Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney has expressed his satisfaction with Ireland’s draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Ireland will face Germany, Sweden, Austria, Kazakhstan and Brian Kerr’s band of boyos from the Faroe Islands in the qualifying group, which is provisionally scheduled to kick off in September 2012.
With only one guaranteed place on offer, the general consensus is that the draw leaves us with an uphill task of making it to the finals in three years’ time.
But Delaney was happy enough, making no bones about eyeing up the cash on offer for a home game against lucrative-television-market-cum-very-good-football-team Germany.
He said, “I think we’re very pleased. Germany have got to be favourites but you wouldn’t concede it. The last time we played them over two legs it was close.
“Germany are a great team to play in the Aviva Stadium financially, with the television and advertising rights – but our main aim is to qualify for the World Cup.
“I’ve spoken to Giovanni, he’s pleased. He’s managed in Germany and Austria so has a connection to both those countries.
“The last World Cup is in the dustbin, it’s about the next one. For us the main aim is to get out of the group, come here to Brazil and have the Irish supporters here with us.
“We’ve beaten the Faroes before, Kazakhstan is a long trip but that’s the draw. Austria is very central. The sooner we can get the dates agreed the better.”
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