TEAM NEWS <\/p>\n
The Faroes will seek to close down space in the midfield area. Joan Simun Edmundsson is set to lead the attack. Captain Frodi Benjaminsen and Christian Holst will also be handed key roles. <\/p>\n
Stephen Kelly is set to start on the bench despite being unhappy, but Robbie Keane returns after missing the Germany match due to an achilles injury. Stoke City full-back Marc Wilson and Manchester United winger Robbie Brady both start as Stephen Ward, Keith Fahey and Simon Cox drop out from the 6-1 loss to Germany. <\/p>\n
Republic of Ireland (4-4-2): Westwood (Sunderland); Coleman (Everton), OShea (Sunderland), ODea (Toronto FC), Wilson (Stoke); Brady (Manchester United), Andrews (Bolton), McCarthy (Wigan), McGeady (Spartak Moscow); Keane (LA Galaxy), Walters (Stoke). <\/p>\n
MANAGER QUOTES <\/p>\n
Lars Olsen (Faroe Islands): \"When you lose 6-1 at home in a country like Ireland, of course you will be under pressure. We know Ireland are the favourites tomorrow, as Sweden were, but we will try to do our best. The Faroe Islands are a small team and almost every team we are playing against will be the favourites against us. It's a new team, the coach from Ireland, Trapattoni, is a very old guy in the game and I am sure he has told the players, 'Okay, now we start a new game, you have to do your best''.\" <\/p>\n
Giovanni Trapattoni (Republic of Ireland): \"Every manager has moments when he loses. After the Euros, we have lost only one game to Germany, the second team in the world. Its no problem. <\/p>\n
MATCH FACTS <\/p>\n
Republic of Ireland and Faroe Islands have only been drawn together once before. Ireland won both meetings in 2006 World Cup qualification, scoring four and conceding none. <\/p>\n
Ireland are unbeaten in 18 away games (excluding games played on neutral venues), <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Matchpack: Faroe Islands v Republic of Ireland<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" TEAM NEWS The Faroes will seek to close down space in the midfield area. Joan Simun Edmundsson is set to lead the attack. Captain Frodi Benjaminsen and Christian Holst will also be handed key roles Continue reading