SOCCER:Defeat for Russia tonight could be fatal as a victory for Ireland would leave us in a straight shoot-out with the Slovaks for automatic qualification, writes PAT FENLON

THE PERFORMANCE in Paris 11 months ago must be replicated tonight. Sometimes players can survive on their professionalism. That means adhering to a system. The conservativeness of Giovanni Trapattoni teams means we won’t be conceding many goals but it also requires players to take responsibility against equal or superior opposition.

For Andorra and Armenia it was just a case of sticking to the gameplan and waiting for the opportunities to follow.

Against France at Croke Park last year the players learnt that that would not be enough. A few days later they reacted accordingly.

They realised they were facing a better team, with some world-class individuals, and they wanted to measure themselves.

They trusted their natural ability and took a few gambles where they wouldn’t normally when playing to the Italian’s rigid formation.

Concentration levels duly increased and there followed a performance which fuelled a renewed national belief in this team.

It was their big chance and they almost took it.

Tonight is the night they must tap into that hurt. We may not have seen it in 2010 but we know such a performance is in them.

Six points at home against Russia and Slovakia is essential, I feel, if we are to top this group.

Defeat for Russia tonight could be fatal. We must go for the jugular as victory should leave us in a straight shoot-out with the Slovaks for automatic qualification.

The team has progressed since Trapattoni first began to impose his ideas. In the previous campaign we were guilty of dropping points in silly games but that has been eradicated by a loyalty to the Italian’s system – as evident against Andorra and Armenia.

The problem in the last campaign, against Italy and then France, was our inability to kill off major nations despite having them on the rack.

The challenge is to finally overcome teams that are perceived to be better than us.

Russia in Dublin provides that opportunity. If we don’t beat them and Slovakia at home we cannot realistically expect to beat either side on the road. Therefore, we cannot expect to qualify.

We are down only two players tonight. If everyone was available I imagine Damien Duff and Keith Andrews would slot in. This is not a concern out wide where Liam Lawrence and Aiden McGeady have proved their quality at this level, but Paul Green, having been somewhat exposed since getting his opportunity, must now repay Trapattoni’s trust in him.

Should Russia’s middle three threaten to overrun Green and Glenn Whelan, I think we can alter our approach to counter it. Either Robbie Keane or Kevin Doyle should be harassing their holding midfielder at every opportunity anyway.

The Russians seem more adaptable in their formation. I know Dick Advocaat likes 4-3-3 and I think that’s how they will start.

That means the two wide men, one of which should be Arshavin, will have licence to get at our fullbacks but we can punish them for committing three men into attack.

In the defensive stakes, Lawrence has it in his game to help out in defence but McGeady must do likewise. It will be that type of workmanlike night at times.

Aiden is not playing long enough in Moscow to know much about them but I expect him to have an extra spring in his step after being unburdened of the expectation associated with playing for Celtic and coming over to Ireland as a Celtic player.

Hopefully we will witness his full array of skills. If he does, he will give some poor Russian a torrid night.

We know all about his quality, now we have to see an improved final ball into the box. If he can add that to his repertoire playing with Spartak Moscow in the Champions League then he can become a great Irish player.

The news that Keith Treacy returned to Preston to focus on his club duties is very disappointing. Right now, more than ever, we need every young Irish talent in the squad – what with the obvious absentees for various reasons – so it is a real shame when you hear a young player say he would rather go home and put his feet up than play for his country.

From the glimpses I had seen of him, Keith looked capable of forcing his way into the starting XI for the rest of this campaign. I thought maybe as Kevin Kilbane’s successor at left back but certainly on the wing should more injuries occur.

Now, I don’t see why the manager should bother keeping tabs on him if the lad isn’t willing to show up for such a massive game.

The fear of losing your place at club level by joining the international squad for two weeks is always there, especially if you are with a lower division club and are warming the Irish bench, but you must have faith in your own ability.

Maybe, like so many other kids in England, he got too much too soon. Monetary motivation is of no use when it comes to international football.

The core of this Ireland squad – Keane, Dunne, O’Shea, Doyle and Given – could have told him that.

These men will not have shed a tear for Keith Treacy this week. Nor will they be thinking of their club future (no matter how perilous it may be). They have serious business to attend to tonight.