Nations League Path B/ Euro play-off Final: Northern Ireland v Slovakia (Windsor Park, 7.45pm)
Weiss squad: let’s get the old gang together for one last job! Words to strike fear into some sitting complacently at home.
Northern Ireland may feel they merit justice after the unfair nature of their last play-off loss in Belfast, three years ago against Switzerland. The wrong arm of the law, a ridiculous penalty award, made the difference in that two-legged tie.
There’s also a sense that having this play-off final at Windsor Park, even with just over 1000 fans allowed in rather than 18,000, almost assures a home victory.
Yet football doesn’t work like that.
There’s as much likelihood that a controversial figure like Vladimir Weiss will decide tonight’s tie, or Slovakia get big performances out of others persuaded out of international retirement.
Even though Slovakia edged past the Republic of Ireland in their play-off semi-final last month, there’s an element of uncertainty, the unknown, about them.
Subsequent Nations League losses to Scotland and Israel led to the sacking of manager Pavel Hapal, with Stefan Tarkovic taking over as caretaker boss.
The former assistant to Hapal’s predecessor Jan Kozak, Tarkovic has recalled some former favourites, including Weiss. Although injury appears to have ruled out ex-Liverpool centre half Martin Skrtel, his fellow 35-year-old Tomas Hubocan is in the mix after coming out of international retirement.
Weiss was a teenage prodigy, signed up by Manchester City, who never fulfilled his immense potential, with controversies intervening along his career path.
The much-travelled winger is still only 30, having been loaned by City to Bolton, Rangers (winning the SPL in 2011), and Espanyol, then sold to Pescara, before moving to Olympiacos, then two clubs in Qatar – and he’s now back with his hometown club of Slovan Bratislava.
The last meeting between these two sides was their last match before the last Euros, a goalless draw in Trnava in June 2016.
Tonight is also one step away from the next Euros but there has to be at least one goal tonight, even via a (penalty) shoot-out.
Northern Ireland must hope that a Weiss guy doesn’t kill off their qualification dream.
