SOCCER:. . . but nicking an early goal seems as important as adhering to the protective cloak the Republic of Ireland manager insists his teams wear on the road, writes PAT FENLON

PLENTY HAS been made of loyalty to the Irish cause these past few weeks. Granted, the players who haven’t reported for duty are not born and bred here but what about someone like Kevin Kilbane? He has turned up 109 times, so it seems unfair to label those declaring for the Republic of Ireland through parentage as the problem.

My own opinion is if a fella doesn’t show and fails to make direct contact with the manager then they don’t want to play for the Republic of Ireland. I would not pick them again and, instead, go find men who are desperate to wear the green jersey.

Because these players are men, not boys, and they have been given a chance to play international football. If they don’t see it as an important part of their career we should move past them.

There are enough quality young Irish players coming through as the Under-19s qualifying for the European Championships just proved.

Switching to actual football matters, Simon Cox starting ahead of Shane Long is a big decision by Giovanni Trapattoni, considering how well Long has been playing this season. Cox has only played two friendly matches but maybe it is a fatigue issue. The play-offs could have taken their toll on Long after a hugely-productive season with Reading.

A greater concern ahead of tonight’s match against Macedonia was the groin strain Robbie Keane picked up on Thursday morning, although it would have taken a lot to keep the captain out of this game. We have seen of late how much scoring goals for his country means to him.

The line-up of Given; Kelly, O’Shea, O’Dea, Kilbane; Hunt, Whelan, Andrews, McGeady; Keane and Cox has a decent enough look to it.

The back four is presumably chosen to combat Macedonia’s threat height-wise, particularly from set-pieces. Seán St Ledger may be available again but Darren O’Dea’s height sees him, probably correctly, retained at centre back.

We’ll always miss Richard Dunne but John O’Shea has enough experience to marshal that back four, while Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews know exactly what is required in a Trapattoni central midfield partnership away from home.

An Irish side is always lessened by Damien Duff’s absence but Stephen Hunt’s return brings another defensively-aware player into the side, which should have a knock-on benefit for Aiden McGeady on the other wing. Hunt’s infectiously positive approach is a manager’s dream as he gives everything, be it running hard at a full-back or tracking back.

I played in Skopje back in 2000 when Shelbourne, under Dermot Keely, became the first League of Ireland club to win away from home in European competition for 18 years. We beat Sloga Jugomagnat 1-0 in a Champions League qualifier. It was a great experience, but at the time there was an enormous feeling of intimidation. You can’t help but notice the line of armed soldiers staring you down from the sideline.

The stadium has since been upgraded so it might not be as hostile, our guys are well used to such environments anyway, but it remains a difficult place to get three points.

The hope is that Edin Nuredinoski is selected once again. He is a terrible goalkeeper.

Last March’s 2-1 win at the Aviva Stadium proved this when early goals by McGeady and Keane came from his inability to perform the basics. Even his kick-outs were shambolic.

If he plays, Ireland must be tactically aware of this massive weakness and go about constructing shooting opportunities from outside the box.

It was a real shame two months ago that Darron Gibson or Whelan weren’t presented with several opportunities to unload on this calamitous goalkeeper.

Even if he fumbled, it would have led to scraps for Keane to feed off.

Whether our friend Edin shows up or not, we need three points tonight. Otherwise, there will be enormous strain when Slovakia come to visit on September 2nd before needing to get something in Moscow four days later.

I haven’t come away from any game in this campaign thinking “Jaysus, we were brilliant” but the results, besides the Russian lesson in Dublin, have been good.

Same again would do tonight. The Trapattoni way is made for nights like this; keep it tight, defensively solid and look for a winner on the break. There seems to be more certainty about what the players are doing away from home. Individual duties are clear, with decent organisation and graft expected to yield a forgettable, yet hugely valuable three points.

Considering the unpredictability of results to date (Russia losing at home to Slovakia and drawing in Armenia), a point wouldn’t be the end of the world. Every team has been conceding goals, even the Russians coughed up two in Dublin after controlling matters so convincingly.

Macedonia are due a big scalp and with Moscow next on their schedule this seems like their big chance. Every international team will lift themselves at home so we can forget about their first-half display in Dublin.

Tonight and the game at home to Slovakia seem like the defining matches for Ireland. Six points mean the Russian trip is no longer so do-or-die, with Andorra, away, and Armenia, at home, to end our qualification campaign.

I expect a cagey opening but nicking an early goal seems as important as adhering to the protective cloak Trapattoni insists his teams wear on the road.