"If we can get a win, we'll be four points behind the Czechs and with a game in hand.
"If we don't, we can forget about any outside chance we might have of qualifying. It's as simple as that."
Table before today's game.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Germany | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 13 |
| Czech Republic | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 13 |
| Republic of Ireland | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 13 |
| Slovakia | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 9 |
| Wales | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 6 |
| Cyprus | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 4 |
| San Marino | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 0 |