Group D of European World Cup qualifying is the most open of any of the qualification sections. On paper, there is no traditional giant of the European game. However, there are four teams that will be expected to challenge for qualification.
On Saturday evening the Republic of Ireland recorded a very creditable 1-0 win in Austria to move to the top of the group. Elsewhere in the group Wales and Serbia drew 1-1, while minnows Georgia and Moldova also drew 1-1 in Tbilisi.
Any of Ireland, Serbia, Austria and Wales could still win the group. However, Ireland have started the stronger of the quartet. It will be the games like Saturday’s that will decide who makes it to Russia in 19 months’ time.
The win in Austria looks impressive for Ireland. However, the home side have struggled for form of late and failed to fulfil their supposed potential at Euro 2016.
Ireland are now serial qualifiers for European Championships, but Ireland have not made a World Cup finals tournament since 2002 in Japan and South Korea.
The country’s most successful period of qualifying for finals came between 1990 and 2002 when Ireland qualified for three out of the four finals. When they qualified for the finals they certainly made their mark, making it to the knockout stages of the competition on all three occasions.
The managerial team of head coach Martin O’Neill and assistant Roy Keane seems to be a winning combination. O’Neill’s positivity is backed up by Keane’s famous no-nonsense approach.
There is a lot of football still to be played in this group and we are not even halfway through the qualification campaign. However, at the moment things are looking good for Ireland after three wins from their four games. Maybe Ireland can finally end their wait for a World Cup finals appearance this time around.