Republic of Ireland travel to Warsaw to play Poland knowing that victory will secure their qualification to next summer's Euro 2016 tournament, which is being held in France.

Poland welcome Martin O'Neill's men aware that just a point may be enough to earn them a top-two position in Group D, but if Ireland can net two goals, the hosts will require victory to avoid a playoff spot.

Poland

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When Poland stormed into an early lead in Scotland, they would have believed that they were on their way to confirming their place at next year's tournament with a game to spare, especially with Republic of Ireland considered huge underdogs to register a result against world champions Germany.

However, by the end of the night, Adam Nawalka's side were left clinging on to second spot by the narrowest of margins, and while there will be relief within the camp that Robert Lewandowski netted a last-gasp equaliser at Hampden Park, they will be ruing the fact that they have let slip what had been a commanding position in Group D.

With Ireland shocking Germany, the two teams head into their showdown in Warsaw level on points and with the reverse fixture already having ended in a draw, things get complicated. Poland hold a huge advantage in terms of goal difference, meaning that a 0-0 or 1-1 draw on Sunday would result in their spot at Euro 2016 being secured.

They would also qualify with a win, as would Ireland, but if Ireland can earn a share of the spoils having scored two or more goals, they will edge out Poland on away goals, and they may feel that they have a free shot at making the European Championships for the second successive tournament after it previously appeared unlikely that they would finish higher than third place in the group.

Given their home advantage, however, Poland will be confident of getting the result they need after registering 10 points from four home fixtures in the group, while star striker Lewandowski is in the form of his life, with the Bayern Munich attacker having scored 14 goals in his last five outings for club and country.

That astonishing record may be enough to strike fear into the Ireland defence, but Poland will be desperate for Arkadiusz Milik, who has provided six goals and six assists during qualifying, to pass a late fitness test.

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Republic of Ireland

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With Germany and Poland seemingly in control of the group, Republic of Ireland's main target had been to achieve third position ahead of Scotland, but the events of Thursday night have provided Irish hopes with a huge boost ahead of what will be a pivotal night in Warsaw.

The defeat in Scotland at the end of 2014 had put Scotland in the driver's seat, but since that night in Glasgow, Ireland are unbeaten in five qualifying games, earning 11 points in the process, while Thursday's memorable triumph over Germany has not only seen them eliminate the Tartan Army, but move alongside Poland on 18 points.

Such was the quality of their performance on Thursday night that Ireland probably deserved some time for the hysteria to lower ahead of such a crucial contest, but O'Neill must somehow find a way of re-energising a team who ran themselves into the ground to beat the 2014 World Cup winners and in doing so, raise the expectations of a nation who are desperate to join neighbours Northern Ireland at the finals next June.

While Ireland will again be the outsiders at the weekend, they can take confidence from boasting the best defensive record in the group, and that area of their game will need to be at its highest level with Poland having netted 31 times during qualifying - five more than any other team in the competition.

The key to Ireland sitting in their current position has been the number of points that they have earned in the final quarter of games. As many as eight points have come from goals scored during that period, with three of their 18 goals coming in the 90th minute.

However, O'Neill will hope that the Green Army can avoid a nervy end to proceedings with another wholehearted performance and a sixth game without defeat, and with just one goal being conceded in their last five outings in all competitions, he will have every confidence in his players ahead of their second mammoth fixture in the space of 72 hours.

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Team News

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Republic of Ireland have been dealt a huge blow with the news that goalkeeper Shay Given has been ruled out of Sunday's clash with the knee injury that forced him off in the first half against Germany.

Darron Randolph will take his place between the sticks, with Newcastle stopper Rob Elliot being drafted into the squad in his place.

However, O'Neill has been boosted by the news that Seamus Coleman and Marc Wilson have both been passed fit to come into contention, while James McClean and Glenn Whelan both return from suspension.

As for Poland, Milik is an injury doubt after suffering a hip problem on Thursday night but if the Ajax man can recover in time for Sunday, Nawalka may name an unchanged starting lineup.

Poland possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Glik, Piszczek, Pazdan, Maczynski, Krychowiak, Grosicki, Rybus, Blaszczykowski, Milik, Lewandowski

Republic of Ireland possible starting lineup:
Randolph; Coleman, Keogh, O'Shea, Ward; Brady, McCarthy, Hendrick, Hoolahan, Walters; Murphy

Head To Head

Since 1958, the two nations have met 25 times, with Poland prevailing on 10 occasions and Ireland securing just five victories.

Five of the last seven matches have ended in draws, but Ireland are unbeaten in their last three, which includes a 2-0 success in a friendly in 2013.

The reverse fixture in this qualifying campaign took place in March, with a last-minute goal from Thursday's hero Shane Long cancelling out Slawomir Peszko's earlier effort.

We say: Poland 2-1 Republic of Ireland

While both teams were forced to work until deep into added-on time to secure their respective results on Thursday night, we feel that Ireland will have less left in the tank ahead of Sunday's crucial qualifier, and with Poland boasting home advantage, they should have enough to record the result that they need to progress through to next summer's tournament.

Written by
Darren Plant

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