Filed under: Euro 2012, Football, Match Previews
EURO 2012 QUALIFIER GROUP B: AVIVA STADIUM, DUBLIN, SATURDAY MARCH 26, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1945 GMTAfter October's home defeat at the hands of group favourites Russia and a missed opportunity in Slovakia, Ireland can afford no mistakes when they face Macedonia as Giovanni Trapattoni's men look to get their qualification campaign back on track.
Billed as dark horses for the automatic route into Euro 2012, Ireland were outclassed at the hands of Dick Advocaat's Russia back in October at the Aviva Stadium, despite a late rally from the home side glossing over what was a poor display.
Robbie Keane's missed penalty in Slovakia cost them three points and the chance to get back on course immediately as they managed just a 1-1 draw, but now Euro minnows Macedonia present the perfect chance for Ireland to add to their two wins so far in the campaign.
Despite facing weaker opposition, Trapattoni's mindset will remain wary of an upset, but the Italian will be forced to tinker with his line-up after a raft of injuries has seen numerous withdrawals.
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Forced replacements include Keiren Westwood who is set to make his competitive senior debut in goal as Shay Given misses out with a long-term shoulder problem.
And Ipswich Town's on-loan defender Darren O'Dea will partner Richard Dunne at the back in a surprise central partnership as Sean St Ledger misses out with injury.
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James McCarthy looks set to put all doubts over his international allegiance to bed as he is likely to be involved from the bench, and the Wigan midfielder's loyalty to Ireland will be a big boost for the future.
But Trapattoni will be keen to stay focused on the task at hand and defeating Macedonia. Irish fans know all too well how big an upset Mirsad Jonuz's men are capable of springing.
In the pair's last meeting in 1999, Ireland looked set for Euro 2000 qualification as they led away in Skopje, but a stoppage-time goal earned Macedonia a point and sent the Republic crashing into the play-offs in which they exited after defeat against Turkey.
Trapattoni will be keen to ensure Macedonia don't have such a big say on their European Championships qualification this time around.
Form Guide: Ireland come into this game on the back of an impressive 3-0 win over Wales in their first game of the Carling Nations Cup, but their last two Euro 2012 qualification outings were not so successful. A decent point was picked up away in Slovakia in October despite taking the lead and Keane missing a penalty. However, just four days before that, Trapattoni's men's chances of winning the group were severely hampered when they lost at home to the favourites for automatic qualification, Russia. The Italian will be hoping for no such slip up against Macedonia.
Key Match-up: Dunne v Goran Pandev: Any hope Macedonia have of causing an upset lies in Inter Milan striker Pandev. Their star man, captain and all-time top scorer will be hoping that Dunne's recent injury and off-field problems with Aston Villa may give him a chance to capitalise. However, the Villa defender will be looking to put those issues behind him and use the international break as a chance to let his football do the talking.
Odds: Republic of Ireland 4/9, Macedonia 15/2, Draw 3/1
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:
Keane's lack of first team action has been something of a worry for Trapattoni, but the Irish captain is chomping at the bit to get back playing.
Having only managed 22 minutes since February with loan side West Ham, owing to a calf problem, Keane was a major doubt for this game, but his experience will prove beneficial for Ireland.
He said: "I'm just looking forward to starting the game and hopefully I am sure that I will get fitness through the game and get a good win.
"The most frustrating thing has been in the last six weeks when you go to a new club on loan, you want to make an immediate impact.
"I have been lucky in my career never to get too many injuries but the latest came at a time when I did not want one - but I am back now and raring to go."
Despite the apparent threat of an upset, Keane was also confident Ireland can get back to winning ways, but rightly urged caution.
"By no means is this going to be an easy game as Macedonia are a team who in the last couple of years have progressed and have done really, really well.
"It's a team that we have to be very wary of. But it's a home game and we should be going into it very, very confident."
Strategy: Trapattoni doesn't like to meddle with tactics. Expect no changes from the Italian's favoured 4-4-2 despite midfielder Liam Lawrence questioning the formation in their defeat against Russia. The Portsmouth man felt Ireland were overrun in the midfield department last October against Advocaat's men who deployed five men in the middle. However, Trapattoni believes 4-4-2 allows him to utilise the options he has at his disposal best and reckons more time would be needed to change their style of play.
Injury Update: The biggest loss for Ireland is of course goalkeeper Given who is a long-term absentee, withJohn O'Shea also missing out on the squad through injury. Defensive worries were compounded with the withdrawal of Seamus Coleman and St Ledger is out after picking up a knock in training. Good news for Trapattoni is the availability of the experienced Dunne who has overcome a shoulder injury. Leon Best misses out with an ankle problem, but was unlikely to feature after captain Keane's recovery from a calf injury. Darron Gibson has also been declared fit to add further options in midfield.
FYR MACEDONIA:
Jonuz's men are certainly not going into this game without a chance. Ireland need not look far for recent upsets caused by Macedonia, with Scotland and England both falling foul of underestimating the team ranked 83rd in the Fifa rankings. In the World Cup 2010 qualifiers, Scotland went down 1-0 away against the European minnows, while more notably, Macedonia managed to hold England to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in the latter's ill-fated Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Macedonia may not have many well-known names but Inter Milan's Pandev up front can ask questions of the Irish defence. Dynamo Kiev defender Goran Popov loves to get forward, and will look to provide service down the right, while also testing the 34-year-old legs of Kevin Kilbane.
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