When Group B of the Euro 2012 qualification process was drawn, Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni would have quickly picked out Russia as the major threat to his side. However, the Sbornaya have already stumbled once, so victory in Dublin for the Boys in Green, who have a perfect record to date, would give them a huge push towards the finals of the competition.
Regularly strong performers on the international circuit, Ireland have surprisingly failed to qualify for the European Championship finals since 1988, and their last appearance at a major finals was in 2002 in the Japan and South Korea World Cup. A decade of disappointment therefore weighs heavily on the shoulders of the team.
A couple of narrow victories over Andorra haven’t exactly left Irish eyes smiling to their full potential, but simply picking up the three points is crucial in the early stages of the campaign, and in that regard Trapattoni’s men cannot be faulted.
“Would I take a draw on Friday night?” goalkeeper Shay Given mused when posed the question by the media. “Ideally, we are at home and we want to win, obviously, but we must not lose as well. I don't know. It's a good question. We want to win the game, but we know Russia have got some great players and it is going to be one of the most difficult games in the group.”
With World Cup finalists Slovakia to come on Tuesday, the next few days are set to be pivotal in Ireland’s campaign, and four points would set them up nicely for the months ahead. Actually achieving that feat will be no easy task.
Difficult Beginnings
Euro 2008 semi-finalists Russia really caught the eye for periods during that competition, playing incisive attacking football that had them tipped as potential winners before coming spectacularly undone against Spain. Since that 3-0 defeat, the Sbornaya have never really recovered, missing out on World Cup qualification and starting their journey to Euro 2012 in an inauspicious manner.
Hosting Slovakia in their opening encounter wasn’t expected to be too big a problem for Dick Advocaat’s side, though just as they were bested by Slovenia in the World Cup play-offs, the Russians would surprisingly succumb 1-0 to a Miroslav Stoch goal.
Four days earlier a double from Pavel Pogrebnyak guided Russia to a 2-0 success in Andorra, though the follow-up loss would have far more resonance and is likely to pose problems for Advocaat as the campaign progresses. Already ‘the Little General’ has indicated that nothing short of six points will be good enough from the forthcoming qualifiers against Ireland and Macedonia.
The Dutch coach will come under severe pressure should matters go awry on Friday evening, while Russia’s road to the finals will suddenly look very rocky indeed.
TEAM NEWS
Ireland
Giovanni Trapattoni won’t be able to select Fulham winger Damien Duff as he has a calf injury, meaning there is a 90 per cent chance the former Newcastle United man won’t be able to play against Slovakia either.
Keith Andrews has a groin problem, while stand-in Keith Treacy won’t be available either as he is fatigued.
Stephen Kelly and Darren O'Dea have both withdrawn since the initial squad was named, with Seamus Coleman and Marc Wilson called instead.
Russia
Roman Pavyluchenko has pulled out of the Russia squad due to an ankle injury and will not feature in either of the forthcoming qualifying matches. Fellow attacker Aleksandr Kerzhakov is also rated doubtful, but Igor Akinfeev will be fit to keep goal.
Dick Advocaat isn’t likely to rotate his squad a great deal, but Sergey Parshivluyk from Spartak Moscow and Pavel Mamaev of CSKA have both been called into the panel for the first time.
Prediction
Ireland 1-1 Russia 
