Past record means nothing - Kerr

Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr has warned his players history counts for nothing as the countdown begins towards their crunch World Cup qualifier with France next week.

Kerr has named a squad of 23 for the Group Four showdown with Raymond Domenech’s side at Lansdowne Road on September 7, with the Keanes – Roy and Robbie – crucially available again.

Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane was rested for the 2-1 friendly defeat to Italy just under a fortnight ago, while Tottenham striker and Ireland’s all-time leading scorer Robbie Keane missed the game with an ankle injury.

That was Kerr’s first taste of defeat on home soil during his two-and-a-half years in charge, after a run of 12 wins and five draws, and he has no desire to endure another.

Although the Republic boast a proud home record against France, with just one defeat in six matches – and that way back in 1953 – Kerr knows such landmarks are meaningless.

Ireland have since won World Cup qualifying matches in Dublin in 1972, 1977 and 1981, with the last visit of the French ending in a goalless friendly draw in 1989.

Kerr would undoubtedly settle for a fourth successive qualifying win as it would put Ireland firmly on the road to next summer’s finals in Germany, with just three points currently separating the top four teams in the Republic, Switzerland, Israel and France.

But Kerr said: “I don’t think any of the previous matches will have any influence.

“This is the game. This is the match that matters now, with history not counting much, expect it may have an influence psychologically in the minds of the French players.

“What may have a serious influence is the fact we are at home, especially if our crowd are as passionate as they were in Paris last October when we held France to a goalless draw.

“They were a major factor, with more of them there that night than I think we will have for this game in Dublin.

“But if the people who turn up in Dublin are as mad as they were in Paris, then it won’t be a bad thing.”

Kerr is relieved he will have a full squad at his disposal for what will be the hardest test of the campaign, although of concern is the lack of first-team football his two main strikers in Robbie Keane and Clinton Morrison have played so far this season.

The duo have amassed just 121 minutes of club football between them, with Kerr adding: “There’s not much I can do if they are not getting football.

“I did watch Robbie last Wednesday and he did play the full game against Blackburn, but it is disappointing neither of them have played much.

“I don’t know what impact that will have when it comes to the game next week, but we intend keeping them very busy when they come in with us.

“We will give them plenty of football, and the training will be sharp, while the adrenaline around this game will have them at their best.

“As far as I’m concerned, Clinton looked well and played well against Italy, and Robbie rarely lets Ireland down. I think they will both be well up for it.”

Of significance to Kerr is that he will start working with the players on Friday, and with no Saturday game – unlike France who face the Faroe Islands - the added preparation will prove invaluable.

“I appreciate having them in early,” insisted Kerr. “In general it’s fairly hectic when you have a game on Wednesday and some players play for their clubs as late as Sunday, so you are waiting on players and you can’t do an awful lot on Monday before the game.

“The fact we’ve no game this Saturday, it means there’s a decent gap before we play, so we’ve more time with them and they will be fresher and I’m hoping that will help us.”