Republic of Ireland vs Macedonia – Key win for Boys in Green

After losing at home to Russia and being held in Slovakia, Republic of Ireland need a victory over Macedonia to maintain their push for a top-two finish in Group B.

Match odds

Macedonia are ranked 83rd in the world behind the likes of Jordan and Estonia but they’ve proven in the past that they are no pushovers, drawing twice away to England in the last decade.

They’ve been defeated on their two previous visits to Dublin though and the expectation is that they will be again, with Republic of Ireland 4/9 to get their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign back on track.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s side haven’t got the best record at the Aviva Stadium, losing three of their first five matches there, yet odds of 13/2 on an upset shows that they should avoid further suffering, while the draw is 16/5.

Other bets

The Boys in Green have lost just two of their last 15 competitive home games, so while Macedonia are sure to test them, three points have to be targeted. It’s 3/1 that they triumph in a tie that is level at half-time.

Macedonia were beaten 1-0 by Group B’s other major forces, Russia and Slovakia, so that is a tempting scoreline at 9/2, while the former Yugoslavian nations’ failure to score in Ireland in the past suggests that the hosts should win to nil at 5/4.

Robbie Keane hasn’t been in great form for his country in this campaign, missing a penalty and a sitter in Slovakia, but has previous for delivering in these fixtures, seeing off Cyprus and Georgia in World Cup qualifying.

Keane is 4/1 to score first, so a £20 stake on him breaking the deadlock would provide a £80 profit. New customers can sign up here to get £60 in free bets.