Wales v Republic of Ireland: Stats & Facts
Wales and Republic of Ireland meet in Cardiff for the final Group D World Cup qualifier, in a match that kicks off at 7:45pm.
Automatic qualification, play-offs and elimination all remain possibilities. Serbia are assured of a top-two finish and a win against Georgia would seal top spot.
A draw and even a one-goal defeat could also be enough depending on what happens in the Wales v Republic of Ireland game.
Wales will secure a top-two spot with a point and at worst a play-off with a win. They can top the group if they win and Serbia don’t, while a draw would be enough is Serbia lose by two goals.
Ireland must beat Wales to seal at worst a play-off, and will secure first if Serbia lose.
So, with all still to play for, check out these stats and facts on Wales v Republic of Ireland:
- Wales have won just one of their last 10 matches against Republic of Ireland (D4 L5) and none of the last seven.
- Wales have failed to score in five of their last six against Ireland, with Jason Koumas scoring their only two goals in this run back in November 2007.
- The last three matches between these two sides in Wales have ended level, with two of those games ending goalless.
- Wales have only won once at home to the Republic of Ireland – a 2-1 victory in September 1979, with a side featuring Terry Yorath; Wales’ last win over Ireland came away from home in February 1992, with former Leeds and Spurs midfielder Yorath in charge that day.
- Chris Coleman’s team are unbeaten in their last 10 competitive matches on home soil, winning six and drawing four.
- Wales haven’t won four consecutive matches since a run of six under Mike England in May 1981.
- Daryl Murphy is averaging a goal every 55 minutes in World Cup qualifying for Ireland (three goals scored in 166 minutes).
- All three managerial meetings between Martin O’Neill and Chris Coleman have ended as draws – two were in the Premier League in the 2006-07 season between O’Neill’s Aston Villa and Coleman’s Fulham while the other was the 0-0 at the Aviva Stadium earlier in this qualifying campaign.