Staunton focus on Slovakia match

Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton says he will not think beyond tonight's Euro 2008 qualifier in Slovakia as he enters a double-header which will make or break his side's campaign.

Following the Republic's clash in soggy Bratislava they head straight to Prague where they face an even more crucial showdown with the Czech Republic on Wednesday night.

The Czechs, who currently stand a single point above the Republic in second place in Group D, face San Marino tomorrow, from which - short of a miracle - they will head home in a buoyant mood.

But Staunton insisted, “We are not looking at the Czech Republic game at all. The focus is on Saturday, then we will reassess on Saturday night and Sunday morning, and go on from there.”

Victory would all but rule the home side out of the qualifying race, and leave the Republic and the Czechs to fight it out for second place behind Germany.

Staunton added, “We're going to do what we've been doing for the last 12 to 18 months, and that is to go out to win the game. Obviously the Slovaks know they have to win also, because a draw or a win for us puts them out of it.”

“We knew 12 months ago we'd have to come here and win and things haven't changed. They are a strong, athletic team and we are now going to have to be at our best. Our players are ready for it.”

As friendlies go, last month's 4-0 win in Denmark could scarcely have been more valuable, not only as a timely morale-booster but as an exercise which gave Staunton a number of new selection dilemmas.

In midfield, Aiden McGeady has won the right to start as one of Staunton's two wide men while Andy Reid laid a claim to hang onto his central berth over the returning Stephen Ireland.

In defence, the absence of both first-choice full-backs, Stephen Carr and Steve Finnan, is not the major issue it once might have been, with John O'Shea and Wigan's versatile Kevin Kilbane set to deputise.

Kilbane has grown used to filling different holes for Staunton's side and he insists it is a situation with which he is quite happy. “If I'm playing on Saturday I will play wherever the boss wants me to play,” said Kilbane.

However Kilbane is wary of reading too much into the win in Denmark in the context of tomorrow's game on a heavy pitch against a side who simply must win to keep their own qualification hopes alive.

Kilbane added: “Denmark has given us a bit of confidence but judging by what's

happened over the last few years the friendly games probably aren't anything to

gauge things on.”

“These are going to be two massive games for us and I'm sure we'll be ready for them. They're hard places to get results. They're both physical, strong and athletic, and they're two of the toughest teams we'll face.”