Ireland players complete marathon haul

Ireland’s preparations for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Russia suffered a minor upset en route to Siberia.

Following a four-hour flight from Dublin to Moscow, Eddie O’Sullivan’s team were delayed in the Russian capital for three hours before their 1,400-mile onward journey to the eastern Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, itself a four-and-a-half-hour flight.

The Irish team reached their destination at 9.30pm yesterday, 18 hours after leaving their Co Wicklow hotel.

The players were in good spirits, having worked out on the plane and after a well-earned rest today, they were to visit the stadium this evening ahead of tomorrow’s kick-off at 6pm local time (11am Irish time).