Confident Kerr takes pressure in his stride
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr insists he is under no more pressure than usual to get a result against France – despite the World Cup qualifier being arguably the biggest game of his reign.
Kerr is adamant he is used to the experience which will unfold in the Group Four showdown at Lansdowne Road.
The Republic know if they finish the campaign with three straight victories they will top the group and be on their way to Germany.
But this has become a tortuous group, with Switzerland, Ireland and France level on 13 points, and goal difference deciding the order.
After the leading three teams come Israel who are a point behind, and although they have played one match more, they finish with home and away games to the Faroe Islands.
None of the top four sides have yet managed to beat each other – each game has ended in a draw.
If Ireland can break that pattern against a France team revitalised by the return of Zinedine Zidane, Kerr’s task would be eased.
There is the suggestion Kerr may be vulnerable if the Republic fail to qualify, so the match with France could go a long way to resolving the manager’s future.
But Kerr stated: “I don’t feel under any undue pressure.
“Every match we play there’s pressure on us to get a good result, there’s expectancy, hope and people want to see us get to the World Cup.
“But every team I’ve managed, I’ve had pressure managing them and pressure to get results all along the way.
“That’s part and parcel of it, and one of the reasons you maybe get involved in it, but I know how to handle it and deal with it.
“So this is nothing exceptional. There have been plenty of pressure matches for the team and the staff before this fixture.”
Kerr readily concedes the nerves are still there and the adrenaline still flows in the build-up to such a match.
“You want to be involved in a game like this,” said Kerr.
“You could be in a group with a team where you are playing matches more for pride and looking towards the future, building that team and talking about the next competition.
“We’re in a bit of a process where we are building a team for the future because it’s a fairly young team internationally.
“But it’s being in games that really matter and having a chance, and every country in the world, particularly in Europe, wants to get to the World Cup finals.
“Everybody also wants to be in the action near the end of the group, with Ukraine the exception this time as they are the only team from Europe that has qualified.
“But there are lots of other countries dangling and lots of other managers where there will be an air of expectancy in their country.
“The media will also be speculating about the manager, about what he has done, what he hasn’t done and got wrong in their opinion.
“That’s fine. That’s how it goes, but I’m more than happy to be in it, and I know I’m the best one to be doing it.”
Kerr is unable to predict who will claim the top two positions in the group as he added: “It’s very even and you can analyse it in whatever way you like.
“Switzerland are two goals better off, while you can look at Israel and say they’ve two handy matches left and are guaranteed – almost – to get 18 points.
“You can look at us and say we’ve two home games to go, with a difficult game in Cyprus in between.
“Then you can look at France and say they are capable of winning three matches with the fantastic players they have – and they would be expected to win the three.
“There’s angles for everyone, so I don’t think there is one team in the best position.”
Which is why this match is so pivotal, one for which Kerr will have his leading players available, with just a couple of decisions to make.
Either Andy O’Brien or Richard Dunne will start at centre-back, with Andy Reid or Steve Finnan on the right wing.
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