Back to serious business

Rep of Ireland v Cyprus (Lansdowne Road, 3.0): From the light-hearted carnival of Brazil's visit back in February to the half-hearted circus that was the Unity Cup, this past year has provided its diversions for Brian Kerr and his players.

Almost 12 months to the day, though, after a draw with Russia left them clutching at qualification straws at the end of their last home game of the Euro 2004 campaign, all of those pleasant distractions are behind them now. Today it's back to serious business as they face Cyprus and victory, no matter how it's gained, is vital.

Having briefly become known for punching above their weight on the international stage, the Irish start this World Cup campaign with a somewhat diminished status. A decade ago the country threatened to become a regular on the game's great stages, whereas now the team faces a difficult task to reach a major championship for the second time in six attempts.

Holding the world champions and beating some of Europe's best sides in friendly games is all very well, but the Republic's reputation could do with a bit of spit and polish. A win today would at least get the process under way.

Kerr, having taken over 18 months ago at a point when early blunders against their main group rivals had already left the Irish chasing qualification somewhat breathlessly, seemed well contented yesterday prior to his first full campaign in charge at this level. Injuries have deprived him of some key players but the Dubliner, looking as relaxed as he has done at any time during his brief reign, made it clear that he understands that the challenge is to guide his team to Germany during the next 14 months or so.

"I'm happy with the progress we've made since I took over and happy that we got some good results while trying to blood young players," he said yesterday. "Now it's time for the next stage when we find out if we are good enough to get good results even if, as we are now, we are missing some good players."

The loss of Roy Keane is undoubtedly significant, not least because of his performances against the Cypriots in the last World Cup campaign when he scored three goals in the two games and almost single-handedly powered the Irish to the 4-0 win they secured in Nicosia.

The manager has, however, worked hard to broaden his options during the past year or so, a fact that will be reflected this afternoon when he hands a number of players, probably three, their first competitive starts for the Republic.

It will be interesting to see how Kevin Kilbane and, almost certainly, Graham Kavanagh cope in midfield when neither has been called upon to provide leadership and drive at this level before.

With Andy Reid and Damien Duff out on the flanks, however, the Irish should possess enough talent and trickery to open up a young Cypriot side that would not be expected to travel all that well.

The visitors come to Dublin having started the process of introducing to their senior ranks what they feel is the most gifted group of players they have ever produced.

But to date many of this new generation are lacking in experience with close to half of today's likely starting line-up having played only a handful of games. To compound their difficulties neither the Cypriot nor the Greek leagues have started yet.

In attack they certainly possess the capacity to cause problems for better teams with Ioannis Okkas and Michael Konstantinou, the latter of whom has scored a remarkable 18 goals in 36 international appearances and who might well have had a couple more when these two sides met three and a half years ago in Nicosia.

Overall, though, it is hard to see how Momcilo Vukotic's side can avoid being pressed back and forced to defend in large numbers for long periods. Those may not be the sort of circumstances in which Ireland's most prolific goalscorer, Robbie Keane, a player who likes to drop deep and run at defenders, will be at his most effective, but the Tottenham striker, who needs one goal to equal Niall Quinn's record of 21, should still prove a huge problem for the visitors as could Clinton Morrison and at least three of the midfield four.

Kerr cautioned yesterday against impatience, emphasising that the approach would not be nearly so direct as when Quinn and Tony Cascarino were available to provide a more physical presence around the box. That approach was not always successful, of course, as those who saw Iceland and Lithuania come to Dublin and withstand late bombardments during Mick McCarthy's first campaign in charge will remember. But if the more subtle approach fails to produce the goods, then Gary Doherty is on standby to provide that sort of service.

A win of any sort will do for Kerr and his team but like an American presidential candidate wrapping up a convention, the Ireland coach will be anxiously looking for a "bounce" out of this game too.

A few goals today, particularly if Morrison is among the scorers, would leave the Irish in particularly good shape ahead of Wednesday's return to Basel.

Probable line-ups

Republic of Ireland: Given (Newcastle Utd); Finnan (Liverpool), O'Brien (Newcastle Utd), Cunningham (Birmingham City), O'Shea (Manchester United); Reid (Nottingham Forest), Kavanagh (Cardiff City), Kilbane (Everton), Duff (Chelsea); Morrison (Birmingham City), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur).

Cyprus: Panayiotou (AEK); Theodotou (Omonia), Okkarides (Apoel), Lakovou (Apollon, Greece), Charalambous (Omonia); Georgiou (Apoel), Charalampidis (Apoel), Satsias (Apoel), Krassas (AEK, Greece): Okkas (Olymiakos, Greece), Konstantnou (PAO, Greece).