Post by Taxigirl on Oct 12, 2005 8:35:42 GMT
www.sportinglife.com/football
Republic of Ireland midfielder Kevin Kilbane has warned of "a long, nervy night" ahead, but believes the ultimate goal is firmly within their grasp.
Today represents judgement day for Kilbane, the rest of the Irish squad and manager Brian Kerr, who is potentially just 90 minutes away from losing his job.
If the Republic beat Switzerland tonight in their final World Cup qualification game at Lansdowne Road they go on to a play-off next month, but anything less and the current fabric of Irish football will indelibly be changed.
Ireland's cause is made all the more difficult by the fact they must beat a Swiss side who have not lost a game for 12 matches, and who have won two and drawn one of their last three meetings with the Republic.
Kilbane is at a loss to understand why he and his team-mates have found it difficult to beat Switzerland of late, but is in no doubt that can all change.
"They've certainly outplayed us in recent games, and I don't know why that is," said Kilbane.
"Man-for-man I would say we're very even. They are a very hard-working side, like us, but we just can't seem to break them down and that's the way it has been.
"If we're to do it this time we have to try to get balls into the box, try to get our front men on the ball and create chances.
"If we start well and we get up, we have to maintain it. We have to be right in their faces, stop them playing, and hopefully if we can do that then we can be on the front foot."
Although Ireland must win, Kilbane insists there must be a degree of patience, adding: "We don't need to gamble too early.
"You can win the game in any minute of the match. If it goes into the last 15 to 20 minutes and you need something, that is when you have to start throwing caution to the wind and go at them a bit more.
"But we don't need to be too cavalier in our approach, so letting them in the back door because it's going to be a long game, a nervy night. We just have to try to relax and get through it."
Ireland's penchant throughout the campaign has been to score early, but they have then been unable to shut up shop, or alternatively kill off their opposition.
"Throughout the group we seem to have scored early, but not been able to capitalise on the early goal," admitted Kilbane, who is likely to play left wing in the absence of Damien Duff who is out with a knee injury.
There is no doubt the importance of the occasion is not lost on the players, with the 28-year-old insisting they are up for it, despite the disappointment of Saturday's woeful performance in Cyprus when Ireland just held on for a 1-0 win.
"It's a massive game for us all, and the biggest because it's the one coming up," said Kilbane.
"You have to move forward. You can't look back to what's gone on in the past. This is the biggest game now, and look at what's at stake - the World Cup in Germany."
Republic of Ireland midfielder Kevin Kilbane has warned of "a long, nervy night" ahead, but believes the ultimate goal is firmly within their grasp.
Today represents judgement day for Kilbane, the rest of the Irish squad and manager Brian Kerr, who is potentially just 90 minutes away from losing his job.
If the Republic beat Switzerland tonight in their final World Cup qualification game at Lansdowne Road they go on to a play-off next month, but anything less and the current fabric of Irish football will indelibly be changed.
Ireland's cause is made all the more difficult by the fact they must beat a Swiss side who have not lost a game for 12 matches, and who have won two and drawn one of their last three meetings with the Republic.
Kilbane is at a loss to understand why he and his team-mates have found it difficult to beat Switzerland of late, but is in no doubt that can all change.
"They've certainly outplayed us in recent games, and I don't know why that is," said Kilbane.
"Man-for-man I would say we're very even. They are a very hard-working side, like us, but we just can't seem to break them down and that's the way it has been.
"If we're to do it this time we have to try to get balls into the box, try to get our front men on the ball and create chances.
"If we start well and we get up, we have to maintain it. We have to be right in their faces, stop them playing, and hopefully if we can do that then we can be on the front foot."
Although Ireland must win, Kilbane insists there must be a degree of patience, adding: "We don't need to gamble too early.
"You can win the game in any minute of the match. If it goes into the last 15 to 20 minutes and you need something, that is when you have to start throwing caution to the wind and go at them a bit more.
"But we don't need to be too cavalier in our approach, so letting them in the back door because it's going to be a long game, a nervy night. We just have to try to relax and get through it."
Ireland's penchant throughout the campaign has been to score early, but they have then been unable to shut up shop, or alternatively kill off their opposition.
"Throughout the group we seem to have scored early, but not been able to capitalise on the early goal," admitted Kilbane, who is likely to play left wing in the absence of Damien Duff who is out with a knee injury.
There is no doubt the importance of the occasion is not lost on the players, with the 28-year-old insisting they are up for it, despite the disappointment of Saturday's woeful performance in Cyprus when Ireland just held on for a 1-0 win.
"It's a massive game for us all, and the biggest because it's the one coming up," said Kilbane.
"You have to move forward. You can't look back to what's gone on in the past. This is the biggest game now, and look at what's at stake - the World Cup in Germany."