February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Thwarted by a stoppage time equalizer in a 1-1 tie in Tel Aviv last March, the Republic look to finish off the Israelis at Lansdowne Road this weekend before a likely romp in the Faroes Islands four days later.
Ireland (2-3-0, 9), who share second place with Switzerland, go into the two qualifiers a point behind Group 4 joint leaders France and Israel but are the only one of the four that will play twice in the next seven days.
The misfiring French are off, Switzerland visit the Faroe Islands on Saturday in their last match before the fall, while Israel will also begin their summer holiday upon leaving Dublin.
The bad news for Israel, unbeaten as they may be in the group thus far, is that Ireland have been in cracking form at home and are undefeated at Lansdowne Road under Brian Kerr.
The likes of Norway, the Czech Republic, Romania, Croatia and Portugal have all fallen at the venerable fortress since a 2-1 loss to Switzerland ended the Mick McCarthy era in October 2002. World champions Brazil only managed to escape with a draw.
Israel’s last outing to Dublin was a 5-0 thrashing 18 years ago. Although they seem too organized a team to succumb to another drubbing, odds are against them flying out with a share of the points against what should be a close to full strength Irish side.
Damien Duff — Ireland’s best player on recent form — Roy Keane, Robbie Keane, goalie Shay Given, Kenny Cunningham, Stephen Carr and Clinton Morrison are among the 21 players called up last week for the two qualifiers that could make or break the Irish march to Germany ’06.
Kerr put his squad through their paces last weekend, giving all 21 players a run in Celtic veteran Jackie McNamara’s testimonial in Glasgow, and was pleased that they’d all emerged unscathed from the match.
Robbie Keane scored late to secure a 1-0 win over Celtic, 24 hours after the Hoops’ Scottish Cup victory, for what was dubbed a “Brian Kerr Republic of Ireland XI.”
“We needed a match and the players are delighted to have had a good blow out,” the manager said on the FAI web site. “Some of the players needed the match and they got it along with the last few days training.
“All the players played and we got a chance to use players in different positions. We’ve not got any injuries out of it because the game was played in great spirit,” Kerr added.
TEUTON TEST
Northern Ireland, out of contention and out of commission in Group 6 until September, welcome World Cup hosts Germany to Belfast on Saturday for a friendly.
England, group leaders by a point over Poland (15) ended whatever realistic chances the North had of making it to Germany next summer with a 2-0 decision over Lawrie Sanchez’s men in Newcastle last March.
That defeat left Northern Ireland (0-3-3, 3) second from bottom, 13 points out of first place.
KIERAN DOUBLE
England, also enjoying a World Cup break until September, stayed busy by edging the United States 2-1 in Chicago on Kieran Richardson’s brace in the first game of their American tour.
John O’Shea’s 20 year-old Manchester United teammate, who helped
save West Bromwich Albion’s EPL bacon, connected in the 4th and 43rd minutes. Clint Dempsey (79th) scored for the U.S.
The English were playing Colombia at Giants Stadium in New Jersey at press time in their second and final match.