Sean St Ledger claims the seeded teams in the World Cup qualification play-offs will be hoping they miss a tie against the Irish. Oh yeah?

Sean St Ledger: "I am sure the whole country and everyone involved is looking forward to it.

"Obviously, it's going to be a big team that we'll face, but I'm sure the teams who are seeded are going to be looking at the other teams and hoping to avoid us."

Would France, Russia and Portugal not fancy their chances?

Russia have been singled out by Trapattoni because he dislikes their artificial pitch at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.