In at the deep end

BE CAREFUL what you wish for, you might just get it...

Steve Staunton, Bobby Robson and the FAI all expressed satisfaction at the outcome of yesterday's Group D European Championship fixture meeting in Frankfurt. And in so far as the fourth seeds came away with most of what they had already pencilled in on their own wish lists, they were entitled to be pleased with the negotiations at the German FA which could have been wrapped up by early afternoon but for some Slovakian intransigence.

Nevertheless, Steve Staunton's willingness to take on an early away game against Germany, means that the Irish now face a formidable opening stretch before they ever get near Croke Park - for that historic game against Wales in 2007 - let alone Austria and Switzerland in 2008.

Germany (away), Cyprus (away) and the Czech Republic (home) in September and October of this year means that the Irish could have their work cut out to get a respectable haul of points on the board before San Marino are invited to play the role of cannon fodder in the last match at the old Lansdowne Road in October.

Of course, attempting to plot the best course through a qualifying group is hardly an exact science - football has a way of fouling up the best-laid plans. You only have to think back to the last World Cup campaign when Ireland appeared to have gotten off to a flyer in the early stages by taking away points from Switzerland and France and clocking up comfortable home wins against Cyprus and the Faroe Islands. What no-one could have foreseen is how the wheels would come off against Israel and the extent to which Ireland's form would dip the closer they got to the finishing line.

Nevertheless, there are few who won't regard Ireland's opening Euro qualifier away to Germany on September 2 as, at least on paper, one of the two toughest ties of the whole campaign - a real competitive baptism of fire for new manager Steve Staunton and what will be a substantially new-look Irish side.

"On paper, it's a tough group," says Staunton. "They're all tough games. The second game, away to Cyprus, ain't going to be easy. Then you're home to the Czech Republic..."

Does he think there might be an advantage to playing Germany so soon after they have hosted the World Cup?

Staunton grins: "What do you think is going to happen if they win the World Cup - lambs to the slaughter. No, look, we don't know what's going to happen. It could backfire coming to Germany but we have to play them sometime. Get it out of the way early, and then we were quite fortunate in that they were happy to be coming to Croke Park late on."

You would certainly think that Germany shouldn't be overly thrilled with the idea of coming to Croker in September of 2007, by which time the Irish soccer team ought to be well bedded in at their new home. However, the Germans will be consoled by the fact, that after playing in Dublin, they have by far the most congenial run-in of all the countries, finishing up with three home games on the trot against the Czech Republic, Cyprus and Wales.

The restricted availability of Croke Park, the Irish delegation's desire to avoid June games and their success in availing of friendly dates for the home and away games against San Marino, means that Ireland will be not playing a match on the final night of the group.

The Irish play their last qualifying game away to Wales on Saturday, November 17, 2007 and that could mean a nervy watching brief four days later when Group D climaxes with Cyprus against the Czech Republic, Germany v. Wales and San Marino at home to Slovakia. Twenty years after Scotland beat Bulgaria to send Ireland through to Euro 88, will we all be celebrating another honorary Irishman like Gary Mackay?

But before all that, there's the small matter of that red-letter date with the red shirts of Wales at Croke Park on March 24 next year. In preliminary talks before yesterday's meeting, both sides had provisionally agreed the fixture and there was delight all around when it was duly ratified in Frankfurt.

But it may even be that the Welsh are happier with the deal. Manager John Toshack declined to play up the significance of the fixture yesterday, contenting himself with saying that "all our fixtures are significant and we have three matches to get through before we get to Croke Park."

However, it's believed that the Welsh hope that all the hype around the game, in addition to the fact that it will be the Irish team's debut in a new stadium, could distract Steve Staunton's team and give the visitors' a slight psychological edge.

Two other fixtures which stand out are the back to back games against Slovakia and neighbours the Czech Republic in September of next year, a tough assignment in footballing terms but an enticing away trip for the Green Army - assuming Irish interest in the campaign is still alive at that point. It's all ifs and buts for now, of course: the real talking will be done on the pitch, starting in Germany on Saturday, September 2.

"This is not the be-all and end-all," said Staunton yesterday, "we still have to play these games. As I said to John (Delaney), as long as we can have 15 against their eleven, there's no problem."

Unfortunately, some things you wish for, you'll just never get.