Having mauled Ireland in Dublin, Germany thought they were home and leder-hosed when 4-0 up on Sweden in Berlin. Zlatan and co had other ideas though. The Swedes produced a stunning comeback to blow Group C wide open and leave Ireland trailing in third in the early World Cup qualifying running. It prompted a Swedish radio commentator to lose his cool and our own Des Cahill to ask, when have Germany ever thrown away a lead like this before?
Ireland got their World Cup hopes back on track last night with a 4-1 win over the Faroe Islands but the pitch-forks are still out for the manager. An ogre in the eyes of the press and some supporters, Giovanni Trapattoni answered some of his critics by naming Seamus Coleman, Robbie Brady, and Marc Wilson in the starting eleven but will there be a happy ending or has the page turned on the Trap chapter of Irish soccer?
God has descended from his heavenly throne to impart some words of wisdom for Irish football fans in despair.
He led us to the Promised Land of a major tournament but Giovanni Trapattoni will face the wrath of the people if his Irish failures part like the Red Sea against the minnows of the Faroe Islands.
Shane Long, Andy Keogh and Stephen Ward surprised another lucky Ireland fan by personally delivering the new home jersey to their door ahead of the Faroe Islands clash. In Torshavn, the Boys in Green are looking to deliver three points and redemption for their under-fire manager.