THE REPUBLIC OF Ireland will take command of Group B if they overcome Russia in their Euro 2012 qualifier at the Aviva stadium tonight whilst defeat for the visitors is unthinkable.

Dick Adovcaat’s men have already suffered a surprise home loss to Slovakia in this qualifying campaign meaning they can ill-afford any slip-ups in their remaining games.

Speaking as his press conference in Dublin on Thursday, the former Rangers manager said:

There is always pressure in qualification games but there is certainly pressure after the defeat by Slovakia. We know the importance of this game – a win or a draw but we cannot lose.

We have a way of playing and if everyone is there we are a good team. They have to show they can play football but they must also have confidence in themselves.

For the hosts, the game has just as much riding on it at the beginning of an important phase according to manager Giovanni Trapattoni.

Three points tonight and another point in Slovakia on Tuesday would put Ireland in a great position to qualify for Poland and Ukraine in just under two years time.
Trapattoni told the press on Thursday:

We should be optimistic about claiming four points (from the two games), which would allow us to stay at the top of the table. The way the qualification works, it’s very long and tomorrow is the start of the more important phase. We will play against one of the most famous international teams.

Most of their players play every week for the same teams, Zenit St Petersburg and CSKA Moscow, and that is a great advantage.

But I have reasons to be positive because we are building a very good team. We are happy with our mentality and how our players play the game. We can play well but more important is the result.

The Italian is helped by being able to name the same side that has already seen off Armenia and Andorra in this years’ qualifiers. Although still without winger Damien Duff, he is boosted by the fitness of defender Richard Dunne.

The good news for Dunne is that Russia are without striker Roman Pavlyuchenko who is sidelined with an ankle problem.

Elsewhere in relation to tonight’s game, it’s been confirmed that barriers will be erected outside the Aviva stadium after the final whistle to help fans find their way to he DART station.

This is intended to avoid a repeat of the crowd congestion that occurred after last week’s Magners League clash between Leinster and Munster.