Match Preview: Ireland V Luxembourg

Stephen Kenny will be hoping that home comforts will be a virtue as the Republic of Ireland boss is hopeful of turning performances into results as he aims to get his World Cup Qualification campaign up and running with a win over Luxembourg.

The Ireland boss is still waiting on that first win but knows today, despite an empty Aviva Stadium is as good a chance as any.

Despite some a much-improved performance in the manner in which the Republic of Ireland have played in terms of tactics, style of play and systems a much-wanted win has alluded them.

“I’m disappointed as a manager that we have not won a game yet” reflected Kenny at yesterdays press conference.

“We played very well in Serbia and completely differently than Irish teams would have done in the past decade away from home against good nations”

Stephen Kenny knows that performances must turn into wins as he hopes to bring Ireland to the World Cup for the first time since 2002. The Ireland boss is aware this is a job that requires not only good performances but wins, he doesn’t believe in the assertation of lauding the ‘great Irish defeats’ the celebrations of the glass being half full is not in his DNA.

“We have to try to turn those performances into winning performances because I don’t want plaudits for losing games”

Kenny wants to ensure that Ireland doesn’t lose further ground in a group that has both a strong Serbia side and Ronaldo’s Portugal whose strength goes without saying. While Kenny sides have been known to match or even outperform stronger teams in the past it’s games like Luxembourg that maximum points are at a premium.

“While it depends on your grasp of Mathematics but anything is possible it’s important that we win the game, we want to win the game.”

“We want to do very well we’re going to be very determined that’s our objective”

Kenny’s ability to foster a culture based on his man-management skills – something Seamus Coleman alluded to before the Serbia game has meant the mood amongst the players is good heading into today’s game. A positive attitude reflected by leadership is something that always results in a positive performance. Kenny was full of praise for his squad heading into this game at the Aviva Stadium.

“The player’s attitude has been exceptional and we have played very well the other day we were disappointed to lose.”

“We want to win the game against Luxembourg and will try everything we can. All the players will give everything of themselves to win the game.”

Nerves are an aspect of any match and even the best of players feel them, but Kenny knows that any tensions resulting from the result against Serbia, particularly the reaction to going down after taking a great lead was positive, there is no rolling over with Kenny and his players.

“They seem quite relaxed and I feel we’re in a much better place than we were in November for example coming into that last Bulgaria game with a lot of tension. They also know that you can’t dwell on that but it’s very buoyant to around the place so the players are in good spirits and anxious to do well.”

Luc Holtz and his side come to the Aviva Stadium much improved since he took over the national team in 2010. Like Kenny, he was successful with the Under-21 side before gaining the senior post. Despite winning just nineteen games over the past ten years with a win rate of 19.39 % Kenny knows of the threats and dangers of the side.

“They’ve actually had a lot of good results better that I would have expected.” Commented Kenny.

Kenny knows that they must take the positives from the performance against Serbia and use that quality today in the Aviva. While Ireland has achieved some great results in the Dublin four venue today could be the most important for the future outlook of this side.

“We must gain the confidence we gained in Serbia into this home game and show our quality.”

“We do not want a slow build-up we want a level of speed in our play so we can attack but Luxembourg are quite an open team themselves and they caused teams problems.”