Day -454. WorldCup2018
I've been trying very hard to make any reference to Ireland today, March 17th, as it would just be too easy and predictable. However, while I thought I would ramble on about something else, my subconscious brought me back to one of the biggest matches in qualifying next week: Wales vs. Republic of Ireland.
It has been a while since a match between these two countries has been so important. Ireland are top of the group and Wales are four points back in third. Already, after four matches, Wales have to win. Otherwise they risk being another of the surprise teams of Euro 2016 failing to maintain the momentum from the Euro qualifying rounds. Wales, of course, were more than just good qualifiers in making it to the semifinals. But of the other teams, Austria are below Wales in the same group; Hungary are third behind Switzerland and Portugal; Northern Ireland will struggle to hold onto second place behind runaway leaders Germany; Albania are pretty much out of it already as Italy and Spain battle it out for first place; and Iceland are going to have a very tough battle to come back from third place and catch Croatia.
After pretty much the whole of Europe qualified for Euro 2016, now it's a little tougher. Only the group winners qualify and the 8 best runners-up play off for 4 more spots. Italy could be playing Holland or Portugal for a place in Russia. Or even more exciting these days, Wales could be up against Iceland. Now to sound even more predictable than green beer and terrible hats on March 17th, that would be the favourite clash of hipsters all over the world.
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