- 100% record when playing at home in second leg of qualifier
- Qualification could be worth €10 million to FAI
Tonight is a massive night for Irish soccer as Martin O’Neill’s side travel to Bosnia looking to secure a positive result in the first leg of the Euro 2016 qualifier play-off.
All bar a handful of tickets have been sold for the return leg at the Aviva Stadium on Monday night, guaranteeing a packed house and what could be as memorable a night as the last outing against Germany.
Ireland has mixed fortunes in play-offs but they are always memorable. Thierry Henry’s ‘Hand of God’ in Paris, and Jack Charlton’s farewell game at a neutral but electric Anfield against Holland are two that will live long in the memory, even though the results were wrong.
There have been wins as well, against Iran to get to South Korea and Japan in 2002, and against Estonia to make it to the last Euro’s. That was the first two legged qualifier in which we were drawn to play at home second so at least that’s a positive.
The Euro 2012 Championships yielded payments from UEFA or around €8 million and the inflation of TV rights fees and increase in size of the tournament means that success over the next few days could generate more than €10 million. This would make it far and away the most lucrative week in the Association’s history following the extension of the Three partnership deal announced on Wednesday.
Northern Ireland have already made it. Hopefully the Boys in Green will make it a Double Irish when European soccer’s giants gather in France in June 2016.
Here’s a little reminder of the music that will greet the team as they step out at the Aviva on Monday night. It’s Dropkick Murphy’s Shipping up to Boston which could easily be adapted to Bosnia, for one night only. Time to get excited…
Image Credit: Inpho.ie
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