This belief which has not been helped by the ongoing personnel changes at the FA may soon be tested

This belief, which has not been helped by the ongoing personnel changes at the FA, may soon be tested.By mid-November the success or failure of England’s qualifying campaign for next summer’s European Championships will be known Failure is likely to make Eriksson’s position untenable. Barcelona, Real Madrid and, most prominently, Chelsea, were added to the list of Sven Goran Eriksson’s admirers this summer, joining previous suitors Manchester United, Lazio and Italy At least, they were according to rumour. At least, they were according to rumour.
There has sometimes been substance behind the supposition, as Eriksson’s ill-advised visit to Roman Abramovich underlined. Yet the Swede not only remains on the Football Association’s payroll, he has become their longest serving England manager for a decade.Having eclipsed Kevin Keegan, Glenn Hoddle and Terry Venables, Eriksson, after 29 matches and 28 months, ought to have established an air of permanency. The Dubliner is now 24 and a player of world class, who can terrify defenders with his pace and trickery and is also – rare in such a gifted dribbler – able to deliver. He has started to add goals to his repertoire and would embellish any tournament. Question is: can he remain fit enough and focused enough to meet the demands now being placed upon him?GROUP 10 PWDLFAPts Switzerland633012712 Rep of Ire63129810 Russia52121197 Albania61238115 Georgia5113384 Results: Russia 4 Republic of Ireland 2; Switzerland 4 Georgia 1; Albania 1 Switzerland 1; Russia 4 Albania 1; Republic of Ireland 1 Switzerland 2; Albania 3 Russia 1; Georgia 1 Republic of Ireland 2; Albania 0 Republic of Ireland 0; Georgia 0 Switzerland 0; Georgia 1 Russia 0; Republic of Ireland 2 Albania 1; Switzerland 2 Russia 2; Republic of Ireland 2 Georgia 0; Switzerland 3 Albania 2.Remaining fixtures: 6 September: Republic of Ireland v Russia; Georgia v Albania 10 September: Russia v Switzerland; Albania v Georgia.

KEY MAN DAMIEN DUFF This will be a huge season for the Ballyboden Bullet, having abandoned, after seven years, what had become the comfort zone of Blackburn Rovers for the largesse of Chelsea. He is his favourite Irish player and one he has nurtured ever since their paths crossed when Duff was 15. How he copes will have as much bearing on Ireland’s fortunes as his club’s Kerr loves Duff. “They are lucky to have him,” he said.Luck, Kerr would say, does not come into it.

At the same time, sending players video packages of their displays with jokey comments is welcomed by some, seen as a touch juvenile by others.The choice of Kerr as manager – beating a high-profile field including Bryan Robson and Peter Reid – was regarded as the much-maligned and ponderous Football Association of Ireland taking a long-term view. One who has known Kerr for years is the Liverpool manager G?rd Houllier who simply says that he is “a touch of class”. The clear consequence would be a draw, or possibly a win, in Switzerland just to gain a play-off place. Lose to Russia and thoughts turn towards the World Cup.Either way the Irish have travelled far in the past few months.