Republic now need extraordinary result

Last night's victory for Portugal almost guarantees Luis Figo's side top spot in the Group Two table and automatic qualification for next summer's World Cup in Japan and Korea.

Last year's European Championship semi-finalists play their last qualifying game at home to Estonia on October 6th needing, in effect, only to match Ireland's result on the same day against Cyprus in Lansdowne Road to be sure of their place in the finals.

Ireland need to make up seven goals on their rivals, an improbable feat, given that Portugal beat Estoniana 3-1 in Tallinn in their opening game of the current campaign.

If Ireland was to pull it off the achievement would eclipse even the remarkable 12-1 defeat by Spain of Malta in the last match of their qualifying campaign for the 1984 European finals when they topped Ireland's group. The Spaniards needed an 11-goal margin to go through.

It would also, of course, require Mick McCarthy's side to better the Republic's record victory - the 8-0 defeat of Malta, back in November of 1983.

If they finish second the Republic will play the third-placed team in the Asian qualifiers in a two legged play-off scheduled to take place on November 10th and 15th.