Post by Taxigirl on Mar 31, 2004 9:47:44 GMT
www.breakingnews.ie/2004/03/31/story140643.html
Clinton Morrison will tonight be given another chance to show he is the man to partner Robbie Keane on a regular basis in the Republic of Ireland attack.
The Birmingham striker will earn his 17th cap in the friendly against the Czech Republic at Lansdowne Road, playing alongside Tottenham striker Keane.
Ireland coach Brian Kerr was impressed by Morrison’s performance in last month’s goalless draw with Brazil and is prepared to give the 24-year-old an extended run as he searches for his best striking combination ahead of the start of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers in September.
“I have seen a fair bit of Birmingham recently, as have [coaches] Chris Hughton and Noel O’Reilly, and I think Clinton is having a really good spell,” said Kerr.
“He hasn’t scored too many goals but he has been working very hard.
“He has been playing well and his decision-making when he has been on the ball, as well as his crossing and winning headers, has been great. I would say it is the best run of form he has had since he went to Birmingham in my opinion.
“I think it is helping him to play alongside Mikael Forssell. It was harder for him to play with Christophe Dugarry.”
While Morrison tries to make an impact at one end of the field, his St Andrews team-mate Kenny Cunningham will have his work cut out at the other trying to deal with the Czech Republic’s star striker.
Borussia Dortmund’s Jan Koller, who stands at 6ft 7in and has 27 international goals to his name, is expected to win his 48th cap for his country and so provide the Irish defence with a stern test.
Ireland captain Cunningham, who will be partnered by Tottenham’s Gary Doherty, is looking forward to the test.
“You are always excited about pitting yourself against the best and he provides you with difficulties that most other centre forwards don’t,” said Cunningham.
“He has a massive physical presence and it would be foolish to get into a physical contest with him, he is far too strong, so you have to be a bit more clever than that. I think he is a better all-round player than people give him credit for, technically he is a good player and links play up and it will be an interesting test for Gary and me.
“He has an obvious advantage in the air so it is important to keep him out of the box as much as possible and stop them from firing in crosses. But we can’t just be worried about him, they have some other outstanding players around the pitch.”
Damien Duff will tonight get the chance to check out his future Chelsea team-mate, Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Cech – who has agreed to join Chelsea from Rennes in a £9million deal in the summer, will be in goal for the Czech Republic tonight.
“Petr is still very young for an international goalkeeper but I would say he is already a big football personality irrespective of his age,” said Czech coach Karel Bruckner.
“For sure he will do well in the English Premier League which is top in Europe and will be a big challenge for him.”
Clinton Morrison will tonight be given another chance to show he is the man to partner Robbie Keane on a regular basis in the Republic of Ireland attack.
The Birmingham striker will earn his 17th cap in the friendly against the Czech Republic at Lansdowne Road, playing alongside Tottenham striker Keane.
Ireland coach Brian Kerr was impressed by Morrison’s performance in last month’s goalless draw with Brazil and is prepared to give the 24-year-old an extended run as he searches for his best striking combination ahead of the start of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers in September.
“I have seen a fair bit of Birmingham recently, as have [coaches] Chris Hughton and Noel O’Reilly, and I think Clinton is having a really good spell,” said Kerr.
“He hasn’t scored too many goals but he has been working very hard.
“He has been playing well and his decision-making when he has been on the ball, as well as his crossing and winning headers, has been great. I would say it is the best run of form he has had since he went to Birmingham in my opinion.
“I think it is helping him to play alongside Mikael Forssell. It was harder for him to play with Christophe Dugarry.”
While Morrison tries to make an impact at one end of the field, his St Andrews team-mate Kenny Cunningham will have his work cut out at the other trying to deal with the Czech Republic’s star striker.
Borussia Dortmund’s Jan Koller, who stands at 6ft 7in and has 27 international goals to his name, is expected to win his 48th cap for his country and so provide the Irish defence with a stern test.
Ireland captain Cunningham, who will be partnered by Tottenham’s Gary Doherty, is looking forward to the test.
“You are always excited about pitting yourself against the best and he provides you with difficulties that most other centre forwards don’t,” said Cunningham.
“He has a massive physical presence and it would be foolish to get into a physical contest with him, he is far too strong, so you have to be a bit more clever than that. I think he is a better all-round player than people give him credit for, technically he is a good player and links play up and it will be an interesting test for Gary and me.
“He has an obvious advantage in the air so it is important to keep him out of the box as much as possible and stop them from firing in crosses. But we can’t just be worried about him, they have some other outstanding players around the pitch.”
Damien Duff will tonight get the chance to check out his future Chelsea team-mate, Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Cech – who has agreed to join Chelsea from Rennes in a £9million deal in the summer, will be in goal for the Czech Republic tonight.
“Petr is still very young for an international goalkeeper but I would say he is already a big football personality irrespective of his age,” said Czech coach Karel Bruckner.
“For sure he will do well in the English Premier League which is top in Europe and will be a big challenge for him.”