2005: A German Oddessy
By Aidan Begley

As another international year ends, Brian Kerr and the rest of the Republic of Ireland team can look back on 12 months where the boys in green took on the might of Brazil, France and the Czech Republic and came through unbeaten, with a sense of optimism for the upcoming year.
In 2005, Ireland face six crucial qualifying games during which the resolve, talent and desire of the team will be fully tested with difficult games against Israel, Faroe Islands, France and Switzerland.
The boys in green have already given themselves an excellent opportunity to progress to the World Cup finals with some excellent results in the qualifying games, including creditable away draws in Switzerland and France.
However, these results could all be worthless next year if Ireland fail to reach Germany and the team now needs to focus on a very important year for Irish football.
The hard work for Brian Kerr starts in March with the most important fixtures of the group so far for Ireland, two games – home and away – to Israel. The Middle-East outfit has been the surprise package of the group so far, and they are currently lying in third place behind France and Ireland, who top the group on eight points.
Although a trip to Tel Aviv may pose security issues and a hostile playing environment, a number of the team who may line-up that day will have had experienced a more vociferous atmosphere whilst playing against Iran in Tehran in the second leg of the 2002 World Cup play-off.
The Republic must go to Israel on Easter Saturday looking to secure at least a draw before heading back to Dublin for the return game to hopefully play in an intimidating atmos-phere at Lansdowne Road, which has been somewhat lacking during the last few competitive games held in the capital.
June 2005 sees Ireland fans trying to work out how they’ll to get to the remote Faroe Islands for a game which the team is expected to win. The Faroes have already proved they don’t want to be the whipping boys of the group in front of their home crowd, but fitness and above all should prevail for an Ireland victory – touch wood.
This then sets up the return game with the French for a tough afternoon in Dublin. Whether Les Bleus will suffer another injury crisis they occurred last October, which decimated the team remains to be seen, but a positive result for Ireland here could see them with their destiny firmly in their own hands.
The culmination of the campaign is in October next year, with an away trip to Cyprus, to top-up the summer sunburn and the final game of the qualifiers, Switzerland at home. Brian Kerr would see defeating the Swiss as poetic justice, especially as the last three performances has cost Ireland its manager, a possible place in Euro 2004 and three points respectively.
The team that Kerr has developed over the past 12 months is able to go into these games with a positive outlook and confidence following the past internationals. The nurturing of Andy Reid and Liam Miller in midfield has been pleasing to see, along with the return of Roy Keane, who has added a much needed steel and resilience to a frail middle four.
Thankfully, Robbie Keane has found his shooting boots again and having already beaten the all-time goal scoring record for the Republic, he’ll set a target over the next 10 years which might not be beaten in the next 50 years. Damien Duff has found a new lease of life after a slow start under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, and, more importantly, is hitting the back of the net on a regular basis.
The emergence at club level of Willo Flood at Manchester City and Stephen Elliot at Sunderland is a boost to Kerr’s attacking options, which at certain times have lacked that vital punch in front of goal, are adding to the fantastic crop of youngsters which Kerr has at his disposal.
The next year will see whether Ireland can step-up to the plate and compete with the big boys of international football on the biggest stage in football. If the team can believe in themselves and produce football that they are easily capable of, then the German phrase books could be coming out of the cupboard for the summer of 2006 – here’s hoping so.