Estonia and the Republic of Ireland will meet in Tallin on Friday night as three other UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying first leg playoff games will be underway.
Irish fans around the world suffered a heartbreak the last time their national football team featured in a two-legged playoff tie. This happened back in November 2009 when Thierry Henry’s infamous hand ball for France forced the Republic of Ireland to accept disqualification from the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Estonia do not seem as dangerous as France but coach Trapattoni doesn’t want to be fooled by Estonia’s underdog status.
“There is no room for complacency as we prepare for our two games next month,” the Italian told UEFA.com.
“We will remember that Estonia have as much right to be in the play-offs as ourselves. They have had some very good results in their group, beating Serbia and Slovenia.
“They also caused Italy a lot of problems. These games will be a huge challenge for us and we must maintain the correct mentality from start to finish.”
Ahead of the clash, ex-Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfield gave his thoughts. According to UEFA.com, Hitzfield gave the following analysis of the Estonia vs Republic of Ireland matchup:
“Ireland against Estonia is a match on a knife edge. They are two teams that have surprisingly finished in second place.
“I think Ireland are the favorites because they have more quality in their team. They are very robust at the back and when it comes to set pieces, they have many players who are great in the air.”
Estonia have never ever participated in European playoff matches. It’s down to them to transform their two-legged tie against the Republic of Ireland in a moment to remember for good reasons.
Tarmo Ruutli’s 22-man squad includes striker Vladimir Voskoboinikov and midfielder Andrei Sidorenkov as Sergei Zenjov is unavailable due to injury. Commenting on his roster ahead of Saturday’s crucial first leg match at home to the Irish, coach Tarmo Ruutli boldly stated:
“All the players are well-known in our team. There's no place for major changes or surprises in the squad before the final two matches of the campaign.
“Players can get injured at the last moment, and I need to have room for choice. Sidorenkov and Voskoboinikov have already proved themselves in the national team. They are doing well at their clubs and I think they deserve to be in the team.”
Estonia squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergei Pareiko (Wisła Kraków), Pavel Londak (FK Bodø/Glimt), Artur Kotenko (no club)
Defenders: Alo Bärengrub (JK Nõmme Kalju), Enar Jääger (Aalesunds FK), Ragnar Klavan (AZ Alkmaar), Taavi Rähn (Tianjin Songjiang FC), Raio Piiroja (Vitesse), Andrei Stepanov (FC Gomel), Tihhon Šišov (Xäzär Länkäran FK), Taijo Teniste (Sogndal IL Fotball)
Midfielders: Aleksandr Dmitrijev (FC Ural Ekaterinburg), Dmitri Kruglov (FC Rostov), Sander Puri (Lombard-Pápa TFC), Ats Purje (Ethnikos Achnas FC), Andrei Sidorenkov (Viborg FF), Konstantin Vassiljev (FC Amkar Perm), Martin Vunk (Nea Salamis FC)
Forwards: Tarmo Kink (Middlesbrough FC), Jarmo Ahjupera (Újpest FC), Kaimar Saag (Silkeborg IF), Vladimir Voskoboinikov (FC Khimki)
Republic of Ireland squad:
Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Aston Villa FC), Keiren Westwood (Sunderland AFC), David Forde (Millwall FC)
Defenders: John O'Shea (Sunderland AFC), Stephen Kelly (Fulham FC), Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa FC), Sean St Ledger (Leicester City FC), Darren O'Dea (Leeds United AFC), Paul McShane (Hull City FC)
Midfielders: Glenn Whelan (Stoke City FC), James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic FC), Seamus Coleman (Everton FC), Keith Andrews (Ipswich Town FC), Keith Fahey (Birmingham City FC), Darron Gibson (Manchester United FC), Andy Keogh (Leeds United AFC), Damien Duff (Fulham FC), Aiden McGeady (FC Spartak Moskva), Stephen Hunt (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Liam Lawrence (Portsmouth FC)
Forwards: Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Shane Long (West Bromwich Albion FC), Simon Cox (West Bromwich Albion FC), Jonathan Walters (Stoke City FC)
Estonia do not seem as dangerous as France but coach Trapattoni doesn’t want to be fooled by Estonia’s underdog status.
“There is no room for complacency as we prepare for our two games next month,” the Italian told UEFA.com.
“We will remember that Estonia have as much right to be in the play-offs as ourselves. They have had some very good results in their group, beating Serbia and Slovenia.
“They also caused Italy a lot of problems. These games will be a huge challenge for us and we must maintain the correct mentality from start to finish.”
Ahead of the clash, ex-Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfield gave his thoughts. According to UEFA.com, Hitzfield gave the following analysis of the Estonia vs Republic of Ireland matchup:
“Ireland against Estonia is a match on a knife edge. They are two teams that have surprisingly finished in second place.
“I think Ireland are the favorites because they have more quality in their team. They are very robust at the back and when it comes to set pieces, they have many players who are great in the air.”
Estonia have never ever participated in European playoff matches. It’s down to them to transform their two-legged tie against the Republic of Ireland in a moment to remember for good reasons.
Tarmo Ruutli’s 22-man squad includes striker Vladimir Voskoboinikov and midfielder Andrei Sidorenkov as Sergei Zenjov is unavailable due to injury. Commenting on his roster ahead of Saturday’s crucial first leg match at home to the Irish, coach Tarmo Ruutli boldly stated:
“All the players are well-known in our team. There's no place for major changes or surprises in the squad before the final two matches of the campaign.
“Players can get injured at the last moment, and I need to have room for choice. Sidorenkov and Voskoboinikov have already proved themselves in the national team. They are doing well at their clubs and I think they deserve to be in the team.”
Estonia squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergei Pareiko (Wisła Kraków), Pavel Londak (FK Bodø/Glimt), Artur Kotenko (no club)
Defenders: Alo Bärengrub (JK Nõmme Kalju), Enar Jääger (Aalesunds FK), Ragnar Klavan (AZ Alkmaar), Taavi Rähn (Tianjin Songjiang FC), Raio Piiroja (Vitesse), Andrei Stepanov (FC Gomel), Tihhon Šišov (Xäzär Länkäran FK), Taijo Teniste (Sogndal IL Fotball)
Midfielders: Aleksandr Dmitrijev (FC Ural Ekaterinburg), Dmitri Kruglov (FC Rostov), Sander Puri (Lombard-Pápa TFC), Ats Purje (Ethnikos Achnas FC), Andrei Sidorenkov (Viborg FF), Konstantin Vassiljev (FC Amkar Perm), Martin Vunk (Nea Salamis FC)
Forwards: Tarmo Kink (Middlesbrough FC), Jarmo Ahjupera (Újpest FC), Kaimar Saag (Silkeborg IF), Vladimir Voskoboinikov (FC Khimki)
Republic of Ireland squad:
Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Aston Villa FC), Keiren Westwood (Sunderland AFC), David Forde (Millwall FC)
Defenders: John O'Shea (Sunderland AFC), Stephen Kelly (Fulham FC), Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa FC), Sean St Ledger (Leicester City FC), Darren O'Dea (Leeds United AFC), Paul McShane (Hull City FC)
Midfielders: Glenn Whelan (Stoke City FC), James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic FC), Seamus Coleman (Everton FC), Keith Andrews (Ipswich Town FC), Keith Fahey (Birmingham City FC), Darron Gibson (Manchester United FC), Andy Keogh (Leeds United AFC), Damien Duff (Fulham FC), Aiden McGeady (FC Spartak Moskva), Stephen Hunt (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Liam Lawrence (Portsmouth FC)
Forwards: Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Shane Long (West Bromwich Albion FC), Simon Cox (West Bromwich Albion FC), Jonathan Walters (Stoke City FC)
