Back to basics for Faroes tie, says Kenny

ON Saturday night in the Stade de France, Kenny Cunningham faced up the challenge of Arsenal duo Thierry Henry and Robert Pires.

Tomorrow night at Lansdowne Road, he will take on John Petersen and Andrew av Flotum, players whose names are no more familiar than those of their clubs (B36, Torshavn and Fremad Amager of Denmark, since you ask).

The Faroe Islands are in town and about all they share with France is a starting initial. Inevitably then, it's hard to shake off the feeling that all the hard work is already done in the October back-to-back section of the World Cup Group 4 qualifying campaign. But captain Cunningham is here at the team's training ground in Malahide to tell us that complacency is strictly off-limits in the Irish camp. And there's no basking in the glory of what's already been achieved either.

"We're an experienced squad and experience tells you that after a game like the one in Paris, and all the euphoria, it's important to get back to basics as quickly as possible," he says. "There hasn't been too much talk about the French game around the hotel the last day or two. I think we all realise that if we don't make this game count against the Faroes, then the draw with France would mean very little.

"We're impressed with the result they got against Cyprus, having had a little difficulty there ourselves over the years. There are big expectations of us, of course, and we know it's going to be a different kind of challenge to the one we faced in Paris. There's no point in saying it's an Even Steven game - the statistics will say that we're favourites to win the game. But that's easily said. We're going to have to out and prove it on Wednesday night."

In the back of Cunningham's mind, he concedes, is the knowledge that the mighty have struggled against the meek in the past - think of Andorra taking the lead at Lansdowne Road or Jack Charlton's team being held scoreless in Liechtenstein.

"If you look at the results around Europe this week, one or two of them would raise a few eyebrows - Portugal in Liechtenstein obviously and a strong Dutch team who struggled over in Macedonia as well. We realise that this is a potential banana skin, and we will give them the respect they deserve. So we'll study some of the video footage of their games, see how they play as a team, recognise their individual strengths, and plan for all that.

"But I think if your focus and preparation is right for these games the chance of an upset becomes smaller and smaller. If you treat them very lightly, surprises can happen. So it's possible that could happen at Lansdowne Road on Wednesday but we can't be scared of that fact.

"We've got to recognise it's possible but also recognise that we've got some outstanding players in our squad, players of great individual ability, particularly high up the pitch. We've got some very creative players, as we saw against the French, and we've got to hope those creative players create opportunities that we can take."

Somebody points out that their manager has already said he'd be delighted with a draw. Cunningham pretends to mishear. "Our manager?" he deadpans, drawing laughs from Brian Kerr. Then he puts his professional hat back on. "Of course they will have a defensive attitude. They will put players behind the ball and they will ask us questions - are we good enough to break them down, are we creative enough in our attacking play, are we imaginative enough in our link-up play, is our passing positive enough? And are we going to be brave enough to get on the ball and try and pass through them? These are all the questions they are going to ask of us and hopefully we'll have the answers."

And if those answers don't come fast and fluently? That's when patience comes in, both for the Irish team and the fans who will turn up, let's be frank, expecting a cricket score.

"Patience is absolutely key," Cunningham agrees. "On the whole, the Irish footballing public is very knowledgeable, and they realise the Faroe Islands are not going to make things easy for us. They're not going to throw players forward so, yes, everyone is going to have to be patient. We're all hopeful of an early goal and it may not come. But the important thing after 90 minutes is that we find ourselves at least one goal ahead of the Faroes, whether that comes in the first minute or the 90th. Patience is a key as we go looking to unlock the door.

"The Faroes are going to be motivated for this game, as motivated as we were going onto the pitch in Paris on Saturday. I'm sure they'll grow in stature and want to put on a display in front of our support."