PARIS — The road to the 2014 World Cup continues on Friday with a number of important European zone qualifiers that have former champions Germany, Italy and Spain all facing difficult away assignments.
Germany coach Joachim Loew takes his three-time champions to Dublin for their first meeting against Ireland since a 0-0 draw in 2007 during qualifying for Euro 2008.
Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil has been their principal attacking threat so far, with three goals in Germany's opening two matches — a 3-0 win over the Faroe Islands followed by a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Austria in Vienna.
Robbie Keane will captain Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on the night he wins his 122nd cap.