Slovak sickener for nervy Ireland

IRELAND’s prospects of appearing in the finals of a major football tournament for the first time in eighteen years receded last night as Slovakia held the Republic to a tense scoreless draw in Dublin.

The result, which produced Ireland’s sixth clean sheet in a row, means that Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad have to engineer a victory in Moscow against group leaders Russia on Tuesday to have a realistic hope of automatic qualification for the Euro 2012 finals in Ukraine and Poland.

However, defeat in the game could cost the Republic the chance of a play-off spot - and Trapattoni his job. The FAI are stalling on fresh contract talks for the 72-year-old Italian until the end of the Euro qualifying campaign, with a play-off spot likely to secure the veteran coach another deal.