IT WAS a faintly eerie feeling to sit high up in the press box before kick-off in the GSP Stadium on Saturday night and take in a scene which suggested time had stood still.

AFTER heading home the winner in the GSP Stadium in Nicosia on Saturday night, Irish captain Robbie Keane celebrated with four fingers raised on one hand and a zero formed with the finger and thumb of the other.

Robbie Keane has warned world champions Italy the Republic of Ireland are gunning for them as they prepare for a potentially crucial head-to-head in Dublin.

Giovanni Trapattoni turned his attention to a mouthwatering World Cup clash with his native Italy after seeing Robbie Keane fire the Republic of Ireland to victory in Cyprus.

Cyprus 1 Republic of Ireland 2

Republic of Ireland defender Sean St Ledger shook off his knee injury to line up against Cyprus in tonight’s crucial World Cup qualifier.

Robbie Keane has warned Cyprus the Republic of Ireland will come out fighting as they home in on World Cup qualification.

EVEN Robbie Keane admitted yesterday that we’re probably all a bit weary at this stage about the constant flashbacks to Ireland’s night of shame here in Nicosia three years ago.

NO-ONE wearing a green shirt emerged smelling of roses the last time Ireland played in Nicosia but if there is one player with more reason than most to wince at the painful memories of that night, it has to be Richard Dunne.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s holiday homework has ensured he will not be nervous as he watches his Republic of Ireland team run out in Cyprus tomorrow night.

Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane will be concentrating solely on his World Cup dream rather than any form of revenge over Cyprus tomorrow night.

AND the deadpan one-liner of the week award goes to... Caleb Folan.

Stephen Hunt is targeting nothing less than a win from the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in Nicosia on Saturday.

Stephen Hunt is desperate to help erase a nightmare from the Irish psyche in Cyprus on Saturday evening.

Ireland captain Robbie Keane is gunning to avenge the most humiliating night in his country’s history.

WALES are aiming to win three consecutive away games for the first time in 26 years today, and boss John Toshack has joked he wants an OBE for the achievement.

Slovakia have moved back into contention in Euro 2008 qualifying Group D thanks to a second half comeback against Cyprus in Nicosia.

Robbie Keane will tonight push to one side the current criticism surrounding the Republic of Ireland in a bid to restore lost pride.

Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton has vowed to take the fierce criticism flying his way “on the chin”.

John O’Shea insists sacrifices will be made to ensure the Republic of Ireland do not suffer further humiliation on Wednesday.

Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton has defended his decision not to recall Lee Carsley to the squad despite Saturday’s debacle in Cyprus.

Damien Duff slammed the Republic of Ireland’s humiliating defeat to Cyprus last night as “absolutely shocking”.

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Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton and captain Robbie Keane would both gladly settle for a fraught 1-0 victory tonight over Cyprus.

Richard Dunne feels Ireland are on the brink of proving they are good enough to qualify for the European Championship finals.

BRIAN KERR this weekend returns to the scene of one of the most traumatic nights in his international management, writes Colm O’Connor.

Kevin MacDonald insists Ireland have the strength in depth to qualify for the European Championship finals.

Republic of Ireland assistant manager Kevin MacDonald is ready to shout himself hoarse in a bid to get Steve Staunton's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign off and running.

Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle has been forced to endure the chill of the Irish Sea in a bid to be fit for Saturday’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Cyprus.

Ireland manager Steve Staunton has suffered another injury blow ahead of his side’s impending Euro 2008 qualifying double header.

Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton said today that he has every faith in his backroom staff after receiving a one-game touchline ban from UEFA.

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has vowed to take on Switzerland tomorrow “with all guns blazing”, with his job and the country’s World Cup hopes on the line.

THERE weren’t too many smiles on the faces of the Republic of Ireland players as they left the GSP Stadium in Nicosia on Saturday night but Shay Given, for one, was entitled to be pleased with another man of the match performance in which his superb penalty save from Okkas effectively kept his side in World Cup contention.

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Republic of Ireland hero Shay Given fears a repeat of their Swiss heartache if the Irish reproduce their shambles in Cyprus.

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr believes his side will have to show a significant improvement if they are to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.

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Under-pressure Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr was forced into making a number of changes for his side’s critical World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in Nicosia.

THE big games against France in Paris and Dublin notwithstanding, at no stage in the Group 4 campaign so far have the stakes been higher for the Republic of Ireland than they will be this evening, here in Cyprus, where anything less than victory will almost certainly signal the end of the national team’s interest in next summer’s World Cup.

WITH two games left and no wriggle room remaining, the time to stand up and be counted has arrived for the Republic of Ireland, as Kenny Cunningham acknowledged on the eve of this evening’s match against Cyprus.

STRIKER David Trezeguet will sit out France’s visit to Dublin for the crucial Group Four qualifier in September.

Quinton Fortune insists Manchester United’s patchwork side will have no excuses for defeat by Maccabi Haifa in Nicosia tonight.

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