Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni says that we can qualify for the 2012 European Championships in Poland & Ukraine.
The Italian was speaking after yesterday’s qualifying group stages draw in Warsaw.
Ireland were handed what looks like a good draw in Group B, alongside Russia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra.
While Russia and Slovakia may prove tricky, they were certainly the least daunting first and second seeds that Ireland could have got.
And Trapattoni said; “It’s not bad, it’s possible to achieve qualification”.
“Before the games, none is easy or difficult. All the groups have equal balance.”
“Two teams are hard, Russia and Slovakia, because they are strong teams.”
“But we have shown in the past that we can play against every team-like Italy and France.”
Russia boss Guus Hiddink, who may be gone from the job by the time the qualifiers get underway next September, called Trapattoni; “a wily old fox”.
The Dutchman, whose team failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing on away goals to Slovenia in their playoff, added; “We did not qualify for the World Cup, so you cannot say that automatically you are the favourites and so you can lie back.”
“We have seen (Ireland) playing in Paris and before, so they are very competitive.”
Ireland last played Russia in the Euro 2004 qualifiers, losing 4-2 in Moscow and drawing 1-1 at Lansdowne Road.
We famously lost 3-2 to Macedonia in Skopje in the World Cup ’98 campaign, before beating them 3-0 in Dublin.
An injury time goal 12 seconds from the end in Macedonia in 1999 denied Mick McCarthy’s Ireland a place at Euro 2000.
Under Steve Staunton Ireland beat Slovakia 1-0 at Croke Park and drew 2-2 in Bratislava during the disastrous Euro 2008 campaign.
We have beaten Andorra in our only two meetings, while we have never played Armenia before.
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