REPUBLIC of Ireland captain Robbie Keane has put his defenders on red alert to the threat Dimitar Berbatov poses to their World Cup dreams.
The Irish would go to the top of Group 8 with victory over Bulgaria at the Vassil Levski Stadium in Sofia tonight, jumping ahead of reigning champions Italy. However, defeat would slash the gap between them and the third-placed Bulgarians to just two
points with Stanimir Stoilov's side having played a game less.
The sides drew 1-1 in Dublin in March, when Kevin Kilbane's late own goal handing the visitors a point after Richard Dunne had got Ireland off to a dream start.
However, the Bulgarians were missing Berbatov, Martin Petrov and Valeri Bojinov that night, and all three could return to make life intensely difficult for Giovanni Trapattoni's side.
Keane is acutely aware of the respective dangers each of those men represent, although his knowledge of Manchester United striker Berbatov's powers is encyclopaedic after spending two seasons playing alongside him at Tottenham. Keane said: "Of course, he is very dangerous. He is a fantastic player. I had the privilege to play with him for two years at Tottenham and he is a massive danger to us, so we have to be wary of him. They also have other players who are just as important to the Bulgarian team, but he is certainly a threat.
"He has got quality – he is good on the ball, he's great in the air, he can score a goal, so we will certainly have to be wary of him."
Ireland were disappointed to have emerged from the home game with only a draw, but bounced back swiftly to record the same result against Italy in Bari to not only keep their qualification hopes alive, but to ensure that they still have a chance of winning the group. However, only a positive result tonight will keep their bid on track with a difficult trip to Cyprus awaiting them in September before Italy and Montenegro head for Croke Park. But such is the confidence Trapattoni has bred into his team – they remain unbeaten in six competitive games and have lost just once in 11 fixtures under the Italian – they firmly believe they can go anywhere and not come away empty-handed.
Keane said: "We're as good as we've been for certainly a few years. As a team, you have to have a belief that you can go into games and win them, and we certainly have that at the moment."
John O'Shea will replace the injured Paul McShane at right-back as Preston defender Sean St Ledger earns a first competitive start in the middle alongside Dunne. Hull striker Caleb Folan, too, is likely to get the nod to partner Keane in attack in the absence of the injured Kevin Doyle.
