Republic of Ireland gets France in play-offs

The Republic of Ireland has been drawn against France in the seeded play-offs to reach the World Cup finals being held in South Africa next year. Not only must Ireland face one of Europe’s strongest national sides, but they play the first leg at home in Croke Park on Saturday, November 14th.
The return leg will be played in Paris on Wednesday, November 18th. Ireland manager, Giovanni Trapattoni, was hoping that the draw would see his team play the first leg away. It was felt that Ireland’s best chance of qualifying for South Africa would have been a draw against Greece.
In the other three play-offs, which were controversially seeded by Fifa for the first time, Greece was drawn against the Ukraine, Russia faces Slovenia and Portugal will play Bosnia Herzegovina.