Judgement day

Judgement day has arrived for Wales and Republic of Ireland as they go head to head in their final Group D match.

With Serbia at home to Georgia, anything could happen on judgement day at the Cardiff City Stadium.

 

Team News

Wales’ only missing player is Gareth Bale, who is recovering from a calf injury.

Seven of their players however are one yellow card away from suspension.

ROI welcome Robbie Brady and James McClean back for this significant game.

 

Last time out

These teams met in Dublin back in March.

The game was a feisty affair with no goals and Wales’ Neil Taylor sent off after a leg breaking tackle on Seamus Coleman.

Back to present and both teams won on Friday so will be a tough match.

 

Must win

Victory here will send the winning team into the play offs but there could yet be some twists.

They however could yet still secure automatic qualification if Georgia beat leaders, Serbia.

All three contenders are split by just two points meaning that goal difference could decide things if Wales draw and Serbia lose.

If the Welsh team draw and Serbia lose 1-0, the Eastern Europe side will win group D by virtue of having scored 19 goals to Wales’ 13.

 

Facts

These teams have met 14 times with both winning five and drawing four. Only four of those meetings were competitive fixtures.

Last three of this fixture’s meetings at the Cardiff City Stadium have ended in draws with the last two ending 0-0.

 

Prediction

No team can afford to rest on laurels with so much up for grabs.

They have to attack which is the same view as that of Wales boss – Chris Coleman, speaking to BBC.

Coleman said; “We’re on dangerous ground if we go in with a game plan of trying to soak the pressure up for 90 minutes.

He is right because a point although guaranteeing Wales a play off spot, won’t be sealed if just sit deep because the Republic have players like Shane Long and Scott Hogan, who will punish any defensive errors.

Ultimately, I can see this being won 1-0 and that team based on pure depth, has to be Wales.

Prediction: Wales 1-0 Republic of Ireland

Result: Wales 0-1 Republic of Ireland (Republic of Ireland qualify for play offs!!!)