The country is still recovering after Ireland suffered a gut-wrenching defeat to Czechia in a penalty shoot-out on Thursday night.
Ireland will rue letting a 2-0 lead slip as Troy Parrott’s penalty, as well as a Matej Kovar own goal, had the Irish fans in the Fortuna Arena in Prague going delirious. However, it wasn’t to be, and Ireland lost the lottery of penalties to end their World Cup dreams.
However, there’s still another game to be played next week. Many people were planning and/or hoping to face Denmark at the Aviva Stadium next Tuesday in what would have been a one-off game to make the World Cup.
Dejected Republic of Ireland players after the defeat to Czechia. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
However, Ireland now comes back home to face North Macedonia on Tuesday, who, much like Ireland, lost their play-off semi-final to Denmark.
After a valiant first-half display, where the North Macedonians were just about able to keep the Danes scoreless, the much stronger hosts brushed them aside in the second half, winning 4-0 as they move on to face Czechia in Prague in the play-off final.
And so, why do Ireland and North Macedonia have to play each other when there’s nothing on the line? The game is just a friendly, and with most players about three-quarters of the way through a long, arduous season, it feels unnecessary to play a meaningless match.
North Macedonia lost their play-off semi-final to Denmark. Pic: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Well, the explanation is simple if not slightly tedious. UEFA states that in each International window, teams must play at least two games.
While back in the day, play-offs were a two-legged affair, the expanded World Cup means there needed to be a new play-off format, and now we’re left with these meaningless, pointless ‘dead rubbers.’
However, the game does offer a great opportunity for the fans to welcome back their team, which won the hearts of the nation over the past few months. It could also offer Heimir Hallgrimsson the opportunity to reward players who may have missed out on caps but have put in the hours on the training pitch.