Kevin Doyle is warning the French to expect an aerial bombardment as the Republic of Ireland look to turn around a one-goal deficit in tomorrow’s World Cup play-off, second leg in Paris.
Nicolas Anelka’s deflected goal has put Raymond Domenech’s side in poll position to make it to South Africa, although Wolves’ striker Doyle insists the tie is anything but over.
A win for Ireland in the Stade de France would be undoubtedly one of the biggest in the nation’s history, ranking alongside the 1994 World Cup success against Italy, and Doyle said: “When we went route one on Saturday, we got breaking balls going our way.
“It is not the prettiest but we’ll do anything we can to get a result. Something like 70 per cent of our goals come from set-pieces. We seem to be at our most dangerous with our free kicks, so we have got to make the most of them.”
Doyle, who is once again expected to partner Robbie Keane in attack, added: “We have to keep a clean sheet. We also know we have to score away from home.
“But we’ve managed to do that in most of our away games so far. We are all pretty confident. There’s a feeling in the camp we can do it.”
Meanwhile, French midfielder Lassana Diarra, has denied verbally abusing Ireland’s Keith Andrews in the first leg at Croke Park.
The pair squared up after the final whistle on Saturday, but the former Portsmouth player said: “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know any more than anyone else.
I was going to the dressing room and an Irish player came towards me, so I stood and watched him.
“The Irishmen has been frustrated – they had lost 1-0. They are looking for trouble. Maybe they wanted me to get a card. I didn’t say anything. I have absolutely nothing against Irish people. I played in England for five years and never had any trouble.
“All I can say is that when two countries are playing for one place at the World Cup, it is always going to be tense.”
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