JimmyP
30/08/2005, 11:08 AM
Manager slams counterpart's remarks over Irish style
A WAR of words has broken out between Brian Kerr and Raymond Domenech over comments the French manager made during the summer.
Kerr is annoyed that Domenech was critical of the way Ireland played in the second half of their 2-2 draw against Israel and warned him that he's in for a surprise when the sides meet at Lansdowne Road tomorrow week.
"Everyone knows what it's going to take for us to beat them here," said Kerr. "It's going to take the traditional qualities of Irish teams and not the sort of stuff that your man (Domenech) was talking about when he was having a go at us a few weeks ago in an interview - basically slagging us, having a laugh over the way we played in some of the matches and stuff like that.
"It's not going to be like that - it's going to be us using all the qualities that we have of discipline, desire, passion and good football, many of the things we have done in the past.
"But we're going to have to do it with them having an even better team now," said Kerr.
Ireland currently lead Group Four by one point from Switzerland, with Israel two behind and the French three off the pace.
With Ireland idle this Saturday and the other three in action, the Group Four picture will be dramatically changed come 10pm on Saturday.
Ireland have France at home next week, followed in October by Cyprus away and Switzerland at Lansdowne Road and Kerr is still confident that Ireland have the ability to qualify for Germany.
"Now we've got two homes and an away one to go, we need to continue playing with desire, verve and confidence and I've got a feeling that we're capable of that over the last three games.
"If we can do that, that will be enough - but I'm sure the other teams in the group have their angles and desires as well. They know what they're after, they are good teams and have developed over the group as well."
Kerr has named a 23-man squad for next week's showdown with France and the only change from the group which assembled for this month's friendly against Israel is that Roy Keane returns in place of Alan Quinn.
There are no injury worries ahead of the game and Kerr admits he not too worried about the lack of game time that strikers Robbie Keane and Clinton Morrison have enjoyed so far this season.
"It is disappointing neither of them have played much, and I don't know what impact that will have when it comes to the game. "But we intend keeping them very busy when they come in with us. We will give them plenty of football, and the training will be sharp, while the adrenaline around this game will be enough to have them at their best."
Kerr says he has a clear idea in his head about the team he wants to start against the French although he reminded everybody that factors such as form, injuries and attitude could still have a bearing on his final decision.
But even with eight days to go it appears that there are only two position up for grabs with Stephen Carr, Steve Finnan, Andy Reid and possibly Steven Reid fighting for the right back and right-side midfield slots.
Carr and Finnan played in Paris but Kerr has favoured Andy Reid on the right at home. He wasn't giving anything away yesterday though, even to the point of humorously suggesting that he might even play 4-3-3.
Kerr's squad will assemble in Dublin on Friday and the manager is delighted at the opportunity to have his players together for such a lengthy period of time.
"The fact that we've no game next Saturday leaves a decent gap between last weekend's matches until we play.
"I'm hoping that having a little bit more time, plus the freshness of the players not having a competitive game will help us going into the Wednesday of the match."
Kerr has digested the contents of the video showing France's win over the Ivory Coast and reckons that Domenech won't stray too far from the 11 players he started that night in Montpelier.
"It was interesting to watch them go about their business. They played well and they look stronger now," said Kerr.
Gerry McDermott
http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stories.php3?ca=12&si=1459124
A WAR of words has broken out between Brian Kerr and Raymond Domenech over comments the French manager made during the summer.
Kerr is annoyed that Domenech was critical of the way Ireland played in the second half of their 2-2 draw against Israel and warned him that he's in for a surprise when the sides meet at Lansdowne Road tomorrow week.
"Everyone knows what it's going to take for us to beat them here," said Kerr. "It's going to take the traditional qualities of Irish teams and not the sort of stuff that your man (Domenech) was talking about when he was having a go at us a few weeks ago in an interview - basically slagging us, having a laugh over the way we played in some of the matches and stuff like that.
"It's not going to be like that - it's going to be us using all the qualities that we have of discipline, desire, passion and good football, many of the things we have done in the past.
"But we're going to have to do it with them having an even better team now," said Kerr.
Ireland currently lead Group Four by one point from Switzerland, with Israel two behind and the French three off the pace.
With Ireland idle this Saturday and the other three in action, the Group Four picture will be dramatically changed come 10pm on Saturday.
Ireland have France at home next week, followed in October by Cyprus away and Switzerland at Lansdowne Road and Kerr is still confident that Ireland have the ability to qualify for Germany.
"Now we've got two homes and an away one to go, we need to continue playing with desire, verve and confidence and I've got a feeling that we're capable of that over the last three games.
"If we can do that, that will be enough - but I'm sure the other teams in the group have their angles and desires as well. They know what they're after, they are good teams and have developed over the group as well."
Kerr has named a 23-man squad for next week's showdown with France and the only change from the group which assembled for this month's friendly against Israel is that Roy Keane returns in place of Alan Quinn.
There are no injury worries ahead of the game and Kerr admits he not too worried about the lack of game time that strikers Robbie Keane and Clinton Morrison have enjoyed so far this season.
"It is disappointing neither of them have played much, and I don't know what impact that will have when it comes to the game. "But we intend keeping them very busy when they come in with us. We will give them plenty of football, and the training will be sharp, while the adrenaline around this game will be enough to have them at their best."
Kerr says he has a clear idea in his head about the team he wants to start against the French although he reminded everybody that factors such as form, injuries and attitude could still have a bearing on his final decision.
But even with eight days to go it appears that there are only two position up for grabs with Stephen Carr, Steve Finnan, Andy Reid and possibly Steven Reid fighting for the right back and right-side midfield slots.
Carr and Finnan played in Paris but Kerr has favoured Andy Reid on the right at home. He wasn't giving anything away yesterday though, even to the point of humorously suggesting that he might even play 4-3-3.
Kerr's squad will assemble in Dublin on Friday and the manager is delighted at the opportunity to have his players together for such a lengthy period of time.
"The fact that we've no game next Saturday leaves a decent gap between last weekend's matches until we play.
"I'm hoping that having a little bit more time, plus the freshness of the players not having a competitive game will help us going into the Wednesday of the match."
Kerr has digested the contents of the video showing France's win over the Ivory Coast and reckons that Domenech won't stray too far from the 11 players he started that night in Montpelier.
"It was interesting to watch them go about their business. They played well and they look stronger now," said Kerr.
Gerry McDermott
http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stories.php3?ca=12&si=1459124