Ireland captain Nathan Collins admits his side are prepared to engage in the dark arts to quieten the dominant Czechia crowd in Thursday’s World Cup playoff semi-final. "Every stadium we've played in, we've always heard the Ireland fans. Both nations will be playing for the right to face either Denmark or North Macedonia in the March 31 final, with a World Cup berth up for grabs. Czechia’s last World Cup qualification was 2006 and despite them reaching every Euro finals since, the craving to end their wait is palpable in Prague. “I’ve been very fortunate in my career but to have represented Ireland in a World Cup would have been a dream scenario.

Source: Irish Examiner March 24, 2026 11:31 UTC