Kerr buoyed by 'job done'
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr is now more convinced than ever his side’s World Cup destiny will not be resolved until the final game of the campaign.
It would appear Group Four will go down to the wire, and that Ireland’s Lansdowne Road battle with Switzerland on October 12 will prove the defining moment in whether they head to Germany, face a play-off or the agony of elimination.
As the group now stands, Ireland lead Switzerland by a point, Israel by two and France by three, but with the Swiss and French having played a game less.
At least Kerr’s side head into the summer break out in front, albeit after making hard work of the last few days with a 2-2 draw against Israel on Saturday and a 2-0 win in the most miserable of conditions against the Faroe Islands in Torshavn last night.
“I am glad we are top with three games to go, and we can stay on top if we get maximum points from our last three games,” said Kerr.
“We wanted six points from these two games, but we got four and we’ve managed to keep ourselves in a position where we have a chance.”
After fog forced the cancellation of a number of planes carrying Ireland fans into the Faroes, it refused to relent throughout the remainder of the day, resulting in the squad, officials and media having to endure an extended stay when they should have returned after the game.
At least such an inconvenience was not further compounded by the result, as a penalty from Ian Harte and deflected strike from Kevin Kilbane in eight second-half minutes proved decisive.
It is all now set up for the autumn internationals when four into two will provide an answer all of Ireland hopes will be Germany.
“I have to say I’m satisfied with this win. I said it would be difficult, and so it proved,” said Kerr.
“I would have settled for a win of any sort before the match looking at the conditions, the pitch and knowing the way they play. But all I wanted was for us to win. I was never going to make excuses because it was the same for both sides, and for those other teams who have played here before us.
“With France winning 2-0 and with Switzerland winning 3-1 here previously, this is job done as far as I am concerned.
“We’ve still a job to do with three games to go, and as I’ve always maintained, it will go down to the last game. We’ve faced that situation in the past, and I feel certain we will face it again.”
The opening 45 minutes were arguably the toughest Ireland have faced this season, made more difficult by the conditions than the calibre of opposition.
The Faroes had chances before the best of the half fell to Stephen Elliott, who was making his first competitive start in the absence of the injured Robbie Keane.
The Sunderland striker clipped the crossbar in seizing on a rebound when he should have scored, otherwise he could not be faulted as his energy and effort were a problem for the home side, with his enthusiasm winning the penalty.
“In the game against Celtic and in the two to three days before the game with Israel, I felt he didn’t look sharp and the break at the end of the season had not done him any good,” reflected Kerr.
“But in training ahead of this game he did, and with the opposition, and less pressure away from home, I felt he would have more of a chance to show what he could do, and he did it nicely.”
Harte tucked home the penalty for his second goal in five days after his recall from the international wilderness, before Kilbane then scored his first Ireland goal for more than two years.
With France next up for the Republic in September, Kerr quickly found himself laying the foundations for that game, believing the general consensus is that Raymond Domenech’s side will be favourites.
“We will not be expected to beat France,” insisted Kerr. “Most people will probably feel we will be underdogs, and that might suit us.”
It will most certainly be game on for Kerr and Ireland when they reach that particular crossroads on the journey to Germany.
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