Ireland remain 6/4 outsiders to qualify for the World Cup with bookmakers PaddyPower despite their bitter sweet heroics on Saturday night. With the likely prospect of France, Greece, Portugal or Russia in November’s playoffs (each 11/4 to be our opponents), the pessimistic bookmaker is offering odds of just 1/2 that qualification is a step too far.
Wednesday’s qualifier against Montenegro should lead to a straightforward victory for Trapattoni and his team who are odds on favourites at 8/15 with the bookmakers. The most likely Irish win is by one goal to nil at 5/1.
Robbie Keane had no luck in front of goal against Italy on Saturday but is favourite at 9/2 to score the first goal and 28/1 to bag a hat-trick. Meanwhile the man of the moment Sean St Ledger is 10/1 to continue his scoring habit.
Those fans who bemoan our tendency to squander a lead may well be tempted by the 5/1 on offer for Ireland to lead at any time but fail to win the match.
Eamon Dunphy was not shy with his opinions on Andy Reid’s omission from the squad with the online bookmaker also offering odds on how many times Dunphy mentions Andy Reid in his post match analysis! Reid himself will be disappointed to hear he’s an unlikely 5/2 with PaddyPower to make the squad for the crucial playoffs in November.
PaddyPower said, “Let’s face it, the Montenegro match doesn’t really matter - but there are loads of behind the scenes sub plots. I hope we draw Greece next Monday but these things have a way of working themselves out. Hopefully UEFA’s late rule changes will come back and bite them in the backside and all the seeded teams lose their playoff ties!”
6/4 Ireland to qualify for the World Cup
1/2 Ireland no to qualify for the World Cup |
