Trap keeps the faith

As confirmed by Giovanni Trapattoni yesterday, the Republic of Ireland line up for tonight’s key Euro 2012 qualifier against Russia with the same team that beat Andorra last month.

Richard Dunne had been the big doubt but he has recovered from a knee problem to take his place in the side at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

Russia coach Dick Advocaat has made two changes from the team beaten 1-0 by Slovakia in their last qualifier, with Alexander Kerzhakov and Igor Denisov coming in while striker Pavel Pogrebnyak is surprisingly only a substitute.

Rep of Ireland: Given, O’Shea, Dunne, St. Ledger, Kilbane, Green, Whelan, Lawrence, McGeady, Keane, Doyle.

Subs: Westwood, Fahey, McShane, Long, Gibson, Keogh, Cunningham.

Russia: Akinfeev, Aniukov, Ignashevich, Vasili Berezutsky, Zhirkov, Denisov, Shirokov, Zyryanov, Dzagoev, Arshavin, Kerzhakov.

Subs: Gabulov, Alexei Berezutsky, Semshov, Pogrebniak, Bystrov, Bilyaletdinov, Bukharov.

Referee: Kevin Blom (Holland).