Although manager Giovanni Trapattoni and his side are unlikely to win their qualifying group – they currently lie second with 13 points, one point behind leaders and world champions Italy who have a game in hand – a second place finish will guarantee a play-off for those 2010 finals in South Africa.
With three games remaining, against Cyprus away, and against Italy and Montenegro at Croke Park in the autumn, the Irish are in a strong position as the only other contender, Bulgaria, now trail by a further five points in third place.
The most important aspect of last Saturday’s game was to avoid defeat, and once Ireland took the lead through a Richard Dunne header after 24 minutes, they were always on course to hit that target. Bulgaria soon struck back with an equaliser from Dimitar Telkiyski after a Kevin Kilbane defensive error, but with Dunne and newcomer Sean St Ledger outstanding at the back, all the home team’s second half pressure came to nothing.
John O’Shea also marshalled Martin Petrov very effectively, and when Aiden McGeady’s shot whistled past the post in the dying seconds, the Irish could even have snatched a memorable victory.
“Richard Dunne was a real rock, Paul McGrath-like, to be honest,” explained goalkeeper, Shay Given. “He was unbelievable. It was a fantastic header he scored for our goal, and in our own box he headed everything away. And then in one-against-ones he was in a different and deserved the man of the match award.”
Still unbeaten in the qualifying campaign after seven matches, Trapattoni was quick to thank his players for their efforts as they go on their summer break. “For me, qualifying would be an enormous satisfaction, but when I took the job it was because I saw the potential of the players and I believed that we could learn together.
“When players believe in their jobs, what their manager asks them to do, the result is positive. I felt it was important to thank them on the way back from Sofia because they have earned it.”