Irish football writer David Sneyd discussed how difficult it will be for Ireland to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022 on the Football Show on Off The Ball on Monday.

It was announced on Monday that the Republic of Ireland will face off against Portugal, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan in their World Cup qualifiers.

They were drawn in the more favourable group of five, as opposed to a group of six, which should aid them in their preparation for each match.

Ireland manager Stephen Kenny spoke to media after the draw, suggesting that his side will be happy not to play three competitive games in the same window.

“The players, traditionally, have been used to two games in a window,” Kenny said.

“There possibly will be friendlies on some of the dates [when the groups of six play], but obviously we won’t have three competitive games in the window which lessens the physical pressure on players.”

The boys in green have not qualified for a World Cup since 2002, which Kenny is acutely aware of.

“We will approach the games really positively, particularly in March and try and have a good month,” Kenny said.

“We haven’t qualified for the World Cup since 2002, it’s been 20 years, and that has to be our ambition, to try and qualify; that is why we are here.

“It is difficult with [only] 13 teams in Europe [going through]; we are here to try and qualify to compete, and that is certainly our intention to try and achieve that.”

Sneyd believes that the group will be difficult to get out of, suggesting that the Ireland may still be asked to play a friendly, which would bring them to three fixtures in March.

“There is still a window there for three games in March, and the nature of the fixtures will be coming out tomorrow,” Sneyd said.

“So, there does seem to be a suggestion that there will be a friendly game, but it is [about] who do you get to play and where that friendly will fit in the schedule.

“There could be a situation where Ireland have one of the qualifiers, then the friendly window, then the qualifier, or the friendly could be at the start of those two games.”

10 September 2019; Alan Browne of Republic of Ireland celebrates with team-mates Cyrus Christie, right, and Ronan Curtis after scoring his side's first goal during the 3 International Friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria at Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Ireland's World Cup group

In terms of the opposition that Ireland will face in the qualifiers, Sneyd believes that it could have been a worse group.

Aside from Portugal, who will be a major challenge, as they are currently ranked fifth in the world, and are loaded with world class talent, Sneyd thinks this will still be a tough group.

“That was my first instinct, looking at it, Portugal you would imagine they would top the group,” Sneyd said.

“They didn’t top their group in Euro qualifying, they finished behind Ukraine and three points above Serbia.

“Serbia, we have played relatively recently, a few years ago after Euro 2016. It was the first game after the Euros when Ireland were full of confidence.

“They started well out there in Belgrade and then slowly unravelled. We got a draw, but they can score goals, they have got goals in their team.”

Sneyd thinks Ireland’s their inability to score might be their downfall in the group.

“Because of what has happened over the last year, just the lack of goals, there is a real dearth of confidence there,” Sneyd said.

“Obviously it is a World Cup qualifying group so there may be a wave of optimism, but there is a long time between now and March and so much can happen.

“Fingers crossed that by the time it comes around a lot of what has gone on in the last year is put to bed.”

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