SKY SPORTS likes to call them “massive, massive games”; Brian Kerr has settled for “absolutely crucial”.

BRIAN KERR will wait until later today at the earliest before making a final decision on the availability of Steve Finnan for tomorrow’s World Cup game against Israel at Lansdowne Road.

LIVERPOOL’S Steve Finnan yesterday appeared to be fighting a losing battle to be fit for the Republic of Ireland’s crucial World Cup game against Israel on Saturday.

CONTRARY to earlier reports about the player's fitness, Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr says he expects Steve Finnan to join up with the squad in advance of the World Cup qualifiers against Israel and the Faroe Islands.

THE most important date for the joint Scotland/Ireland committee bidding to host the European Championship finals of 2008 is September 16.