February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
“We don’t see any sense in sitting back and letting teams come on to us and try and play on the break. I don’t think we’re comfortable with that way of thinking. We have good attacking players and don’t have the physical strength for that way of playing.”
Still, having drawn away to both Switzerland (1-1) and France (0-0), Kerr said he’d not be too disappointed if the Republic tied in Israel, where they’ve yet to win at senior level.
“I’m rarely disappointed if we draw away and win at home,” he said. “Most league tables are won by teams that can win at home, draw away and sometimes win away.”
Ireland, Israel and France, who play Switzerland in Paris, are level on points (8) at the top of Group 4 after four matches. But a shakeup is imminent after Saturday’s matches and the midweek qualifiers four days later when the French visit Israel and the Swiss — 3 points behind the three leaders with a game in hand — host Cyprus in Zurich.
The Republic won’t be involved next Wednesday.
This will be Ireland’s third trip to Israel and their first competitive tussle with that country. In two previous outings to Tel Aviv for friendlies, Ireland were crushed 3-0 in April 1984 but returned there in February 1985 to force a goalless tie.
However, the last encounter between the two sides 18 years ago was a mismatch with Ireland thrashing the Israelis 5-0 in Dublin.
IRISH SQUAD
Alan Quinn, a bit player on the Irish team, was the only withdrawal on Monday from the original 23-man squad picked by Kerr for the Israel qualifier and yesterday’s friendly with China in Dublin.
The remaining 22 include the returning Roy Keane, winger Damien Duff, striker Robbie Keane and defender Stephen Carr, who’s also back after missing the Portugal friendly last month.
The Irish squad includes goalkeepers Shay Given, Paddy Kenny, Joe Murphy; defenders Stephen Carr, Andy O’Brien, John O’Shea, Gary Breen, Richard Dunne, Kenny Cunningham, Steve Finnan, and Alan Maybury.
Midfielders Liam Miller, Roy Keane, Kevin Kilbane, Matt Holland, Graham Kavanagh, Gary Doherty, Andy Reid; and forwards Clinton Morrison, Robbie Keane, Stephen Elliott and Damien Duff.
ISRAELI SQUAD
Israeli coach Avraham Grant will name his starting 11 to face Ireland from a largely home-based contingent.
The one familiar name to most Irish fans is that of Bolton Wanderers center half Tal Ben Haim, one of a handful of foreign-based players on the 23-man squad Grant unveiled on Monday. The others are goalie Dudu Awate and midfielder Yossi Benayoun from Spain’s Racing Santander, and strikers Pini Balili of Turkish side Kayserispor and Omri Afek with Salamanca in Spain.
Rounding out the team are goalkeepers Dudu Awate, Shavit Elimelech, Ohad Cohen; defenders Klemi Saban, Arik Benado, Alon Harazi, Adoram Keisi, Tal Ben Haim, Shimon Gershon, Abed Rabah; midfielders Walid Badir, Idan Tal, Avi Nimni, Michael Zandberg, Abbas Suan, Yossi Benayoun, Yossi Shivkhon, David Revivo; and strikers Yaniv Katan, Pini Balili, Omri Afek, Moshe Biton and Omer Golan.
NORTHERN
CHALLENGE
Northern Ireland face a tough challenge in Group 6 when they play away to the two top sides, England and Poland, on Saturday and next Wednesday, respectively.
Fourth in the group (0-3-1, 3), 7 points behind the English and six adrift of the Poles, the North tackle David Beckham and Co. at Old Trafford this weekend with boss Lawrie Sanchez more concerned about the second qualifier four days later.
“With the greatest respect to England, the game is irrelevant in the overall run of things,” Sanchez said. “We have to play Poland on Wednesday and if we lose, Poland will pretty much be runners-up in the group and it will be over for the rest of us. So, whatever happens with England, we’ve got to beat Poland.”
Elsewhere in Group 6 on Saturday, second-from-the-bottom Wales (2 points) date Austria in Cardiff, while Poland welcome last-place Azerbaijan in Warsaw. On Wednesday, Austria entertain the Welsh dragons in Vienna and England clash with Azerbaijan in Newcastle.