Neighbours Wales will provide the opposition when the Republic of Ireland play their first competitive soccer international at Croke Park in just over a year's time. The Dublin 3 venue will have already opened its doors by that stage with Ireland hosting France in rugby's Six Nations on February 11th.
The Group D fixture list for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers was drawn up at the German FA offices in Frankfurt today and Steve Staunton’s team will welcome Wales and Slovakia to GAA headquarters in March and then Germany and Cyprus in October 2007.
"It's good the Welsh will be the first visiting team to play at Croke Park," Staunton said. "It didn’t really matter who we played, but it’s going to be an historic night."
The Republic open their campaign away to Germany on September 2nd of this year and follow that up with an away tie in Cyprus before entertaining the Czech Republic four days later in what will be the penultimate competitive international at Lansdowne Road ahead of its redevelopment.
Although pleased with most of the arrangements, Staunton had hoped for a rousing Lansdowne Road send off in November, where he could conceivably capitalise on an emotional and raucous home support in a bid to topple one of the top three seeds. He will, though, have to make do with minnows San Marino.
The double-header away to Slovakia and the Czech Republic in September 2007 will provide the stiffest test of the campaign and could prove a stumbling block although with Croke Park ruled out because of the GAA championships there was little room to negotiate a smoother path.
Staunton, who finishes the campaign against Wales in the Millennium Stadium, is, however, ultimately satisfied with an outcome that could have been a lot tougher considering Irish hands were tied somewhat as fourth seeds. The manager expressed particular delight with hosting Germany in Dublin late in the campaign.
"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 John Delaney said Staunton and his backroom team had given him a very strong base on which to negotiate.
Bobby Robson, the FAI’s international football consultant, is also delighted with the outcome. "Last night I said that if we got four tenths of what we were looking for we should take it," he said. "I am delighted that we negotiated much more than that."
Two of next year’s home games - against Slovakia in March and Cyprus in October - are midweek fixtures and this raises the issue of floodlights. While Croke Park officials and local residents - who are opposed to night-time matches - are in discussions over floodlights in the stadium, the indication is that planning permission will be granted.
Staunton, who walked the Croke Park pitch last week, remains hopeful his team might get to play a friendly at Croke Park before using the venue for the Wales game but has continuously stressed that it is a matter for the GAA.
Staunton names his squad for the March 1st home friendly with Sweden - his first game in charge - next Thursday.
Euro 2008 Group D Fixtures
September 2nd
Czech Republic v Wales
Germany v Rep of Ireland
Slovakia v Cyprus
September 6th
San Marino v Germany
Slovakia v Czech Republic
October 7th
Czech Republic v San Marino
Cyprus v Rep of Ireland
Wales v Slovakia
October 11th
Rep of Ireland v Czech Republic
Slovakia v Germany
Wales v Cyprus
November 15th
Cyprus v Germany
Rep of Ireland v San Marino
February 7th
San Marino v Rep of Ireland
March 24th
Czech Republic v Germany
Rep of Ireland v Wales
Cyprus v Slovakia
March 28th
Wales v San Marino
Rep of Ireland v Slovakia
Czech Republic v Cyprus
June 2nd
Germany v San Marino
Wales v Czech Republic
Cyprus v Slovakia
June 6th
Germany v Slovakia
August 22nd
San Marino v Cyprus
September 8th
San Marino v Czech Republic
Wales v Germany
Slovakia v Rep of Ireland
September 12th
Czech Republic v Rep of Ireland
Slovakia v Wales
Cyprus v San Marino
October 13th
Rep of Ireland v Germany
Cyprus v Wales
Slovakia v San Marino
October 17th
Germany v Czech Republic
Rep of Ireland v Cyprus
San Marino v Wales
November 17th
Czech Republic v Slovakia
Germany v Cyprus
Wales v Rep of Ireland
November 21st
Cyprus v Czech Republic
Germany v Wales
San Marino v Slovakia
