Russians won’t sit back

THE particular appeal of today’s match between the Republic of Ireland and Russia at Lansdowne Road (4pm) is enhanced by the fact that either team can win the group and qualify automatically for Euro 2004 in Portugal next year.

With Switzerland currently leading the group there is little room for manoeuvre and, certainly, little time to recover any more lost points for either of today's combatants.

From an Irish point of view, an intriguing feature of the three-cornered contest for the two privileged positions in this group second will go into a play-off is that Russia will follow today's match by playing Switzerland on Wednesday next in Moscow.

Ireland are free of European Championship commitments until they travel to play Switzerland in Basle on October 11 and if the results over the next five days go in their favour they could be assured of winning the group and going straight through to the finals by drawing with the Swiss.

This is a huge incentive for Ireland and a huge endorsement of their positive response to the appointment of Brian Kerr and the disappointment of losing their first two matches in the competition to Russia, in Moscow, and Switzerland, in Dublin. A win and a draw with Albania and two wins over Georgia represented a powerful bid to recover ground lost and regain the status and reputation that Ireland enjoyed after their World Cup campaign in Japan and South Korea. This match against Russia before a full house at Lansdowne is their opportunity of consolidating that.

Manager Kerr put it into context after yesterday's training session when he said: "This is a huge game now but it is only because we have done our stuff in our last four games. The general consensus is that the teams in the group were even and there was no outstanding team in the group."

The results have confirmed this point of view with Switzerland the only team still unbeaten. Yet they have a certain vulnerability about them because they drew three of their six matches at home to Russia and away to both Georgia and Albania.

Russia have been even more unpredictable; after whipping Ireland 4-2, they hammered Albania 4-1 in Moscow, lost 0-1 away to Georgia, lost 1-3 away to Albania and drew 2-2 away to Switzerland.

Russia's campaign has been, just like Ireland's, interrupted by a change of manager Georgy Yartsev replaced Valeri Gazzaev after they had lost a friendly match to Israel recently. This will be Yartzev's first match in charge.

Despite such turmoil, Kerr made it clear he has a lot of respect for the Russians. "In every game they have played so far they have had a go. In their three away games they have attacked.

"In Albania, where they lost eventually, they were in control of the game in the last half-hour, chasing the equaliser, when they got done by a bad defensive mistake and lost 3-1.

"They lost to an early goal in Georgia when Georgia took the game to Russia but those two games were different for historical reasons. They were of major, major importance for Georgia and Albania, and not just on the footballing side of it .

"Russia's game in Switzerland showed how good they can be in attack after they went two-nil down early on. They didn't start with a defensive mentality. Russia were pushing forward all through, and were trying to win the match in the last fifteen minutes after getting back on level terms.

"They were particularly good in the game and if they follow that approach I expect them to have a go at us. I think in the previous era of eastern bloc teams playing away from home they generally sat in and played on the break, but I think this team will have a go."

The most relevant fact about that match in Moscow was the uncharacteristic poor play of the Irish defence.

This is the first priority then, to ensure that Russia do not score. It is true The final placings could be decided on goal difference but Ireland go into the game knowing that a draw would keep their prospects alive, even if it meant they would have to travel to Switzerland needing a good result there.

Kerr stressed that Ireland could not afford to be distracted by any thoughts of trying to boost their goals for total.

"We have got to go and try to win the game and see how the score line works afterwards" he admitted.

"I don't think we have got to the stage in international football where we are chasing three and four goal victories. If they come about, well and good, but let us be realistic, we were beaten 4-2 in Moscow by this team.

"The team had a lot of possession and we had a lot of chances but we lost 4-2. We've got to look at what we've achieved in our more recent matches. So let's look to try and win the game and let the group take its course after that."

Kerr, as is his custom, declined to speculate on his team selection but in the absence of Robbie Keane it will be interesting to see whether Damien Duff will be employed behind two centre-forwards as has happened in recent matches.

I believe Kerr has so much respect for Russia that he will instead use Duff alongside a striker, almost certainly Clinton Morrison, and ensure he has strength, competitiveness and a capacity for hard work across a midfield with Lee Carsley, Colin Healy, Matt Holland and Kevin Kilbane.

He summed up his tactical thinking like this: "We have spent some time with the players making sure they understand the tactical variations that might be required if we decide to change something, that they understand we are not a straight-forward, down the middle, 4-4-2 and that's what we tried to do.

"I know the structure and the continuity of the team is very important, the continuity of the style of the team. But as I've said before I think it is important that we can deal with different styles as well and we need to understand the tactical variations that suit us and suit the players."

I expect the team to represent Ireland will be:

Shay Given; Stephen Carr, Gary Breen, Kenny Cunningham, John O'Shea; Lee Carsley, Colin Healy, Matt Holland, Kevin Kilbane; Clinton Morrison, Damien Duff.