Turkey v Republic of Ireland Preview

Turkey are expected to keep the same side which claimed a comfortable draw in Dublin on Saturday.

The game at the Attaturk stadium in Bursa goes ahead despite recent earthquake tragedies in north west Turkey which have dumped concerns about football matches to a very low priority.

Turkey qualified for the 1996 finals in England and are well worth another place among the elite after a confident but conservative display at Ireland's home ground. They conceded a 79th minute goal but were able to level the scores three minutes later with a penalty but their response in tempo and passing to their concession of an excellent goal to young star Robbie Keane suggested a heavy threat to any irish ambitions of making the finals.

Ireland have been hit by injuries at both ends of their side. The fiery teenager was booked after several cases of dissent as the match wore on and somebody should have attempted to calm the player before he shouted himself into a suspension for the Bursa clash tomorrow night. With Keane in the side then the Irish have a chance to score against anyone but his loss has been compounded by an injury suffered in the warm up before the first leg by Sunderland striker Niall Quinn. They were forced to play veteran Tony Cascarino in the front line and he will be joined by Excelsior striker David Connolly for tomorrow's match. Connolly tried hard to make a career in Holland with Feyenoord but the Dutch champions released him into the second division and Ireland are also having to rely on a novice goalkeeper.

29 year old Dean Kiely came on after an hour in Dublin after Alan Kelly aggravated a groin injury while taking a goal kick. Kiely earned his first cap for the game and played well on his debut. Trying to keep out some excellent strikers like Sukur and Arif in Bursa's notoriously hostile stadium for the whole game is a different matter. Kiely's main experience comes from lower English league matches with York City and Bury but situations like the second leg often bring out the best in a goalkeeper and the Irish have a natural midfield dominance by playing Manchester United captain Roy Keane. Jason McAteer may also be added to provide some width in the central area where Turkey concentrated their pay in Dublin to avoid and pass the ball around Keane.

The away goal may again prove vital at the end of ninety minutes if Ireland produce a battling defensive show but they do not have the concentration or ability to defy the talented Turkish side for the whole game with Turkey seeming to hold all the advantages now on the way to the finals next summer.