Features

Northern Ireland on the edge

Author: John Harris
Date: 08/09/2009
Football betting

Northern Ireland still have a fantastic opportunity to qualify for the World Cup finals in South Africa following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Poland in Chorzow.

The plucky European minnows have played a game more than pace-setters and online favourites to top the group, Slovakia, who are two points ahead, but they hold on to the play-off spot in their own right as they have a three-point cushion over Poland and Slovenia.

Wednesday will see the Northern Irish clash against the Slovaks in a critical game that could determine their ambitions.

A win would see them go top of the group with one match remaining but a defeat could see the teams below them close in and, with their final match being in the Czech Republic, any prospects of progress could be hindered.

However, with a five-game unbeaten run in the group under their belt, Nigel Worthington's side have reason to be bullish over their chances.

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Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty will be the main goal threat, if he can overcome injury, against Slovakia, who can call on Robert Vittek and top scorer Stanislav Sestak as their chief goal-getters.

Much will rely on goalkeeper Maik Taylor and the defensive unit of Gareth McAuley, Stephen Craigan, Aaron Hughes and Manchester United star Jonny Evans if they are to qualify for their first major tournament since the World Cup in 1986.

Northern Ireland reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1982 when they beat hosts Spain 1-0 and such memories should inspire the current crop of players.

All-time leading scorer David Healy, with 35 goals, will be hoping to get back on the scoring charts after firing blanks since the 4-0 defeat of San Marino in October last year.

The visitors will have strong intentions of their own as they aim to kick on at the top of the table as they seek to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in their 16-year history since the division of the former Czechoslovakia in 1993.

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is the bedrock on which they form their foundation and with players such as Peter Pekarik (Wolfsburg), Marek Hamsik (Napoli) and Miroslav Karhan (Mainz) they have enough quality to cause the Northern Irish problems in an intriguing looking contest.

Margins for error are now critical and a win at Windsor Park for Worthington's men could realise World Cup dreams but a defeat could well see their hopes end in tatters.

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