Trap: Ireland at a crossroads

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has described next month’s double-header against Russia and Slovakia as “a crossroads” on the long journey to Poland and Ukraine.

Top of the table on goal difference after two games against Group B’s minor powers, it’s clear that, against the group’s biggest guns, Ireland will have to up their performance if they are to continue to match their results to date.

First, the Russians are coming, smarting from a defeat at home to Slovakia on Tuesday night, an upset which the Ireland manager believes places significant pressure on manager Dick Advocaat as he plots his approach to the game in the Aviva Stadium on October 8.