Jonathan Walters (right) celebrates with Robbie Keane (left) after scoring Ireland's second goal during this morning's play-off victory in Tallinn, Estonia. (Pic: Julien Behal/PA)

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni insisted he was not God despite seeing his side romp to a 4-0 victory over Estonia.

Trapattoni’s decision to hand striker Jonathan Walters a Euro 2012 play-off mission paid off in style as the Stoke frontman, making his first competitive start for his country at the A Le Coq Arena, opened his goalscoring account as the Republic routed nine-man Estonia to take a massive stride towards next summer’s finals.

Trapattoni waited until the last moment to name Walters in the team ahead of West Brom’s Simon Cox having hinted earlier in the week that that was what he might do, and his faith was fully repaid.

He said: “I’m not God, I don’t speak English very well – I don’t speak Italian very well – and I make many mistakes.

“But after 30 years in football, I think I understand it a little bit.

“For this game and on this pitch, I thought Jon Walters would be important to defend the ball and help the team to come up the pitch.

“Jon showed his quality. We got it right.”

Ireland got most things right as they surged to their biggest competitive win under Trapattoni and Estonia’s hopes were torn apart in cruel fashion.

They were already trailing to Keith Andrews’ 13th-minute header when central defender Andrei Stepanov was booked for a second time and sent off.

But they found themselves 3-0 down to Walters’ 67th-minute header and Robbie Keane’s close-range finish four minutes later before skipper Raio Piiroja joined Stepanov in the dressing room as a result of two cautions in quick succession.

Both will miss Tuesday night’s return in Dublin, as will keeper Sergei Pareiko, who will be suspended as a result of the yellow card he was given for protesting at referee Viktor Kassai’s decision to award an 88th-minute penalty for Ats Purje’s trip on fellow substitute Stephen Hunt.

Keane took his international tally to 53 from the spot to seal a thumping victory.

Trapattoni said: “It will be important in Ireland to confirm the result because there are another 90 minutes to go.

“In those other 90 minutes, we will respect our opponents. They will come with a different mentality, a different attitude and a different performance.

“We must repeat our performance.”

It proved a sobering night in Tallinn for Estonia boss Tarmo Ruutli, whose best-laid plans were ripped up long before half-time.

Asked if the tie was over, he said: “Almost”.

Asked further about the role the referee’s decisions had played in the game, he said: “Of course they played some part in the result, but the first two goals, they were our problem, not the referee’s problem.”

Irish medical staff refuse to rule Shane Long out of November play-offs. (Pic: PA)

Setanta Sports has confirmed that it will show the first leg of Ireland’s Euro 2012 play-off  tie against Estonia live from Tallinn at 6.30am on Saturday, 12 November.

The second leg will be shown live from Dublin by ESPN at 6:45am, 16 November.  A replay of the game will also be shown at 8pm later that day.

Meanwhile, the FAI is holding out hope that Shane Long still has a chance of featuring in next month’s crucial games against Estonia.

The initial news seemed to rule him out of both fixtures with the player’s club West Bromwich Albion expecting him to return to fitness in early December.

However, on the eve of Giovanni Trapattoni’s announcement of his preliminary squad for the games this Friday, Irish medical staff indicated that it is still too early to say how long the 24 -year-old’s recovery might take, but that his progress will be monitored over the course of the week.

A scan on the knee injured in a wild challenge by Alan Hutton in West Brom’s defeat of Aston Villa, has shown that Long’s cruciate ligaments are undamaged but, according to the club’s website there is: “severe bone bruising and a small bone chip inside the right knee”.

Long’s availability is of particular concern as Kevin Doyle is suspended for the first leg, while Robbie Keane is a doubt for both games due to injury.

Trapattoni’s most obvious remaining striking option is to pair Long’s club mate Simon Cox with Stoke City forward, Jonathan Walters.

However there also plenty of Irish strikers who have been left out of recent squads who are playing well for their clubs, including Celtic’s Anthony Stokes, Newcastle’s Leon Best and Leeds’ Andy Keogh.

Keogh will hope that his recent form for Leeds has made as much of an impression on Trapattoni as it has on Simon Grayson who says that he may look to sign the Irishman permanently from Wolves when his loan spell at Elland Road runs out in January.

Newcastle’s Best has also repeatedly staked his claim this season with three Premier League goals already this campaign, although Trapattoni has recently suggested that he believes the in-form striker needs to improve his work-rate before being considered.

“I am playing well and scoring goals, me and Shane are on the same amount in terms of Premier League goals. Goals win games and while working hard for the team helps, you can only run as hard as your body will let you,” said Best in response to the Irish manager’s remarks.

Trapattoni steered Ireland to a surprise win over his home country. (Pic: Chris Radburn/PA)

Goals from Keith Andrews and substitute Simon Cox secured an impressive 2-0 win over the Italians in Liege and extended Giovanni Trapattoni’s unbeaten run against the side he once managed to three games.

Italy edged Ireland into second place in the last World Cup qualifying campaign but could only draw with them home and away, and but for a late Alberto Gilardino equaliser in Dublin, Trapattoni would not have had to wait quite so long to taste victory against them.

But he was adamant he had no qualms about ruining the evening for his compatriots and his former player at Juventus, Cesare Prandelli, the current national coach.

Trapattoni said: “I knew this question was going to come up. For those who know me, they know I want to win all the time, even if I am playing darts.

“We have been very unlucky in the past against Italy, but that doesn’t mean I came into this game with a sense of revenge against my own country.”

An Italy team featuring big names Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Pirlo and Giuseppe Rossi dominated possession against a largely second-string Republic, but could not trouble keeper David Forde throughout.

The Millwall man was superbly protected by the men in front of him as Ireland drew the sting before edging their way in front with Andrews’ 36th-minute piledriver.

It was backs-to-the wall once again after the break but, as the Italians laboured without reward, Cox made sure at the death when he turned home Stephen Hunt’s pinpoint cross.

Trapattoni said: “We won this match because of our attitude, because of our mentality, because of the way in which we played.

“The lads have finally understood that in order to achieve a result this is the way to play, with this mentality and with this attitude on the pitch.

“As I always say to you, if I want to see a show, I will go to the theatre. But football is about getting results.”

Cox, whose strike was his second in four appearances for his country, was delighted for himself, his team-mates and especially his manager.

He said: “I think it meant a lot to the manager tonight, so whoever was going to come in was going to put in a terrific grafting performance for him and for their own personal performances anyway.

“You could just see it in his eyes and the way he did his pre-match talk and everything, you could see how much the fire was burning inside him and that he wanted to put in a good performance.”

By contrast, Prandelli was not a happy man as he reflected on an unexpected defeat.

He said: “This game was a serious step back. We made mistakes because the team couldn’t understand the method of play.

“But it’s better to lose in an international friendly than in a qualifier.

“If we have to lose, it’s better to lose to Trap.”

Damien Duff battled Macedonia's Velice Sumulikoski in Ireland's 2-1 home win. (Pic: Niall Carson/PA)

Giovanni Trapattoni is convinced the Republic of Ireland can see off the challenge of Russia to reach the finals of Euro 2012 — providing they can avoid injuries.

The Republic went level on points with the Russians and Slovakia at the top of Group B as a result of their 2-1 win over Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium last night to rekindle their hopes of automatic qualification.

Defeat by Russia in Dublin in October had dented their ambitions, but the leaders could only manage a 0-0 draw in Armenia yesterday afternoon, and that will send Ireland to Skopje in June knowing a second victory over Macedonia could leave them in a good position to make a run for the line.

However, they will head for the former Yugoslav republic without suspended defender Richard Dunne after he collected his second booking of the campaign, and keeping their fingers crossed that Shay Given, John O’Shea and Kevin Doyle, who damaged his medial ligament in last night’s game, will be available.

Trapattoni said: “We do not have many problems because we have a great squad — for example, last night four new players played and played very well.

“Our problem is injuries. I am not afraid about playing any game, I am afraid only about injuries even though we have good options.

“It is always better to be able to put on the pitch the best players you have, and if we can do that, I am very, very confident we can finish first.”

Ireland, of course, missed out on last summer’s World Cup finals after a heartbreaking play-off defeat by France, and they are desperate to avoid the lottery route to the Ukraine and Poland this time around.

If they are to do so, they will need to return from Macedonia with a positive result, and despite seeing Mirsad Jonuz’s men stage a spirited fightback after conceding two early goals in Dublin, Trapattoni is confident his team has what it takes to repeat the feat on the road under the heat of the June sun.

He said: “If our team is in the same condition, I think we have a very good opportunity to win that game as well.

“It is not about the heat, it is about 10 months of playing in the league and being drained.

“With someone like Damien Duff, I say may God look after him because if he keeps playing like he does, he will be drained by the end of the season.

“But if at that moment we can have the team in the same condition they are in now, that would be great.

“We have learnt, we are more experienced, we have more self-confidence and we are fulfilling our potential.

“Our team must believe in itself now because we are playing well and we are playing without fear.”

The Republic certainly needed all their resilience to weather Macedonia’s fightback in a tense encounter which at one point saw their 72-year-old manager make his feelings abundantly clear to one of the assistant referees as he tried to replace the injured Doyle with substitute Shane Long.

He said: “I’m a coach, I usually have respect for the referee. I know referees can make mistakes like players, but at the time, I was angry.

“I am angry sometimes, but I defend referees because it is not easy to referee.”

Trapattoni avoided any formal sanction on the night and despite his passionate approach to the game, insists he has only once been sent to the stands during his managerial career.

Indeed, he claims he was never dismissed as a player either, and that he rarely got himself into trouble with officials.

He said: “I was not a great player, but I was an instinctive player.

“Maybe I got three yellow cards, one against [Johan] Cruyff and one against Pele.

“I maybe tugged a few shirts, but I was not a tough player.”

Trapattoni will now turn his attention to Tuesday night’s friendly clash with Uruguay at the Aviva Stadium and having sent Dunne, skipper Robbie Keane, Kevin Kilbane, Duff and the injured Doyle home, will take a look at some more of his back-up players.

Keeper Keiren Westwood and defenders Kevin Foley and Darren O’Dea made competitive debuts last night, while James McCarthy was handed a first senior appearance for his country as a substitute.

The manager has confirmed that both Westwood and McCarthy will start against the South Americans.

PA

The Republic of Ireland’s Macedonia tie will be shown live at 6:40am on ESPN on Sunday morning and not as delayed coverage, as previously reported.

Ireland’s tie against Uruguay will also be aired live on ESPN2 at 5:30am on Wednesday, March 30, with a replay by ESPN at 9am and a second replay by ESPN2 at 8pm.

In the latest squad news, Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has found himself plunged into a deepening injury crisis after Seamus Coleman became the latest player to withdraw from the squad.

The 22-year-old Everton midfielder was forced to pull out after an assessment of the ankle injury he suffered at the weekend.

Everton’s Coleman had not been able to train since joining up with his international colleagues on Monday evening and has followed Leon Best back to England after the Newcastle striker headed for Tyneside yesterday, also because of an ankle problem.

Trapattoni had already lost key members of his starting eleven in Shay Given and John O’Shea by the time the squad assembled.

There has been better news of skipper Robbie Keane and central defender Richard Dunne in recent days, while Damien Duff trained for the first time today after recovering from an Achilles injury.

However, Sean St Ledger, who is the first-choice partner for Dunne, has not been able to train since damaging his knee in a collision with Ciaran Clark on Tuesday morning and a huge question mark hangs over his participation.

Goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly said: “We are just being careful with him and taking every precaution.

“We will give him as much time as we can and see what happens tomorrow.

“It’s all you can do in these situations when people pick up knocks. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”

Tardelli: Keane experience is key

Meanwhile, Marco Tardelli is backing Robbie Keane’s goals and experience to see him through his return to Republic of Ireland action against Macedonia.

The 30-year-old striker has had barely 20 minutes of competitive football since damaging a calf muscle last month, but is set to be named in the starting line-up for Saturday evening’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Dublin.

Manager Giovanni Trapattoni is hoping to get at least an hour out of Ireland’s leading goalscorer of all time, but his assistant Tardelli has seen enough in the past two days of training to believe he could go the distance if required.

He said: “Robbie Keane has been out of action for many days after the injury, but I have found him fit.

“There has been a smile on his face and he is in good form.

“I think it is possible for Robbie to play. He is fit to play a full match.”

The current season has proved hugely frustrating for Keane, who is currently playing his football at West Ham on loan from Tottenham, where he has struggled to hold down a place under Harry Redknapp.

Tardelli said: “That is a good motivation, but there is still a long way to go in the Premier League.

“I think this is a good chance for him to play well.”

PA

Trap happy to let players drink in moderation. (File Pic: Julien Behal/PA)

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has no problem allowing his players to let off steam with an occasional drink.

Central defender Richard Dunne has found himself in the headlines in recent weeks after and eventful team-building exercise left he and Aston Villa team-mate James Collins feeling the need to issue an apology following a much-publicised outburst.

Striker Leon Best was one of three Newcastle players who took similar action yesterday after being pictured at a Tyneside club the night before a game in which they were not involved, acknowledging that while he was not drinking, he should not have been there.

Both men are part of the Republic squad which is due to face Macedonia in a Euro 2012 qualifier on Saturday evening and Uruguay in a friendly three days later.

Trapattoni, however, remains relaxed about his players having a drink, as long as it is strictly in moderation.

When asked about Dunne, he said: “I am not worried about this. Players in England are under a lot of pressure, not just Richard Dunne.

“It’s normal, but it’s important also that it is one day drinking and six days not drinking. Everything in moderation.

“I don’t mind if they go for a couple of drinks because they have got to let off some steam.

“If they have a couple of drinks in moderation, I don’t mind.

“I have seen no problem [with Dunne]. I only look at what he does when he is with us.”

However, Trapattoni insists that his players will only be allowed to drink while they are under his charge if they stick to his rules.

He said: “Rules are rules. After a game, I allow them to have one or two drinks – but when I say finish, it’s finished. When I say it’s time to go to bed, it’s time to go to bed.

“It’s normal. In Italy, we drink wine. We are not in prison and it’s better that I allow them than forbid them and then they run off and do it behind my back.

“But at the same time, we have to trust them, we can’t be with them all the time. We can’t go to bed with them.

“It’s being professional, we need them to be responsible.”

Dunne arrived in Dublin this afternoon, 24 hours later than the bulk of his team-mates after staying behind at Villa for further treatment on his shoulder injury.

Trapattoni is confident that both he and skipper Robbie Keane, who has played only a few minutes as a substitute for West Ham after a four-game lay-off with a calf problem, will be fit for Saturday evening’s qualifier at the Aviva Stadium.

But he will be without John O’Shea and vastly-experienced keeper Shay Given, both of whom are injured, and that could mean rare starts for Kevin Foley at full-back and Keiren Westwood in goal.

The 26-year-old Coventry keeper has only five caps to his name and is yet to figure in a competitive match, but the Italian will have no qualms about throwing him in at the deep end.

Trapattoni said: “They are not babies, they are not kids, that’s not a problem.

“Either he has the personality or he doesn’t. I am sure, I trust him.”

Damien Duff and Seamus Coleman sat out training this morning with Achilles and ankle injuries respectfully, while Best went for a swim as he rested the ankle which kept him out of the Magpies’ 4-0 defeat at Stoke.

Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson is flying in tomorrow after treatment for a toe problem, while Stoke striker Jonathan Walters is excused until Thursday with his wife due to give birth at any moment.

PA

Republic of Ireland Manager Giovanni Trapattoni has dismissed speculation he has suffered a stroke. Pic: PA

Republic of Ireland football boss Giovanni Trapattoni has dismissed speculation he has suffered a stroke.

The 71-year-old said he is recovering at home after undergoing scheduled surgery on his carotid artery in Italy on December 28, and intends to travel to Dublin as planned later this month to announce his squad for the Carling Nations Cup clash with Wales.

Trapattoni said: “I had a scheduled operation to clean the carotid artery on December 28 in Milan.

“I am recovering well and expect to return to work in the coming weeks.

“Contrary to media speculation, I can confirm that I have not suffered a stroke.

“I will be in Ireland on January 24 to announce my squad for the Carling Nations Cup match against Wales on February 8.”

Trapattoni spent several days in Dublin’s Mater Hospital in August last year after being admitted suffering from abdominal pains as a result of minor scar tissue from a previous procedure.

That meant the Italian had to watch his side’s 1-0 friendly defeat by Argentina in their first game at the newly refurbished Aviva Stadium from his hospital bed.

However, the former Italy manager, who celebrates his 72nd birthday in March, was back in harness for the Euro 2012 qualifier victories over Armenia and Andorra early the following month.

Ireland are in second place in Group B, level on seven points with Armenia and Slovakia and two behind leaders Russia, who won 3-2 in Dublin on October 8.

They resume their qualifying campaign against Macedonia in March, and travel to the former Yugoslavian republic in June.

Under Trapattoni, the Republic came agonisingly close to reaching last summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa, only to miss out in controversial circumstances after their infamous play-off defeat by France.

Morten Gamst Pedersen ruined Shay Given’s big night as Norway came from behind to snatch victory at the Aviva Stadium.

The Blackburn midfielder curled a superb 34th-minute free-kick past Given, who was making a record 109th appearance for his country, to cancel out Shane Long’s fifth-minute penalty.

Republic of Ireland 1 Norway 2

However, Pedersen was not finished and as Ireland pressed for a late winner, it was he who provided the cross from which striker Erik Huseklepp fired the visitors to victory four minutes from time.

Up until that point, Giovanni Trapattoni’s much-changed side had more than made a fist of a game against the kind of opponents they will have to find a way past if they are to make it to next summer’s Euro 2012 finals.

But the veteran Italian’s hopes of running the rule over some of the men he believes may have long-term futures in his squad while at the same time emerging with a positive result, were dashed at the end.

There were positives – Long proved an able deputy for injured skipper Robbie Keane, while Keith Fahey linked well with Glenn Whelan in central midfield.

But for a man who hates losing even friendly games, the late twist will have been hard to bear.

Trapattoni has made his name for being a coach who ultimately places results before entertainment, and he has made no bones about doing so during his reign in Ireland.

That approach very nearly took the Republic to the World Cup finals in South Africa and the 71-year-old hopes, despite last month’s setback when Russia left the Aviva Stadium with all three points, that it will take them the extra step in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

Given the opportunity to blood some of his emerging talents in tonight’s friendly, he accepted it, but only to a point, deciding that a positive result against a side ranked 13th in FIFA’s world rankings would be just as valuable.

With 15 minutes of the game gone, he could hardly have been better pleased with what he had seen.

Long’s fifth minute run on to John O’Shea’s through-ball caused the normally redoubtable Brede Hangeland all sorts of problems and prompted him to haul his man to the ground.

Icelandic referee Kristinn Jakobsson immediately pointed to the spot and with Keane absent, Long took over spot-kick duties and calmly despatched the ball low to goalkeeper Jon Knudsen’s right and into the bottom corner.

A Norway side boasting nine of the men who started last month’s qualifier victory in Cyprus, a win which maintained their 100% start, was at sixes and sevens in the opening stages, and they might have fallen further behind with 12 minutes gone.

Kevin Doyle’s pass was perfectly weighted for Liam Lawrence to drive in a low cross, and although Knudsen palmed the ball just inches out of Long’s reach it fell for Damien Duff. His left-foot drive was firm and accurate, but the keeper recovered to kick it off the line.

The Norwegians started to work their way into the game. John Arne Riise and Pedersen were finding space down the left as their side’s passing became slicker and more penetrative, the pressure mounted.

Ireland’s central midfielders, Fahey and Whelan, had enjoyed an encouraging start to the game, but they were bypassed 12 minutes before the break as Norway opened up their hosts.

Pedersen laid Hangeland’s crisp pass off to Thorstein Helstad and Stephen Kelly handled as he slid in in an attempt to regain possession.

Pedersen took charge of the resulting free-kick and curled a superb left-foot shot high to Given’s right to give Ireland’s most-capped international no chance.

Stoke striker Jon Walters was handed a first cap as a half-time replacement for Doyle as Aiden McGeady came on for Lawrence, and their arrival prompted a flurry of activity.

Substitute keeper Espen Bugge Pettersen had to tip away a rising drive from long, but at the other end, Given proved equal to the task as Huseklepp went for goal twice within seconds.

But with Walters and Long repeatedly stretching the visitors’ defence, Ireland were making much of the running.

The game opened up as time ran down with both sides looking for a winner, and it took a brave block by Whelan to keep out Riise’s 76th-minute piledriver from getting anywhere near Given.

However, the Manchester City man was beaten for the second time with four minutes remaining when Pedersen’s cross left him cruelly exposed and Huseklepp took full advantage at the far post to snatch victory.

The Republic of Ireland lost 3-2 to Russia in their Euro 2012 qualifying Group B match in Dublin on Friday night. Giovanni Trapattoni admitted the Republic of Ireland did not deserve to get anything out of the Euro 2012 qualifier against Russia despite their stirring comeback.

Goals from Alexander Kerzhakov, Alan Dzagoev and Roman Shirokov put the visitors three up inside an hour at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium but a penalty from Robbie Keane started the fightback in the 72nd minute and, when Shane Long made it 3-2, the crowd sensed a shock point was possible.

However, although the final 12 minutes brought plenty of home pressure, they could not find an equaliser, meaning Slovakia, Russia and the Republic are all level on six points at the top of Group B.

Coach Trapattoni admitted he had been caught out by Russia’s formation, with Kerzhakov and Dzagoev playing up front, but he took comfort from his side’s response in the final stages.
“Over 90 minutes, Russia deserved to win. In my mind I had an idea how Russia would play away from home, that maybe they would play with one striker and more in midfield,” the Italian said.

“If we could have scored early on maybe it could have changed the game. The deflection off Richard Dunne for the third goal was unlucky; 2-0 is different than 3-0, but I have to praise the team as well for how they played in the second half.

“Two goals are important for our morale but also for the qualification.”

Players such as captain Keane, midfielder Glenn Whelan and goalkeeper Shay Given have struggled for game time in the Barclays Premier League this season, and Trapattoni felt that contributed to the ease with which Russia created chances.

“Three or four players have not played that much and in the first half it was clear,” he continued. “I didn’t think we would concede three goals but we showed character because we could have conceded more. I said in the dressing room at half-time: ‘Show your pride.’”

Although Aiden McGeady could not manage his first goal on his 35th cap for the Republic, the 24-year-old troubled Russia more and more as the game went on, particularly when he came off the wing in the final stages.

McGeady has impressed since moving to Spartak Moscow from Celtic this summer and his performance added to Trapattoni’s belief that second striker could turn out to be his best position.

“McGeady played well. I saw him in Moscow and too many times I’ve told him he can play like this. In the second half we changed things around.”

Keane hit the bar early on with a cross but for the next hour the game was completely dominated by Russia as the Republic were forced to defend wave after wave of attacks.

They simply could not contain the visitors, with Andrey Arshavin, Kerzhakov and Dzagoev particularly impressive, and it was no surprise when they took the lead 11 minutes in.

Shay Given could not hold Arshavin’s deflected free-kick and Sergei Ignashevich’s overhead kick across the box fell perfectly for Kerzhakov.

Their second came in the 28th minute when Aleksandr Aniukov was given time and space on the right to send in a cross, and a lovely dummy by the dangerous Kerzhakov allowed Dzagoev to drill the ball beyond a helpless Given.

The third was fortunate, Shirokov’s 25-yard effort deflected past Given by Dunne, but it was certainly no more than Russia deserved.

A comeback from the hosts looked distinctly unlikely at that point but, when Keane tumbled under Yury Zhirkov’s challenge, referee Kevin Blom pointed to the penalty spot and the captain duly converted from 12 yards.

Six minutes later substitute Long poked in a second after McGeady had been denied by Igor Akinfeev, and that was how it stayed despite further action at both ends.

Russia coach Dick Advocaat had called for a response from his team after their home defeat by Slovakia last month, and he was mostly delighted with what he saw.

“It was a well-deserved win,” he said. “The first 10 minutes we struggled a little bit with the physical side but after that we played some excellent football.

“Unfortunately the penalty changed the game totally. It was quite a cheap goal but there was no reason at all to be nervous because we controlled the game.

“The Irish players can do that because they are physically strong; even the best team in the world cannot control that. But overall I’m very, very happy. For the majority of the game the crowd have seen an excellent Russia.”

Reflecting further on the penalty, which seemed a soft one with little contact between Zhirkov and Keane, Advocaat simply said the Republic striker “did really well”.

The Republic’s comeback began after Trapattoni withdrew Wolves striker Kevin Doyle and brought on midfielder Keith Fahey in his place.

Doyle has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovakia on Tuesday with a knee injury.

Marco Tardelli is confident the Republic of Ireland have the players to fill the boots of injured striker Kevin Doyle for Tuesday’s key Euro 2012 qualifier in Slovakia.

Doyle has returned to Wolves for treatment on the injury, meaning Shane Long – who netted the Republic’s second goal in their 3-2 defeat by Russia – or Andy Keogh will get the nod in Zilina.

Republic manager Giovanni Trapattoni was hopeful Doyle would be fit but his knee subsequently swelled up, although the injury is not thought to be serious.

Assistant boss Tardelli said: “It’s a problem because Kevin Doyle is a very good player for us but we have young players, like Long and like Keogh. They are very good players but without experience – Doyle has experience in the Premier League.

“But I think the young players are ready to play in an important match. Against Russia, Long came on, he played well and scored a goal.”

Trapattoni believes that Ireland can take plenty of heart from the way they finished against at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

“At the moment we have three teams the same and we start again the qualification. It is important now we think about our quality and our possibilities,” he said.

“Russia lost against Slovakia, now Slovakia have lost against Armenia. The qualification is not easy and there’s a long way to go. I’m sure we have the same chance.

“It was important psychologically not to lose our mental strength and we finished strongly.”

Trapattoni is also pleased the Republic have the chance to make amends immediately and do not have to wait weeks for another game to come around.

“It’s important because we need to understand immediately what happened and why one or two situations occurred,” he added.

“Both teams lost. Slovakia are a good team with good players. But we can win on Tuesday.”

Trapattoni has defended his tactics in the face of criticism from Richard Dunne about the Republic of Ireland’s style of play.

Trapattoni admitted his instructions early on were to play the ball long to Kevin Doyle but insisted that was not their sole game plan.

The Italian said: “We wanted the ball in the last third of their park and then to compete for it there. But I don’t forbid them to play. When they have the ball, I want them to pass.”

The 71-year-old confirmed he is looking at bringing in Stoke striker Jonathan Walters for next month’s friendly against Norway in Dublin.

“They (Russia) had three, four, five strikers,” continued Trapattoni. “We have Keane and Doyle. We look every Sunday for another striker. Maybe in November we will bring in Walters from Stoke.”

Asked why he does not add the 27-year-old to his squad immediately, the coach added: “It is normal to give men time. I will give them time and a chance. Usually they are shy. That is the nature of the player.”

Ipswich goalkeeper Brian Murphy has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad in place of the injured Keiren Westwood.

The Football Association of Ireland confirmed that Coventry keeper Westwood has returned to his club after suffering a facial injury in training.

Waterford-born Murphy, 27, has been named in several previous squads by Republic boss Giovanni Trapattoni but has yet to win his first senior cap.

Tuesday’s qualifier will be broadcast live on ESPN at 5:25am AEST on Wednesday, October 13.

Brazil's Maicon shoots for goal during his side's 2-0 win over Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland were out of luck once again as an own goal from Keith Andrews set Brazil on their way to a 2-0 victory at Emirates Stadium in London last night.

With the heartbreak of the Henry incident just beginning to fade away, there was more misfortune in this glamour friendly against the five-time world champions, as just before half time Andrews deflected Robinho’s centre past Shay Given – winning a new record 103rd cap along with defender Kevin Kilbane – and the former Manchester City striker then netted a well-executed second with 14 minutes left.

While Brazil coach Dunga can look forward to fine-tuning the final preparations for his squad’s opening game against North Korea in Johannesburg on June 15, the Irish will once again be left to reflect on what might have been – but on tonight’s battling performance should go into the qualifying campaign for the 2012 European Championships with genuine optimism.

It had been a bright start by Ireland, officially the away team this evening.

Captain Robbie Keane – taking his place in the starting XI after initially pulling out of the squad because of a slight knee injury – got away down the right and ghosted back inside before his low shot was smothered at the near post by Julio Cesar.

If the Brazilians thought they would be in for an easy ride, they were given a sharp wake-up call when Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan checked the run of Michel Bastos.

Damien Duff, the Fulham winger, looked dangerous down the left channel, while Paul McShane headed over from a corner.

Brazil, though, continued in their fluid formation, as Kaka weaved his way into the Ireland box before being dispossessed on the goal-line and then drilling a 20-yard shot just over.

It was Ireland, however, who almost snatched the lead on 15 minutes when Kevin Doyle’s close-range header was palmed away by the Brazil keeper.
Only some desperate defending then kept the yellow shirts at bay after Robinho fed Adriano on the edge of the box.

The Flamengo forward was tackled by Stephen Kelly before McShane blocked the follow-up effort from the former City striker.

The South Americans were queuing up to take a free-kick after McShane’s foul on Kaka some 25 yards out, with Adriano eventually whipping the ball up towards goal, which Given tipped over.

St Ledger flashed the ball across the Brazil six-yard box with an overhead kick, but nobody gambled at the far post.

Ireland’s luck deserted them for the second match in succession as Brazil took the lead a minute before the break.

Robinho looked offside when he dashed into the right side of the penalty area, before pulling a low pass back across goal, which the unfortunate Keith Andrews deflected past Given.

Both managers resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes for the second half, going again with the same XI.

Blackburn midfielder Andrews squared up to Kaka after the duo clashed on the edge of the Ireland penalty area, English referee Mike Dean soon restoring calm with a stern word.

Trapattoni made the first changes of the evening when Manchester United youngster Darren Gibson and Aiden McGeady replaced Whelan and Duff after 56 minutes.

Brazil, though, continued to press as Maicon skipped into the Ireland box, and his close-range shot hit St Ledger.

It should have been 2-0 moments later, when, with his first touch, substitute Daniel Alves robbed St Ledger and raced clear to round Given – but could only stab his shot wide.

The assistant’s flag saved McShane’s blushes when he was robbed by Maicon, as in feeding Robinho, Brazil were caught offside as they put the ball in the net.

With 21 minutes left, highly-rated Wigan teenager James McCarthy was handed his full international debut, replacing Liam Lawrence.

Former City man Robinho, officially only on loan at Santos, then blazed over before slotting home a text-book second after good work from Kaka and a neat one-two with substitute Grafite.