.

Giovanni Trapattoni — who is still waiting on a contract that would see him remain on as manager for the campaign — welcomed the fixture list this morning.

“This is a good fixture schedule for our team with a good balance to the matches,” Trapattoni said.

“We finish the campaign at home and start with a single away match against Kazakhstan which was important given the long distances involved.

I am also happy with the balance obtained in the double headers and the timing of what we would expect to be some of the key matches in the group.

World Cup 2014 Qualifying – Group C

  • 7 September 2012: Kazakhstan v Republic of Ireland
  • 12 October 2012: Republic of Ireland v Germany
  • 16 October 2012: Faroe Islands v Republic of Ireland
  • 22 March 2013: Sweden v Republic of Ireland
  • 26 March 2013: Republic of Ireland v Austria
  • 7 June 2013: Republic of Ireland v Faroe Islands
  • 6 September 2013: Republic of Ireland v Sweden
  • 10 September 2013: Austria v Republic of Ireland
  • 11 October 2013: Germany v Republic of Ireland
  • 15 October 2013: Republic of Ireland v Kazakhstan

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15 Comments
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    Mute InTrapWeTrust
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    Nov 18th 2011, 11:50 AM

    Phew, the big away games aren’t until 2013…..hopefully finances will have recovered from Pokraine by then.

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    Mute Lar Hayden
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    Nov 18th 2011, 11:55 AM

    Could be in a really strong qualifying position by then too. Win home, draw away.

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    Mute emmomac
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    Nov 18th 2011, 12:20 PM

    it really is a very very difficult group

    20
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    Mute InTrapWeTrust
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    Nov 18th 2011, 2:14 PM

    Would have been a lot easier if the draw took place in December as has always been the norm. They made the draw three months early when we were third seeds. We are second seeds now.

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    Mute Adrian Nolan
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    Nov 18th 2011, 1:07 PM

    This is one of the hardest qualifying groups that we have had in a long time. Its not going to be easy to get out of that.

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    Mute Mensah Mensah
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    Nov 18th 2011, 12:16 PM

    We play with our heart and soul….thats what makes us stand up from the rest….is not easy but we will get there…

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    Mute Jason Geraghty
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    Nov 18th 2011, 1:07 PM

    Will keane,duff,dunne and given retire after euro12 ?, if so i cant see us qualifying…hope im wrong though.

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    Mute Brian Donovan
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    Nov 18th 2011, 1:54 PM

    Cork – Amsterdam – Almaty – Astana. €1500 for the flight to kazakhstan, not many takers at that price id say.

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    Mute Paddy Rooney
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    Nov 18th 2011, 2:59 PM

    With Aer Lingus starting a Cork-Frankfurt route it would only require Cork-Frankfurt-Astana, no?

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    Mute InTrapWeTrust
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    Nov 18th 2011, 6:36 PM

    The agents will charter direct flights…..often cheaper for such destinations.

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    Mute Martin Wilson
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    Nov 18th 2011, 2:10 PM

    Trappatoni will try his best to convince the old guard to hang around, to the detriment of the future and current set of young players vying to make the squad. Players like Coleman, McCarthy, Brady, Clifford, Meyler, Rooney will see little to no international action while Trap is in charge. Also worthy players such as Hoolahan, Pilkington, Reid(Steven), Kenny, Garvan, Stokes, Best will not receive any recognition for their efforts.

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    Mute InTrapWeTrust
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    Nov 18th 2011, 6:35 PM

    You need a good mixture of youth and experience. trap has brought a lot of new faces into the fold over the past four years. Happy with where the squad is going into the Euros.

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    Mute Adam O'Sullivan
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    Nov 18th 2011, 1:49 PM

    Has a ground been set for the Germany away match?

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    Mute Silent P
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    Nov 18th 2011, 11:38 PM

    We are spoiled for quality strikers ATM so we will manage the transition minus Keane. Duff is starting to slow & prone to injury with Seamus Coleman a promising replacement. I don’t see a like for like replacement for Dunne yet, same for Given. I hope all four stay involved for WC qualifiers but it’s time now to start blooding their replacements.

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    Mute Gavin Mckenna
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    Nov 18th 2011, 7:55 PM

    by 2013 the youth will be in the team. no more Keane Duff etc. time for Coleman Clark and the likes to step up to the mark. second place looks likely. but with us you never know. it will be slap bang in middle of a transitional period too.

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