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Keane leads Irish into battle

Rescheduled Euro 2000 game key for Ireland, Yugoslavia

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Posted: Tuesday August 31, 1999 06:46 PM

DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) -- Delayed by two months due to the war in Kosovo, the crucial Euro 2000 Group 8 qualifier between Ireland and Yugoslavia will finally go ahead Wednesday in Dublin.

Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane will captain the Irish team, which also contains clubmate Dennis Irwin and Coventry's 19-year-old striker Robbie Keane (no relation).

Veteran Liverpool defender Steve Staunton has been recalled for his 79th cap, while West Bromwich Albion's Kevin Kilbane comes onto the left flank having scored four goals for his club.

The scheduled clash was postponed on June 5 when the Irish government refused visas to the Yugoslavian team due to Serbia's role in the Kosovo conflict.

With spots in the European 2000 Championship finals on the line, the Lansdowne Road game is crucial for both teams, particularly for Ireland after its 1-0 loss to Yugoslavia in Belgrade in November.

Croatia leads the group with 11 points from six games, followed by Yugoslavia with 10 points and Ireland on nine points, both teams having played four games apiece.

With only the group winner sure to qualify with playoffs awaiting the second place team, Ireland coach Mick McCarthy said the game is “make-or-break.”

“We've got an attacking line-up, but you need all your experience for matches like this,” he said.

The Yugoslav team has been hit by injuries and suspensions but will be bolstered by the return of Rapid Vienna striker Dejan Savicevic and Dragan Stojkovic, who missed the 0-0 tie with Croatia on Aug. 18.

Yugoslavia will be missing midfielder Vladimir Jugovic, striker Jovan Stankovic and goalkeeper Ivica Kralj through injuries, while Slavisa Jokanovic and Zoran Mirkovic are out after picking two yellow cards apiece.

Yugoslavia coach Vujadin Boskov said he'd settle for a tie in Dublin considering the number of players missing from his team.

The Yugoslavs would then bank on beating Macedonia twice, while Ireland and Croatia go head-to-head on Sept. 4 in Zagreb and then the Irish travel to Valletta to play Malta four days later.

“I expect a lot of space up front in the match against Ireland,” said former Aston Villa and now Zaragoza striker Savo Milosevic. “The Irish are under pressure to win and they must attack. A point [from a tie] would be enough for us.”

Teams:

Ireland: Alan Kelly, Dennis Irwin, Kenny Cunningham, Gary Breen, Steve Staunton, Mark Kennedy, Roy Keane, Mark Kinsella, Kevin Kilbane, Robbie Keane, Niall Quinn.

Yugoslavia: (from) Aleksandar Kocic, Nikola Damjanac, Dragan Zilic; Miroslav Djukic, Sinisa Mihajlovic, Slobodan Komljenovic, Nisa Saveljic, Drazen Bolic, Mladen Krstajic; Albert Nadj, Ljubinko Drulovic, Nenad Grozdic, Dejan Stankovic, Dejan Govedarica, Dragan Stojkovic, Djordje Tomic, Dejan Savicevic; Predrag Mijatovic, Savo Milosevic, Darko Kovacevic.

 

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