Most pundits have already written off Ireland's chances of qualifying for the next World Cup because of their grouping with both Holland and Portugal - but with the two countries going out of Euro 2000 in controversial circumstances at the semi-final stage things now look brighter for Ireland.

Portugal were first to go when Abel Xavier handled the ball to give France a golden goal from the penalty spot in extra-time of the first semi-final. All hell broke lose when the penalty was awarded and UEFA will decide on Sunday as to what punishment will be enforced on the Portuguese.

Nuno Gomes was sent off for his part in a fracas with the referee and he could well miss the Irish game all together. Straight after the game their coach Humberto Coelho quit his position after only a little over two years in charge. The team were so frustrated after the game that they will want to rid soccer from their mind for the foreseeable future - which could lead to them getting badly out of shape on their summer holidays.

Last night things got even better for the Irish. Holland were favourites to beat Italy in the second semi-final. Things seemed to be going to plan when Italy were reduced to ten-men when Zambrotta was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 34th minute.

Four minutes later Holland were given a dodgy penalty when the ref decided that Kluivert's shirt was pulled. The usually reliable Frank de Boer stepped up and hit a weak attempt at Toldo and the Italian goalkeeper easily saved.

Holland were awarded another penalty in the second half and de Boer hadn't got the balls to step up for a second time so it was left to Kluivert to slot the ball home. The Dutch striker snatched at the ball and then saw his kick rebound off the upright and away to safety.

Italy held out to send the game into a penalty shoot-out and scored first from the spot. Frank de Boer must have borrowed his twin brother's balls and stepped up first for Holland but his penalty this time was even worse than his first one, which put his country under severe pressure.

Then, after Italy dispatched their second, up stepped Jaap Stam, of all peopl,e to try and keep Holland in the lottery. Without doubt he was going to miss and he duly obliged with a quite awful kick.

Kluivert scored for the Dutch to give them a chance at 3-1 and things looked up when Maldini missed for Italy, but Holland's night of misery was completed when dirt-bag Bosvelt (tried to end Denis Irwin's career with a horrible tackle in the Champions League a couple of seasons ago) kicked his shot straight at Toldo.

In the aftermath of the game coach Frank Rijkaard quit and Dennis Bergkamp confirmed that it was his last game for his county. So now the two teams that Ireland face are without a coach and when new blood comes in it will take them a while to gel a team together. Thank God for Euro 2000!