Bravery required if Kerr is to complete his mission
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=12293
DION FANNING
THE story of Group Four is a story of France's decline. Since they lost to Senegal on the opening day of the World Cup three years ago, France has retained much of its allure, while losing most of its power. They were many people's favourites for last summer's European Championships but stumbled through the tournament before losing to a more committed Greek side in the quarter-final.
They have managed to retain some aura as they stumble through this group, when, in fact, their collapse should by now have been pronounced fatal. That Raymond Domenech's side are still in contention to qualify for next summer's World Cup in Germany does not make them great survivors - they are bloated and tired, without even the basic pride of champions - but a dangerous indication that the killer instinct is not present in their opponents in the group, including Ireland.
Ireland were the better team in Paris last October. Brian Kerr's side played better football, created the better chances and showed a hunger lacking in the former World and European champions. But they did not win. Ireland celebrated, rejoicing not at the fact of a draw with an ordinary France team, but with the idea of France, the France of Zidane, not the team of Alou Diarra.
It was a satisfactory point, but following Ireland's failure to exhibit the ruthlessness necessary again in Tel Aviv last week and the fact that France seem incapable of beating anybody, it does not appear to have been an evening deserving of such gaiety.
Ireland are the best team in the group and they should go on to win it. They are more organised than Israel, more talented than Switzerland and with a desire to achieve no longer present in the important players for France. But today, they are fourth in the group, although victory against Israel in June will put them top.
But victory against anybody other than the Faroes or Cyprus does not seem possible in this group and Ireland will hope that things change when the Israelis arrive in June.
If they do change, then Ireland will have won without Roy Keane, possible against Cyprus last September, but more difficult against an Israeli side that took great confidence from the result against Ireland and played with more elan against France last Wednesday.
Steven Carr will be suspended for that game as well, but that strengthens Ireland. Carr had another poor game for his country last weekend and his suspension should free Steve Finnan to play in his best position of right-back and allow Andy Reid to play, presuming Kerr has the same squad available to him in June as he had in Tel Aviv.
Kerr's methodical approach has resulted in three points from the tricky away games, but, with the exception of the game in Basle, Ireland deserved more from each match. The Israelis feel that Ireland were the best team in the group, something Kerr commented on last Friday, but over the next five matches that must become more than theory. There was no need for the group to go to the last game, as Kerr now predicts it will, but it may be necessary now.
The team that Kerr sent out in Basle in October 2003 was not his side; the limp manner of defeat told him that he had much to do and the return of Roy Keane helped him travel along that road.
It is now his side and for that reason, he would have expected more of a response to his reported half-time call for more goals in Tel Aviv last Saturday.
Instead, Ireland emerged for the second half, toyed briefly with Israel and then retreated with, most surprisingly for a Kerr team, a lack of invention and cunning at set-pieces.
The early goal undoubtedly changed the approach of the team, but while the passing in the first half was excellent, the problem of a tiring Clinton Morrison and an exhausted Kevin Kilbane ensured that Ireland lost the cutting edge.
Morrison has acknowledged that he cannot begin next season as he seems certain to end this one, on the bench at Birmingham. Stephen Elliott gave glimpses on Tuesday night that he could snatch a goal if sent from the dug-out, but, as ever, Ireland have striking problems. Kerr was right to show loyalty to Kevin Kilbane, but the player has wilted for Everton this season and he could also have been replaced in Tel Aviv but Kerr, betraying his conservative instincts, chose to stick with the team that was clinging to the lead.
There will need to be more adventure in June. Kerr is happy that he has three home games left rather than three away, but Israel will not be as star-struck as they were last Saturday. They have earned a point against Ireland and they may feel they can do it again.
Kerr hopes the Lansdowne Road crowd will prove crucial and he could be right. The manager's objectives are being met and he will feel that Ireland have enough to take care of any visitor to Dublin.
There are convincing reasons for suggesting that even if France fire Raymond Domenech before they travel to Dublin the expected return of Zinedine Zidane would not bring havoc to Ireland's hopes. France struggled at the European Championships simply because the rest of the team expected Zidane to play the football. A nation where expectations were raised in the wake of victories in successive tournaments can't live with him, can't live without him.
But his return may unravel Kerr's plans. There is a great brutality at the heart of all superior sportsmen and teams, a willingness to punish to the point of cruelty any weakness displayed by an opponent. Ireland should have ensured that France's decline was terminal last October and Israel's belief that they can qualify for the World Cup should have been checked last Saturday.
Instead they are both involved, along with Switzerland with whom Ireland still have unfinished business. So far Ireland's methodical approach has brought qualified success (or at least the absence of failure), bravery is now required if Kerr is to complete his mission.
