Soccer: Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is leaving nothing to chance as his side attempts to edge past leaders Russia as the qualifying campaign for Euro 2012 comes to a climax.
Ireland face Andorra on Friday night with Trapattoni insisting that it his team must take a win-at-all-costs approach.
The Republic of Ireland sit in second place in Group B and will be overwhelming favourites to see off the minnows from the Pyrenees, who are yet to win a single point in the qualifying campaign.
Cristian Martinez’s strike in a 3-1 defeat at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on September 7th last year is the only goal Andorra have scored in the group to date.
“The important thing is the result. It’s not important how we get the result, but that we get the result,” said the Irish team manager.
“We look only for the result. We have to pay attention to every mistake, every silly mistake.”
Even victory in Andorra and a similar outcome when Armenia visit the Aviva Stadium next Tuesday evening may not be enough for Ireland to qualify automatically, with much resting on the clash between third-placed Slovakia and the Russians in Zilina on Friday.
A win for Slovakia would mean two victories would send the Republic to the finals, while a draw would leave Russia needing to beat Andorra at home in their concluding game to nudge Ireland aside by virtue of their head-to-head record.
But with Slovakia and Armenia also still mathematically in the hunt, there is little margin for error.
For that reason, Trapattoni will want his front men at their most potent, which was not the case last month for the 0-0 draws at home to Slovakia and away in Russia.
The manager restored Kevin Doyle to his starting line-up and ran the rule over the 28-year-old in person on Saturday when he saw Wolves lose 2-1 at home to Newcastle. Trapattoni is satisfied the player, who had a late equaliser disallowed, is back in business.
“One month ago, he was not strong, but he looks well. He said to me,‘Now I am fit and well.’ In Andorra, we can play with two strikers and we will have two strikers also on the bench. We will look to win. After maybe one hour, we can change it if we need the fresh energy. That is my thinking.”
Trapattoni has lost veteran full-back Kevin Kilbane to back and hamstring injuries with Kevin Foley having also withdrawn with an ankle problem, while
Paul McShane is due to join up later this week after playing for Hull’s reserves as he steps up his return from a calf injury.
Striker Jon Walters also has an ankle injury which is being monitored, and goalkeeper Shay Given and defender John O’Shea are nursing minor knocks, while Aiden McGeady was due to join up with the squad this evening after flying in from club duty with Spartak Moscow.
With Richard Dunne suspended for the first half of the double-header, Sean St Ledger is likely to start in Andorra, although he is currently out of the team at Leicester, a problem with which Trapattoni has had to come to terms during his reign.
“I have never made an issue of whether they play a lot or not,” explained the coach. “McGeady plays, it’s okay, (Robbie) Keane (is playing regularly) now, but we also had (Keith) Andrews who didn’t play, (James) McCarthy for two months didn’t play.
“Forty or 50 per cent of the players didn’t play, but I never use it as an excuse. We are this team. I am proud, I am happy to be the coach of this team. We have a good quality.”
