The Republic of Ireland have never met either Estonia or Andorra at senior international level, although an unofficial game against an Estonian team took place in 1923.

Older fans can recall sharp rivalry, however, with the other three countries in the group, Holland, Portugal and Cyprus, all of whom have been encountered with varying degrees of success over the years.

Holland

The Dutch provided the opposition on the first occasion Ireland was involved in the World Cup in 1934. The Dutch won that game 5-2 in Amsterdam and it wasn't until 1980 that the countries next met in the competition.

An Ireland team, with the O'Leary brothers, David and Pierce, playing in central defence, won 2-1 at Lansdowne Road. That was the last time we won a game in the series which included expensive European Championship defeats in 1988 and 1995 and a 2-0 beating in the second phase of the World Cup finals in America in 1994.

Record: Pl: 12. W: 4, Dr: 2. L: 6. F: 20. A: 23.

Portugal

Portugal were the first team to play Ireland after the second World War, winning 3-1 in Lisbon in 1946. They went on to repeat that victory in the following two years and it was not until 1949 that the Irish managed a win with a goal from a penalty, converted by Paddy Coad.

The next two meetings were on neutral ground, the Portuguese winning 2-1 in Recife in 1972 before Ireland outplayed them 2-0 in Boston exactly 20 years later. Honours were even in the two qualifying games for the Euro `96 Championships, Ireland winning 1-0 at Lansdowne but going down 3-0 in the return. On the last occasion, the countries met in a friendly game in 1996, the Portuguese won 1-0.

Record: Pl: 9. W: 3. Dr: 0. L: 6. F: 6. A: 13.

Cyprus

Ireland have played the Cypriots twice and won both games. A 3-2 win in Nicosia in 1980 in a qualifying game for the 1982 World Cup finals was regarded as unsatisfactory and eventually cost us the chance of playing in the finals.

Ireland easily won the return game with Gerry Daly (2), Tony Grealish, Michael Robinson, Frank Stapleton and Chris Hughton securing the goals in a comprehensive 60 success.

Record: Pl: 2. W: 2. Dr: 0. L: 0. F: 9. A: 2.