SOCCER:Even as the rain poured down from relentlessly grey skies in Bratislava yesterday the shadow of Roy Keane somehow managed to loom over Ireland's preparations for this evening's key European Championship qualifier.
Seven years ago in Amsterdam the Corkman railed against the celebrations that accompanied the final whistle after the Republic had led 2-0 but ended up a with a draw. The result proved critical to the team's campaign for a place at the 2002 World Cup. But the theme of what he saw as the willingness of colleagues to settle for second best was, of course, something Keane would memorably revisit.
As he reflected on what must be achieved at the Slovan stadium tonight, Steve Staunton's message yesterday had a Keanesque ring.
"We have to change the mentality of the whole country," said the manager, who in 2000 at the Amsterdam Arena came on for Kevin Kilbane 10 minutes from time. "We've never done well away from home against the big countries but we've looked on draws as great results, which they're not unless we qualify."
His aim, he says, is to instil "a winning mentality" not just in the team but in everyone around it.
Come 9.15 this evening we'll have a better idea how the Louthman's project is coming long.
Almost every time he spoke yesterday, Staunton insisted he was determined to take three points from this evening's game.
It would be a decent achievement if he and his players can pull it off, for while the Germans and Czechs have come here and won, Jan Kocian still has a capable group of players at his disposal, Porto's Marek Cech, Slavia Prague's Matej Krajcik and Bochum's Stanislav Sestek having established big reputations in recent seasons.
They were, as it happens, moderate in Dublin, where they lost 1-0, but they are certain to be more positive in front of their own crowd in a match they could badly do with winning.
The Irish, famously, haven't beaten a team of their own calibre in a qualifying match away for over 20 years, and there is no particular reason to believe they will win this evening, even if the general strength of the squad has maximised their chances and a recent run of good results has restored confidence.
As ever, Staunton will need big performances from key figures if his team are to get back into the shake-up for qualification.
Shay Given's presence will be of enormous importance, as will Richard Dunne's if he reproduces his club form of recent weeks.
Asked about the fact he had not scored away from home in a qualifier since that Holland game in September 2000, Robbie Keane said he had been unaware of the statistic. It would certainly help, however, if he could end the famine.
That Given and Keane will start was as much as Staunton would confirm yesterday, but the places of half a dozen or more are pretty much assured, the areas of significant doubt limited to left back and midfield.
Though Stephen Kelly did little wrong against the Czechs in Dublin last year and can play on either side of the defence, Kevin Kilbane looks likely to make the 44th consecutive competitive appearance, in the role he has occupied for Wigan in recent weeks, of a run stretching back some eight years.
If the 30-year-old does drop back then there appear to be four leading candidates for three positions in a midfield sure to feature Lee Carsley in a holding role.
The inclusion of Andy Reid and Stephen Ireland is also virtually assured, though where they start is another matter.
Aiden McGeady did plenty to advance his cause in Aarhus, but the ground at the Slovan stadium was terribly heavy yesterday, with gallons of surface water lying just off the playing area.
Staunton conceded the conditions could influence his selection, and the Celtic winger might be viewed as just a little lightweight in the circumstances.
In recent training the physically more imposing Jonathan Douglas and Daryl Murphy played with the "probables" and either could start, though they are more likely being lined up for appearances from the bench.
If McGeady plays then Ireland can be expected to partner Carsley with Reid on the left, while his absence would open the door to Stephen Hunt, the Dubliner making either a straight switch to the other flank or nudging the Manchester City midfielder out there by moving inside.
The Slovaks have pace out wide themselves but should miss Robert Vittek's imposing presence up front.
If, as is possible, however, they come to dominate the Irish midfield, it could be a long and difficult night for the visitors.
The players, says Keane, are anxious to "go out there, play some football and win the game", which would be most welcome with a tougher assignment in Prague just around the corner.
Staunton's suggestion, however, that "we are going to go out there and do what we've been doing for the last 12 or 18 months", is less reassuring.
The reality is that Ireland's draw in Amsterdam helped pave the way to a championship finals because they won the return game and avoided slip-ups against lesser sides.
Having drawn with the Czechs in Dublin and lost in Nicosia, this current side need to improve on anything they have done in competition under the current manager if they are to retain any prospect of being in Austria and Switzerland next summer.
PROBABLE TEAMS
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Given (Newcastle United); O'Shea (Manchester United), Dunne (Manchester City), McShane (Sunderland), Kilbane (Wigan Athletic); McGeady (Celtic), Ireland (Manchester City), Carsley (Everton), Reid (Charlton Athletic); Doyle (Reading), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur).
SLOVAKIA: Senecky (FC Nitra); Krajcik (Slavia Prague), Klimpl (FC Midtjylland), Durica (Saturn Ramenskoje), Gresko (Bayer Leverkusen); Sestak (Bochum), Sapara (Rosenborg), Hamsik (SSC Neapol), Cech (Porto); Holosko (Manisapor), Mintal (Nuremberg).
