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Being aware of this I should perhaps know better but despite all the evidence to the contrary I can’t help but feel optimistic about our chances of beating the Swiss and at least making the play-offs.
Despite the fact that tactically we have often got things wrong under Kerr.
Despite the fact that we threw away leads in both games with Israel that resulted in us dropping four points which would have already seen us through to the finals.
Despite the fact that we lost our last home game to France.
Despite the fact that we put on the most God awful display I’ve ever seen from an Irish side in our 1-0 victory over Cyprus last Saturday.
Despite the fact that we go into the Swiss game without our most influential player, Roy Keane.
Despite the fact that we also go into the Swiss game without our most creative player, Damien Duff.
Despite the fact that our most dangerous striker and record goal-scorer Robbie Keane has been way short of his best for pretty much all of this qualifying campaign.
Despite the fact that the media vultures circling above Brian Kerr’s head and speculating about his future or lack of one as Irish manager can’t be having a good effect on the Irish players.
Despite the fact that Switzerland have won two and drawn one of our last three meetings and are unbeaten in their last 12 games.
Despite all of these things and perhaps against all common sense, I still have a strong feeling that we are going to win this game. I find it difficult to rationalize my optimism except to say that even though we are missing some of our best players I still feel we have enough quality in our squad to match up to and beat the Swiss and God knows we can only improve on Saturdays performance.
The most important factor for me though is that the game is at Lansdowne Road. I’ll be there (as ever) and I know that when our supporters are up for it we can be like a 12th man for the side and we’ll certainly be up for it tonight.
Our friends across the water have already qualified for the finals in Germany courtesy of Hollands win against the Czechs at the weekend. However, if they were in a position such as ours they would probably try to motivate their players before the game with a Shakespearean quote, “once more in to the breach dear friends, once more”, or something like that. As an Irish fan my motivational plea to our boy’s would be far less eloquent yet far more heart-felt and it would simply be this, “one more time lads, GIVE IT A LASH!”