Giovanni Trapattoni will send his Republic of Ireland team into World Cup battle in Bulgaria tomorrow night intent only on victory.

Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane has put his defenders on red alert to the threat Dimitar Berbatov poses to their World Cup dreams.

NEVER mind playing the world champions on their own turf – Bulgaria in Sofia tomorrow will be the toughest game yet of Ireland’s World Cup campaign.

BULGARIAN coach Plamen Markov has told his team that they must now do what Ireland have already done in World Cup qualifying Group 8 — beat Georgia.

Bulgaria 0 Italy 0

IN A press conference room just off the hallowed marble halls of the Vassil Levski Stadium, the thin-faced Plamen Markov yesterday pondered the past and future roles of Italian football in his career as Bulgarian coach.

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has again been left out of the provisional Holland squad to face Bulgaria and Albania in next month’s Euro 2008 qualifiers.