Confidence the key for Kerr's Republic

Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr is convinced self-belief is the key to his side qualifying for the World Cup.

Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane and Tottenham striker Robbie Keane are back in Kerr’s squad for the Lansdowne Road showdown with France on September 7.

The former was rested for the friendly against Italy earlier this month, while an ankle injury kept the latter – Ireland’s all-time leading scorer – out of the game.

With three matches remaining, Ireland top Group Four by a point from Switzerland, two from Israel and three from France, albeit with the Swiss and the French having a game in hand.

Raymond Domenech’s French outfit first take on the Faroe Islands on Saturday, with Switzerland at home to Israel on the same night, by the end of which Ireland could well find themselves down to third.

But with matches in Cyprus and at home to the Swiss to follow, a top-two finish is firmly within Ireland’s grasp, and with it a potential ticket to Germany.

“Three of the top four teams are completely in control of their own destiny,” said Kerr.

“Israel are the exception as they can only finish on 20 points, while ourselves and France can take 22, with Switzerland 24.

“I presume that’s how everyone else will be looking at it. I know that’s how we are looking at it. We know we need to do our own job in the last three matches.

“We have to rely on our own ability and our own confidence to go out and do that job.”

With a France victory against the Faroes expected, the result between Switzerland and Israel is a key one, and Kerr has been unable to determine what would be best for his side.

“If Israel beat Switzerland they can end up with the 20 points,” added Kerr.

“That would mean the other teams have to finish better than that to win the group, and in our case we would need seven points from our last three games to draw level, and to win our last three to better them.

“But if Switzerland win I believe that would knock Israel out of it, with the Swiss in a strong position, although they would still have to play France at home and us in their last game.”

The Republic do have an edge in that they have won the last three World Cup qualifiers in Dublin against France – albeit in 1972, 1977 and 1981.

Kerr was dismissive of such a record and instead focused on attracting the right support.

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

“This is the game. This is the match that matters now, with history not counting much, except 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.”