The Burgundy have played five matches since December last year. And if in the first match the national team prevailed in the match with the UAE at home, then later it lost three away matches and once drew on a neutral field with Costa Rica. At the same time, Qatar is on the first line in the table of group E.
After two defeats at the start of the tournament, it was important for Rapid not to misfire in the two-match match with the group outsider in the person of Dundalk in order to have real chances of reaching the playoffs. Not without difficulty, but the team of Dietmar Kuhbauer coped with their task. At home victory almost slipped out of their hand, but due to the shock ending of the match the Austrians took their points with a score 4:3. However, in Ireland everything turned out much easier. In the first half the green-whites had a huge advantage, which logically converted into two goals scored. The opponent could return to the game, but did not convert the penalty, for which he was punished a few minutes later. Rapid went into defense, conceded one goal, but did not allow Dundalk more, ending with a score 3:1.
