Thanks to Scotland, you can now delete the word 'permutations' from your predictive text. Ireland now know that World Cup qualification is in their own hands, as the runner-up in Group F is guaranteed to rank among the best runners-up with 12 points. Should Ireland beat Wales in Cardiff tomorrow night, we'll finish with 13 points...and be in the draw for the playoffs.
These things have ended as they often have for Ireland, as it was Scotland wot done it. They needed to beat Slovenia away from home to get into the playoffs, and led 1-0 at half-time through Leigh Griffiths. They didn't show up for the second half, however, and fell 2-1 behind, both goals scored by Roman Bezjak.
It was a nervy finish: Scotland equalised through Robert Snodgrass, but ultimately it finished 2-2. Here's the Irish reaction to a dramatic game, after which our destiny is officially in our own hands.
Slovenia 🇸🇮 entering "great bunch of lads" territory here
— Thom Malone (@thom_malone) October 8, 2017
Sad to see Scotland go out but #COYBIG tomorrow night, not the first time in sport that we have had to travel to Cardiff needing a win
— Arthur (@Kingofardagh) October 8, 2017
Slovenia, you bunch of legends! It's now up to us! #COYBIG
— Conor Quinlan (@conorwquinlan) October 8, 2017
Thank you, Slovenia!! Now all we need is beat Wales away then beat Italy or Portugal and we're at the World Cup, practically there 😂 #COYBIG
— Chris Hardiman ☕🎸🚨🏈📺 (@AJoyForever83) October 8, 2017
#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/OyKMPnv30M
— Keith Ó Gealbháin (@KeithGalvin) October 8, 2017
Slovenia did there part, just need to win tomorrow lads 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪 #COYBIG
— Eoin Martin (@Eoin_Martin_) October 8, 2017
Roman Bezjak on his way to becoming a national hero
— Peter Farrell (@PeterFarr_) October 8, 2017
Scotland are basically Mayo.
— Peter Geoghegan (@PeterKGeoghegan) October 8, 2017
Bring on WALES tomorrow night 🇮🇪🇮🇪🙈🙈🙈💪🏻💪🏻#COYBIG !!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/kv8gKYVfvY
— Christine Ó Cionnaith (@kchristine99) October 8, 2017
