If Ireland are to qualify for the World Cup, ghosts of the past will have to be banished

"Ireland's remarkable wins over Portugal and Hungary were among the stories of an incredible international break and booked the Boys in Green an unlikely place in the World Cup play-offs. Thursday's draw saw the Boys in Green pitted against Czech Republic on March 26 before a potential final date with either Denmark or North Macedonia five days later. Crucially, if they get past the Czechs, they will play in Dublin."

"There isn't a huge amount of history between Ireland and Czech Republic with the countries having only met on eight occasions and not in a competitive game since September 2007. However, as fate would have it, that encounter in Prague was a defeat that all but guaranteed Steve Staunton's side would not make it to Euro 2008, and the end of his short but shambolic reign in charge."

"Thousands will descend on Prague in late March, hoping for an away day to rival Budapest and a passage through the Czech capital to a date with destiny in Dublin While there isn't much of an added narrative with their semi-final opponents, both potential final foes have enough lore for a set of fantasy novels. North Macedonia might not stir much emotion for many nations but for Ireland, they were the nemesis of the late-1990s."

Ireland secured an unlikely World Cup play-off place after remarkable wins over Portugal and Hungary. The play-off semi-final will be against the Czech Republic on March 26, with a potential final five days later against either Denmark or North Macedonia; a semi-final victory would see the final played in Dublin. Heimir Hallgrimsson, Troy Parrott and Seamus Coleman are central figures in the campaign. Ireland have limited recent history with the Czechs, meeting only eight times and not competitively since the damaging 2007 Prague defeat that effectively ended Steve Staunton's tenure. Thousands of supporters are expected to travel to Prague for the tie.

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