Irish out to frustrate FYROM again
Monday, January 10, 2011
Article summary
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will look to secure a first point – or at least a first goal – in the Republic of Ireland as they pay a third visit to Dublin.
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Article body
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will look to secure a first point – or at least a first goal – in the Republic of Ireland as they pay a third visit to Dublin in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group B.
Match background
• The sides are meeting for the fifth time, with Ireland's record in their previous encounters reading W2 D1 L1 (W2 D0 L0 at home). They have yet to concede a goal at home against FYROM.
• The sides were first paired in 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying, with their maiden meeting at Dublin's Lansdowne Road on 9 October 1996 ending in a 3-0 win for the home side, in which Tony Cascarino scored twice. FYROM somewhat surprisingly won the return fixture 3-2 in Skopje.
• Their more recent contests came in UEFA EURO 2000 qualifying. Niall Quinn's goal gave the Irish a 1-0 victory in Dublin, and Quinn opened the scoring again in the return fixture in Skopje, only for Goran Stavrevski to make it 1-1 at the death.
• Ireland are second in Group B, two points adrift of section leaders Russia, but second-bottom FYROM will join them on seven points with a win in Dublin.
