Even a one goal loss to Bosnia will be a good result for Ireland

Irish absentees in defence, midfield and up front tip the balance the way of the Bosnians in Zenica tonight, particularly when you factor in Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic, two players better than anyone in our team, writes Liam Brady

IT WAS always likely to be the case that, if Ireland were to have a chance of qualifying for France 2016, it would come down to where we find ourselves now — on the brink of yet another play-off.

I always thought that Germany and Poland would finish above us in the group, leaving it to Scotland and ourselves to fight it out for third place. And because of what you could only describe as our unlikely results against the world champions, we managed to do it, even if it was touch and go for quite a while.