Ryan Giggs led his Wales troops into Dublin today insisting the fear of failure is the driving force in his career.

The Manchester United star might be on the brink of creating history by claiming a ninth championship medal -beating the record of eight held by Liverpool's Phil Neal - but captaining Wales reinforces his desire to add more achievement to an amazing career.

He will skipper the Welsh on Saturday at Croke Park in the first soccer match played at the venue, knowing that international achievement is still eluding him.

Giggs and Wales know that if they fail against the Republic of Ireland in front of 76,000 fans their chances of reaching the finals in Austria and Switzerland next year are over.  For Wales manager John Toshack this is "the pivotal match" in Wales' bid.

Toshack was concerned about Giggs playing two matches in three days for Manchester United last weekend.  But he said: "Ryan got to us unscathed, he has done very little training this week, just one run-out so far, but he is bright and happy about things and looking forward to the match and the occasion.

"It is probably not what is best for Ryan to play two games so close together, But he is cheerful enough, he wants to play in the game, and he will lead the team out in Dublin."

And Giggs knows he must put aside United's treble quest and concentrate on his duties for his country, with few people believing he will ever get the chance to grace a major international finals. But that fear of failure, at 33, is the driving inspiration for the Cardiff-born star.

He said: "I hate to fail at anything I do. That is what drives me on to the next game, the next season, the next trophy - I just don't want to fail."

He says: "We (United) have not won the Champions League since 1999. And you only have to look at the FA Cup, that drives us as players and a club because we want to be the first club to lift the cup at the new Wembley.

"So it's things like that which keep the edge to your game. Yes as a player you need new challenges, and OK I'm very proud of what I and the club have done. But we have not won the Premiership for the last three years and that in particular is a massive motivation."

The one flaw in Giggs' record is a failure to achieve anything with Wales.  He says: "I have never lost the belief that I can play in a major finals for Wales. I know time is running out, but I will try my very best to the last."  PA