Cunningham concentrating on team affairs

Kenny Cunningham will cast aside the personal sentiment attached to winning his 50th cap this afternoon and focus instead on leading the Republic of Ireland to a vital victory over Russia at Lansdowne Road that would leave them within touching distance of next summer’s European Championship finals.

Birmingham City defender Cunningham played down the importance of his milestone achievement because he is more concerned with gaining a result which would put Ireland one win away from automatic qualification for Euro 2004 in Portugal.