Strange days, indeed

THE big games against France in Paris and Dublin notwithstanding, at no stage in the Group 4 campaign so far have the stakes been higher for the Republic of Ireland than they will be this evening, here in Cyprus, where anything less than victory will almost certainly signal the end of the national team’s interest in next summer’s World Cup.

This is the big one or at least it will be until next Wednesday at Lansdowne Road, when it could all come down to 90 minutes of drama and decision against the Swiss.

Unless, of course, Ireland win, in which case there will be even bigger games to come in the death or glory play-offs.