Fans feel fever pitch in high stakes showdown

SOME 15,000 Irish supporters will gather in Nicosia tonight for the Republic of Ireland’s crucial World Cup qualifying game against Cyprus.

Not for the first time, Irish football fans will effectively take over a foreign ground. With Cyprus playing only for pride, most locals will be in bars or at home watching Greece play Denmark live on television.

The stakes are much higher for Ireland who, barring unlikely results elsewhere in Group 4, will have to win in the 23,000-capacity GSP Stadium to keep alive their chances of reaching the World Cup finals in Germany next summer.