Soccer: Make or break day for Ireland

In World Cup football today, Ireland take on Cyprus at Lansdowne Road with a chance to qualify for next summer’s World Cup Finals at stake.

If Mick McCarty’s side can beat the Cypriots and Portugal fail to win against Estonia then the Republic would automatically qualify for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Even if Portugal win, as they are expected to do, Ireland are guaranteed the backdoor opportunity of qualifying through a play-off against a team from the Asian qualifying series.

With the likely play-off in mind, McCarthy has opted to rest any players on yellow cards who could face a suspension if they are booked again.

The decision means that Kenny Cunningham, Mark Kinsella, Jason McAteer and Robbie Keane will all take their places on the bench.

The move also means that there will be opportunities for fringe players to establish themselves on the side.

The starting line-up for this evening’s games is: Given, Finnan, Harte, Breen, Staunton, Keane, Holland, Kennedy, Kilbane, Quinn and Connolly. Kick-off is at six o’clock.