Win needed to ease frustration

Finally, Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign gets under way today when they play India in Amiens in their opening pool game. The withdrawal of Kenya from the tournament meant the squad, which has been here since Friday and was due to play the African side on Monday, has been hotel bound for almost four days and is beginning to lose its battle with boredom.

"Abysmal" has been the kindest word offered so far as a description for the organisation of this tournament, the others are unrepeatable, with the Irish denied an opportunity to watch the Indians in action against Uruguay on Monday because there was no bus available to take them from Amiens to the Abbeville ground. Last-ditch attempts to hire transport failed so the players remained in their hotel while India won their game 2-0.

Meantime officials from the 14 nations have been shaking their heads in disbelief at the charge of 120 Euros for each hour's practice on the tournament pitches, not least officials of nations who could barely afford to enter the qualifier in the first place.

A win against India, though, would ease Irish frustrations at finding themselves in the middle of this farce, but they will do well to beat a side that features some of the most individually gifted players in the tournament. Anything other than victory would, however, make the task of finishing in the top two in the pool (and, thus, gaining automatic qualification to next year's World Cup) an arduous one.