Leading lights can restore pride

Soccer:A willingness to look on the bright side seems to be a key part of almost everybody's job description in the FAI these days and being at least as much a team player as anyone in the Irish set-up this week, Bobby Robson did his bit on Wednesday when describing the Republic's recent run of results - a home draw with the Czechs and two defeats of San Marino - as "something of a roll".

Rep of Ireland v Wales Croke Park, 3.0 On TV: RTE 2, Sky Sports 1

Following the PR department's script is one thing, convincing a sceptical if still hopeful public quite another. The bottom line is that if the Irish players really want to restore some of the pride that has been lost of late and put to rest even temporarily the persistent speculation regarding Steve Staunton's own position, then not just a win but a performance of both quality and character is required at Croke Park this afternoon.

Staunton is clearly in no position to gloat about the depth of his resources but he does go into this afternoon's game in a significantly stronger position than John Toshack with every one of the Irishman's likely starters possessing Premiership experience and a few making claims to be amongst the English game's brighter talents.

And how the team's leading lights perform will be critical to Ireland's hopes of securing the sort of win they need to provide them with a little genuine momentum ahead of Wednesday's tougher looking assignment against Slovakia.

The Welsh are strongest in attack and so Richard Dunne will be required to be at his best if Shay Given is not to be exposed in the way that has become routine for him at club level. A performance of real drive and consistent inventiveness from Given's Newcastle team-mate Damien Duff would provide the side with a huge lift while a far more focused showing by Robbie Keane could well prove a decisive factor against a side that looks vulnerable in front of its own goal.

"It's then up to us to perform, and I know if my lads perform to their capabilities I don't have anything to worry about," observed Staunton yesterday and a glance at the respective likely starting line-ups for this afternoon's encounter would suggest he is right.

Staunton's problem, though, is that while he insisted at his pre-match press conference that his players are "buzzing" ahead of the game, there seems no way these days of anticipating if the Irish will turn in the sort of performance that resulted in humiliation against the Netherlands and Cyprus or the far more spirited display that earned them a point against an impressive Czech side.

On this occasion, at least, Staunton has a strong squad to choose from and there will be no excuses for another descent into chaos. He acknowledged yesterday that he has options in key areas of the field and would confirm only that Stephen Ireland will start his fourth international game.

The 20-year-old was perhaps the only player to return from San Marino with his reputation enhanced and it will be interesting to see how he copes with what should be a far more interesting encounter this afternoon.

Though either Paul McShane or Stephen Hunt could still start, it seems more likely that Staunton will, in the hope they will feel inspired to make amends, stick with essentially the team that collectively let itself down at the start of last month with only Given and Kevin Doyle returning from injury.

Given, who has missed all of Ireland's darker days of late, will bring much needed stability at the back while the speed and strength of Doyle should prove a huge asset in attack as long his recent lay-off - he has made just one start for Reading since pulling a hamstring more than two months ago - does not catch up on him.

With the Welsh missing the likes of Danny Gabbidon, Mark Delaney and, most critically one suspects, Jason Koumas this would be appear to be a good time to have them over but Toshack is, in any case, embroiled in a rebuilding process that makes Staunton's look like little more than a spot of redecoration.

In 17-year-old left back Gareth Bale they have an outstanding talent but his lack of experience will make him vulnerable while a lack of real quality will be the far more pressing concern in other departments.

None of which is to suggest that the vastly experienced Welsh boss does not have a few cards to play, most notably in attack. If Ryan Giggs is allowed space to operate unchecked between his side's midfield and Craig Bellamy, who is likely to be deployed as the team's lone striker, the Irish will be asking for trouble while Simon Davies is also capable of posing a threat to Given's goal from longer range.

On balance, though, Ireland should possess the edge this afternoon. If they are to win then they may have to display a little more guile for a great deal longer than they did last time out but Wales are, at least, unlikely to dig in for the draw and there should be opportunities for Ireland and his team-mates out wide to press forward into space.

An early goal could, needless to say, prove invaluable, for having 76,000 Irish supporters might not seem that much better for those on the pitch than having 32,000 once their patience starts to wear thin.

In short, there would appear to be cause for optimism rather than confidence that the Irish can put all of their recent troubles behind them and make the PR department's workload a little less daunting.