History exists between the Republic of Ireland and Macedonia, although it is not that kind that conjures fond memories for Irish supporters.The term ‘bogeymen’ may not be listed in the Oxford Dictionary, but within the football lexicon it is something that holds a special place and it is a category that Macedonia certainly fall under for the Irish.
Having twice upset the odds by producing results that denied Ireland a place at two major tournaments, the Balkan nation ensured they will not be forgotten in a hurry – especially when involved in the same qualifying group.
On Saturday, Macedonia turn up at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin hoping that a little bit of history will be repeated. However, the warning sirens are already sounding in the Irish camp as they cannot afford to lose this Group B game.
It might only be the halfway stage of qualification for Euro 2012, but Giovanni Trapattoni knows that his team’s hopes of booking a place in next summer’s main event hinges on how they fare in this fixture.
‘The test for us is Saturday, the first home qualifier we’ve had since the Russia game. [That] was a big disappointment,’ said veteran Kevin Kilbane, who is set to win his 109th cap
‘We started well [in the group], six points from the first two games. We were confident going into that game. It was a big set-back, 3-2 on the night flattered us. We are chasing [Russia], but we’re certainly in with a shout. We’re capable of catching them and staying with them.’
Preparations have been far from ideal though. With injuries ruling both first-choice goakeeper Shay Given and experienced defender John O’Shea out and fitness concerns over Richard Dunne and Robbie Keane, the spine of the team is creaking.
The two replacements for Given and O’Shea should cope well with the pressure of standing in as Coventry’s Keiren Westwood and Wolves’ Kevin Foley play regularly for their respective clubs. They have also waited long enough for a chance to impress in a competitive game.
The real worry – other than whether Dunne or Keane can last – lies in the Irish engine room, where it has been spluttering and clogging up in recent times due to a lack of cohesion and balance. Stoke City’s Glenn Whelan does a fine job of linking play between defence and attack, while also offering the type of off-the-ball workmanship that Trapattoni looks for in his central midfielder. But he’s still searching for the perfect partner in the middle of the pitch.
Darron Gibson looks set to start alongside Whelan in this game, but he still has a lot to prove. The Manchester United man has a tendency to drift in and out of matches, like a kid getting bored during school and there are only so many chances he can be given.
A stunning strike in last month’s Carling Nations Cup win over Wales masked Gibson’s overall poor display. He definitely has talent, but does he have the brains and the courage to ulitise it on the international stage?
Perhaps he can do enough until James McCarthy is introduced as an impact substitute. And when that happens, the Irish media and supporters will exhale a collective sigh of relief as the long-running saga of whether he will declare for Scotland instead will finally be at an end.
The Wigan starlet has the ability to open up space and create scoring opportunities, but Trapattoni’s starting XI should be capable of that too with wingers Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady expected to wreak havoc on the Macedonian backline.
The key to Ireland scoring though could be all too familiar as Keane is still the go-to man in these situations. Unwanted by Spurs, only three games played for West Ham, yet he is seen as the source of goals for a team that is prepared to leave 20-goal Shane Long on the bench.
‘It will be a good motivation for him to take out the frustrations of this season on Macedonia. Robbie is very important for us,’ said assistant manager Marco Tardelli, who reckons the Irish captain will be back to his devastating best on Saturday.
Ireland certainly need Keane to be sharp as Kevin Doyle’s role in the green jersey has largely morphed into being a supplier. He too can finish, as he showed against Andorra with a superb strike, but he is not the goal-getter in this side.
Expectations have been diluted somewhat following last October’s crushing defeat to Russia and an average draw away to Slovakia, although anything other than victory in this encounter would be disastrous.
This is one game that Ireland cannot allow their bogeymen to cause an upset in. If they manage to overcome Macedonia, then it will put them firmly back in the hunt for automatic qualification ahead of the return fixture in June.