Hammer’s shot-stopper Darren Randolph is targeting a place at Russia 2018 with the Republic of Ireland after having starred for his country at last years European Championships in France.
Randolph starred as the boys in green reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in their history and hopes he can replicate that feat in Russia next year, should Ireland qualify of course.
Martin O’Neill’s side currently sit joint top of qualifying Group D alongside Serbia having won three and drawn three of their six matches this far, but will have to wait until September 2nd for their next crunch match when they travel to struggling Georgia before hosting Serbia only three days later. Victories in both Tbilisi and Dublin would all but guarantee qualification, or at the very least a place in the play-off.
Speaking on the Hammers official website, the 30-year-old keeper said: “We can definitely finish in the top two, it’s like any small group, if you can take points off the teams who are going to be the biggest threats to you to qualify, those wins are massive.”
The Republic of Ireland have not qualified for a World Cup finals since South Korea/Japan 2002, but Randolph remains positive that his side can make a return to the world stage.
“Our ultimate goal is to qualify for Russia next summer.”
