Updated at 8pm.
THE LAST TIME Ireland played a competitive international against Poland, a series of draws cost both of them qualification. England topped the Group 7 qualifying campaign for Euro 92 by virtue of being the only team to record a victory outside games against Turkey.
With two points for a win, their 2-0 win over Poland in the opening game saw them finish top, a point ahead of a Kevin Moran captained Ireland and a further point ahead of Poland.
If there is any warning sign to take from that campaign it is that a draw could be to the detriment of either side. Ireland currently sit fourth in Group D, level on points with Scotland and Germany who are ahead of both by virtue of results head-to-head results.
With three other teams in the running for qualification, a draw against the group’s top team might not be sneered at. But history shows draws have proved very costly.
Back in 1991, after a goalless draw in Lansdowne Road, Ireland led 3-1 at the KKS Lech Stadium in Poznan. Goals from Andy Townsend and Tony Cascarino gave Ireland a commanding lead inside 68 minutes. But two goals in the final 13 minutes saw Ireland come up short.
It’s not just that campaign that should worry Martin O’Neill. Down through the qualifying campaigns since then, draws have sent shivers down the spines of Irish supporters wondering what might have been.
In the qualifying campaign for Euro ’96, Ireland finished six points behind Portugal at the top of the Group 6. Converting an away draw against Liechtenstein and a home draw against Northern Ireland into wins might have seen them playing for top spot going into the final game against Portugal.
Ireland would ultimately lose a play-off against Netherlands and miss out on qualification.
Attempting to qualify for Euro 2000, a 1-1 draw with Macedonia would come back to haunt Ireland as they finished second to FR Yugoslavia (a team that would not become Serbia and Montenegro until 2003). A point separated the teams, once again sending Ireland into a play-off, where they lost on away goals to Turkey.
Four years later, they shot themselves in the foot once more with scoreless draws away to Albania and a 1-1 draw at home to Russia saw them fail to even make the play-offs.
A 5-2 drumming away to Cyrpus in their second game perhaps set the team up for a disappointing campaign for Euro 2008. It was followed by an abysmal run of five draws from the remaining ten games including against Cyprus (1-1) at home, and 2-2 draws away to Slovakia and Wales.
It reads like a who’s who of minnows who have smashed Irish dreams. A string of missed qualifying campaigns, gone in the blink of an eye.
As Ireland take to the pitch at the Aviva on Sunday, it is something worth considering.
A win may not guarantee qualification, but a draw at home might make for grim reading with Germany facing Georgia and Scotland bringing Gibraltar to Hampden Park.