Delaney and McCarthy on Ireland bench
Darren O’Dea was handed the task of keeping Russia’s dangermen at bay as the Republic of Ireland attempted to re-ignite their Euro 2012 campaign.
The Leeds defender was asked to take over from the suspended Sean St Ledger at the heart of Giovanni Trapattoni’s rearguard with Stephen Kelly replacing injured right-back John O’Shea.
There were seats on the bench for Damien Delaney, a late call-up as defensive cover, and Wigan midfielder James McCarthy, who was initially named in the Under-21 squad.
Russia boss Dick Advocaat made just one change to the side which beat Macedonia 1-0 on Tuesday night as Sergei Ignashevich replaced the suspended Igor Denisov.
Russia: Malafeev, Aniukov, Vasili Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Alexei Berezutsky, Zhirkov, Semshov, Shirokov, Zyryanov, Kerzhakov, Arshavin.
Subs: Shunin, Pogrebniak, Torbinsky, Pavlyuchenko, Bilyaletdinov, Glushakov, Shishkin.
Rep of Ireland: Given, Kelly, Dunne, O’Dea, Ward, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff, Doyle, Keane. Subs: Westwood, Foley, Delaney, Lawrence, Hunt, McCarthy, Cox. Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)
