Kerr has Georgia on his mind
Brian Kerr believes last night’s victory over Norway in the friendly international will have the fans rushing out to buy tickets for the Republic of Ireland’s two Euro 2004 qualifiers at Lansdowne Road early in June.
Damien Duff’s 17th-minute goal was enough to give Kerr a winning start in his first match in charge on home soil since becoming manager of his national team.
It extended the team’s unbeaten run under him to four matches, and he feels it will rouse the fans ahead of the Group 10 qualifiers with Albania on June 7 and Georgia four days later.
“It is important for morale, team spirit and confidence to get results like that,” said Kerr.
“It doesn’t give you points on the board but it gives everyone a lift and it should guarantee us a full house for the matches with Albania and Georgia.
“You could see by the players’ reaction after the game how important it was to remain unbeaten. It was another win under their belts and another clean sheet.”
Kerr and his players were on a high before a ball had been kicked in Dublin last night, as news came through that Georgia had beaten Russia 1-0 in a Group 10 qualifier in Tbilisi.
With Ireland’s next three qualifiers all at home, they have a realistic chance of claiming runners-up spot in the group, and an outside chance of booking their place in Portugal next summer by winning it outright.
“It’s a wonderful result and it gives us a great chance of qualifying,” said Kerr in response to the news from Georgia. “It puts us right back in the picture and I am absolutely delighted.
“It throws our results into the true perspective and shows things in a truer light. Switzerland drew 0-0 in Georgia, we won 2-1 there and now Russia have lost there. If we do our stuff in our next three games at home, it gives us a great chance.
“When I came into the job we were so far behind the top two, but this gives us an opportunity whereby things are back in our own hands in relation to second place.
“I never felt it was over as long as we did our stuff because I always felt the other teams would be chipping off each other and it is definitely a tight group.”
Switzerland remain top of the group on eight points at the halfway stage of the qualifying campaign, with Russia second on six points and Albania third on five. Ireland are then just ahead of the Georgians, who are bottom, thanks to a better goal difference, with both countries on four points.
However, after losing their opening two matches under former manager Mick McCarthy, the pendulum has swung back in favour of Kerr’s Ireland.
They have those three home matches followed by a trip to Switzerland, while the Swiss and the Russians must face each other twice.
