Qualification still on, says Kerr

BRIAN KERR yesterday said the level of disappointment within Ireland’s dressing-room after Saturday’s Euro 2004 draw with Russia in Group 10 had heightened his admiration for the players.

“The sense of disappointment among the players meant you’d have to feel sorry for them. I have huge respect for them, because of the level of their disappointment when we drew in Albania and again against Russia.

“I don’t believe they were two bad results. I think a lot of people under-estimated Russia. We didn’t, we had no right to. We knew they had good players of a high technical standard and they defended with great discipline.