Anelka scared of missing out on World Cup Glory

The Chelsea and France striker Nicolas Anelka is desperate for his country to overcome the Republic of Ireland to reach the World Cup Finals in South Africa next summer, after missing out on selection for the last THREE finals.

Considering the top-class clubs that Anelka has played at in his career, it is amazing that he has never had the chance to show his skills on the biggest stage, and he is now worried that the hoodoo could continue in next weeks crucial play-off games.

“Maybe it’s written in the stars that I won’t be at the World Cup finals,” Anelka said.

“It will be a crazy atmosphere [at Croke Park], a real battle for us.

“We know we have to stop them at set-pieces.”

Anelka will know that Ireland are far from being pushovers this year. Despite only finishing second in their group to Italy, they managed to go through the whole campaign without losing, and pushed Italy all the way to the wire.

Whereas France have been playing in fits and starts under Raymond Domenech, and it purely depends on which France team turns up at Croke Park on Saturday.