Yugoslavia gave Ireland plenty of warning prior to Friday night's likely decisive tie at Richmond Park with an emphatic 3-0 win in the tournament opener against Slovenia at Dalymount Park yesterday.

And there is no doubting that Simon Vulkcevic is the man Brian's Kerr's team will have to watch.

The first real chance fell to Dusko Tosic who forced Slovenian goalkeeper Darko Prsa to make a good save with a well-struck free on 28 minutes.

A minute later Vulkcevic went on a mazy run, was taken down in the penalty area and converted the spot kick himself.

Yugoslavia extended their lead on 54 minutes through Perica Stanceski and made sure of victory when Milan Purovic scored with a point-blank header.