The boys in green 8/1 to produce heroic performance in Paris and qualify for World Cup

Watch Free Live Streaming World Cup Qualifiers at Bet365 > Live Streaming Soccer

The Republic had their chances at Croke Park on Saturday night, although a failure to score has left them with an uphill struggle if they are to join the party in South Africa next summer. They were slightly unfortunate to lose the first leg against France, with Nicolas Anelka’s 67th-minute shot taking a deflection and rebounding off a post. If you think that Ireland can pull off a win in Paris, Sporting Bet go 6/1 that the visitors win in ninety minutes and 8/1 (Paddy Power) that they end up qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

Indeed, even a win might not be enough to go through, with a 1-0 victory (14/1 Blue Square) in their favour meaning that the game goes into extra-time. That will certainly be the scoreline that Giovanni Trapattoni has in mind and that requires a strong defensive display from the off. It’s easy to see another cagey encounter and Sporting Bet go 13/20 that there are two goals or less, while you can get 21/10 (betfair) that there is one goal or less, as was the case in Dublin.

The visitors will clearly be fired up after Lassana Diarra made some derogatory comments to Keith Andrews at the end of the first leg match. However, the French are clearly the better team on paper and can make their superiority count at 8/15 (William Hill). Manager Raymond Domenech is likely to go with Thierry Henry (11/2 Coral) and Nicolas Anelka (5/1 Hills) in attack, with the former Arsenal duo likely to cause problems for Richard Dunne and Sean St Ledger at the back. Perhaps this will be plain sailing for the home team and a 3-0 win in their favour is 11/1 (bet internet).

There were some famous penalty heroics for the Irish in the 1990 World Cup and Paddy Power go 50/1 that they go through on spot-kicks this Wednesday. Robbie Keane (9/1 Ladbrokes) surely represents their best chance of scoring in normal time, although Kevin Doyle (12/1 Ladbrokes) has been playing well for Wolves and seems to do well for his country also. It might also be worth a dabble on No Goalscorer (8/1 Sporting Bet), with France looking to preserve their advantage and Ireland well aware that conceding another goal will mean curtains for their World Cup hopes.