Trap's men to face French

Ireland’s hopes of making the World Cup finals have suffered a blow after being drawn against France in the play-offs.

The outcome could be regarded as the worst possible scenario for Ireland as France were the highest-ranked team in the draw.

To make matter more difficult for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side, France will also have the advantage of playing the second leg of the play-offs at home.

In the other play-offs, Portugal will play Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece will face Ukraine and Russia take on Slovenia.

Trapattoni had criticised FIFA for seeding the play-offs – Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine and Slovenia were all unseeded meaning they could not play each other.

France, beaten finalists in the last World Cup, were viewed as the team to avoid along with Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ireland, who last played in the finals in 2002, had hoped for an easier fixture against Greece but in the draw in Zurich, Everton’s South African midfielder Francois Pienaar drew them first out of the hat against the French.

Trapattoni at least can feel relieved that the Republic do not have to play Russia on the artificial pitch at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.