Cunningham wary of Albanians
A win for Ireland over Albania coupled with a defeat for Russia in Switzerland would see Ireland rocket up the table to second place in the group. And they could further enhance their position against Georgia next Wednesday.
It is a fascinating competitive couplet with all four teams going into today's games with qualification prospects still very much alive. And the rewards for success are tantalisingly attractive.
Said Ireland's team captain Kenny Cunningham: "After experiencing a World Cup last year in Japan and Korea, that World Cup experience means everybody is desperate to repeat it again next summer in Portugal."
That prospect was all but blown when Ireland lost their opening two matches in the qualification series losing to Russia in Moscow and, disastrously, losing a first competitive match at Lansdowne Road in more than six years when going down to Switzerland.
The fall-out of that set-back was extensive with Mick McCarthy and his management team finishing their six years term of stewardship.
And the effort to recover lost ground under new manager Brian Kerr was rewarded with a win in Georgia and a draw in Tirana against Albania.
Said Cunningham: "We've got ourselves back into the group to a position where the potential to qualify is there. The group of players would think it would be a great achievement for us as a squad to qualify for the European Championships off the back of a World Cup.
"That would be a great achievement under any circumstances and something we could be very proud of. We are not there yet but, as I said, two positive results over the next couple of days would put us in a great position."
But be warned: Albania are good as Ireland discovered to their cost when they were stretched to keep the game in Tirana in April scoreless. Cunningham admitted as much:
"I was slightly surprised by Albania to be honest. We did go into the game in a position of ignorance as regards how good they were but we were impressed with them as a group overall.
"They were a very well-balanced side, very compact and the midfield three in particular linked up very well and kept possession of the ball very well.
"Again on the left-hand side, Murati, the wing back, looks as if he has one or two tricks and could be a threat. He gave them a bit of penetration down the left. They have a big man in Igle Tare up front and there were no obvious weaknesses in their side.
"I think they were well worthy of a point over there and although we say we are looking for back-to-back victories (over Albania and Georgia) it is a very easy thing to say and it is a lot more difficult to go out and actually get the result.
"But at home and in front of our own supporters traditionally we have always risen to the occasion and we are hoping to put in one of our better performances in front of the Lansdowne crowd."
Cunningham will lead the team in his 47th international since 1996 and there is no more honest professional in the game than the 31 years old Dubliner.
The challenge of playing two important matches within such a short time span is unusual and preparations were undoubtedly complicated by the fact that the club season for most of the players came to an end three weeks ago.
But Cunningham spoke of the effects of being called in for five days together under Brian Kerr and his coaching staff immediately at the end of the club season.
The players were then released for a week before returning seven days ago. He said: "I don't think the gap since the end of the club season will be seen as a drawback. It is six of one and half-a-dozen of the other.
"Your fitness levels do drop slightly and Brian suggested that we needed to do some physical work. On the other hand the break refreshes you."
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