Ireland face Germany first in Euro 2008 quest

The fixture dates for Ireland’s games in the Euro 2008 Qualifiers have been agreed following a meeting between an FAI delegation and representatives of the other teams in Frankfurt today.

Under new manager, Stephen Staunton, Ireland will kick off the qualifiers with away games against Germany on September 2 and Cyprus on October 7, 2006.

Staunton’s first home games of the qualifiers will be against the Czech Republic on October 11, followed by the visit of San Marino on November 15, 2006.

The first matches to be played in Croke Park will be against Wales on March 24, 2007, Slovakia then provide the opposition on March 28. San Marino visit Lansdowne Road before that on February 7.

In the final qualifying games, Ireland face Slovakia and Czech Republic (both away) on September 8 and 12, 2007 respectively, Germany and Cyprus (both home) on October 13 and 17 respectively, before travelling to Wales on November 17, 2007.

Speaking after the fixtures meeting, Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton expressed himself satisfied with the fixtures.

“We achieved our key objectives in relation to these fixtures including no fixtures in June thus avoiding possible heat and end of season fixtures,” he said. “I am also delighted that we achieved our target of playing Germany in Dublin towards the end of the qualifying campaign.”

FAI chief executive officer John Delaney also expressed satisfaction with the fixtures list.

“Stephen and his backroom team gave us a very strong base on which to negotiate and I am delight with the outcome of those negotiations. The agreed fixtures list will also allow us to play four matches in Croke Park in 2007," he said.

The full fixtures for Group D are as follows:

2006

September 2: Czech Republic v Wales, Germany v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, Slovakia v Cyprus.

September 6: San Marino v Germany, Slovakia v Czech Republic

October 7: Czech Republic v San Marino, Cyprus v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, Wales v Slovakia

October 11: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v Czech Republic, Slovakia v Germany, Wales v Cyprus

November 15: Cyprus v Germany, REPUBLIC OFIRELAND v San Marino.

2007

February 7: San Marino v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

March 24: Czech Republic v Germany, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v Wales, Cyprus v Slovakia

March 28: Wales v San Marino, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v Slovakia, Czech Republic v Cyprus

June 2: Germany v San Marino, Wales v Czech Republic, Cyprus v Slovakia

June 6: Germany v Slovakia

August 22: San Marino v Cyprus

September 8: San Marino v Czech Republic, Wales v Germany, Slovakia v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

September 12: Czech Republic v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, Slovakia v Wales, Cyprus v San Marino

October 13: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v Germany, Cyprus v Wales, Slovakia v San Marino

October 17: Germany v Czech Republic, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v Cyprus, San Marino v Wales

November 17: Czech Republic v Slovakia, Germany v Cyprus, Wales v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

November 21: Cyprus v Czech Republic, Germany v Wales, San Marino v Slovakia.