Losing Vieira no big deal for France, says Kerr

Switzerland 1 Republic of Ireland 1

Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr believes Patrick Vieira’s absence from the France team will be of little significance in next month’s World Cup qualifier.

Skipper Vieira will be suspended for the group four clash at the Stade de France after his dismissal for two bookable offences in his country’s far-from-convincing 2-0 victory in the Faroe Islands.

Vieira is now out of what has already become an important clash for both nations on October 9 given there is currently a four-way tie at the top as France, Israel, Ireland and Switzerland all have four points after two matches.

Despite Vieira’s undoubted influence for club and country, Kerr does not feel he will be too sorely missed as he said: “I heard about him getting sent off. But that is not as big a boost as us getting a point from this game because France have lots of players to pick from, and they are all very good players.

“So it is not that big a deal. It is more important we got something from this game and we go to Paris the better for it.”

Kerr was certainly happy with the point, even if he felt the performance was below par, as it meant his objective of taking four points from the opening two qualifying games had been achieved after starting with a 3-0 Lansdowne Road win over Cyprus on Saturday.

In terms of making amends for the two defeats to the Swiss in the European Championship qualifiers, Ireland at least started in ideal fashion at Basle’s St Jakob Park with a goal from Clinton Morrison inside eight minutes.

It was the Birmingham striker’s second goal in five days after also opening the scoring against the Cypriots, but then Switzerland pounded the Irish goal, with Shay Given making three out-standing saves in five minutes.

The pressure told in the 17th minute when Given was finally beaten by Hakan Yakin, and but for one further superb save from the same player in the 70th minute, he was never put to the test again as Ireland acquitted themselves well.

“I am happy with a point, and I said before the game I would be, and it is one more than we got from the two games against Switzerland last time around,” added Kerr.

“As for the performance, I know we can do better, and though we made plenty of chances in the first half, we also gave away too many.

“We were a bit cavalier at times, but overall it was a decent performance because we had a few players who were not 100% and not match sharp, and we had a few players out who might have played.

“I felt we were in reasonable control of the second half, we had better balance, while Shay played well, but that is what he is there for.

“So overall, compared to last time around, we are in a much better position.”

The match also marked the return of Roy Keane to competitive international action after a near three-year absence, and after surprisingly declaring himself fit following a recent rib injury which was expected to keep him out until later this month.

Keane was his typically robust self, earning a booking in the first half following an altercation with Murat Yakin, but generally efficient and industrious.

“He needed a match after not playing for around three weeks,” was Kerr’s assessment of the Manchester United midfielder.

“In the first half he made some crucial tackles and a couple of stormy runs here and there, and then in the second his passing sharpened and was much more concise. I thought he did fine.”

Unfortunately, Keane will not have a chance to renew his rivalry with Vieira, but that should prove to Ireland’s advantage as Kerr will undoubtedly be gunning for another four-point haul from October’s double-header as a home date with the Faroes follows France.