Ireland Must Get Past Italy And Bulgaria

Ireland were paired up with Italy and Bulgaria in last weekend's draw for the European Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

The full draw was:

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Northern Ireland face a tough task to qualify from this group, with the Czechs and Poles waiting to upset them, though if they can maintain and improve upon their recent performances in the Euro2008 qualifiers they do stand a chance.

Group 4

Wales will have to significantly improve to stand any chance of qualification for the World Cup. Their campaign in the Euro2008 qualifiers ended after some disasterous early results

Group 5

Group 6

England will face Croatia - the team that eliminated them from next summer's European Championship, though they will no doubt be pleased with the other opposition in this group

Group 7

Group 8

Italy and Bulgaria are the most dangerous teams in Group 8, though Ireland will have to improve upon the performance against the minnows of Cyprus if they are hoping for a trip to South Africa in 2010.

Group 9

Scotland will have an easier task to qualify from this group, after they came so close in one of Euro2008's Qualifying "Groups of Death".

The nine group winners will qualify automatically for the World Cup finals with the eight best runners-up facing two-legged play-offs.